euinside

EN | BG

• EN | BG
• Subjects
• About Us
• Projects
• Copyrights

„For reasons probably known by my distinguished readers, I haven’t had sufficient time to post any new articles to my blog. Mostly because of my hobby, I used to write about various economic and political ideas.“ This abstract is part of the latest post in the blog of Montenegro's Prime Minister Igor Luksic “100 days until the New Era in Montenegro”, where he explains what changes could happen in the country during his term.

Besides his blog (with an English version), Luksic also runs a YouTube video channel and since recently has an official Facebook page which, in his own words, should contribute to a more direct communication with the young people in the country.

Luksic, though only 34, is a prominent economist and a politician, obviously well-acquainted with the new technologies, speaks fluently several languages and is also an author of two poetry books. Before stepping in as a prime minister, he was elected for member of parliament five times and was the youngest minister (of finance) and deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Milo Djukanovic.

In a YouTube announcement, made available on the government's official website, Luksic explains that he has decided to start using such a kind of communication in order to make it easier for the government to respond to suggestions and criticism in relation to its policy.

He also says that he already has 2 074 friends and apologizes that, because of the nature of his job, he will not be able to be online every day, but adds that this is his own profile and not one run by an administrator.

„Young people are our major priority and I would like to communicate with them, with the students and the pupils, because they are the ones who will take our place in 10 years,” Luksic says in his statement. He also promises to try and meet more people from the diaspora, a proposal that an online friend of his made earlier, but also to visit each municipality in the country, which has a population of some 600,000 and discuss the problems of the citizens over a cup of coffee.

His speech touches various aspects – starting with the economic situation and the fight against corruption to discuss why there is no a McDonald's restaurant in Montenegro's capital Podgorica. Luksic makes it clear that the government will not subsidise any individual investor, but will try to attract more foreign direct investments to the country as a whole. He says that, as an economist, he is used to present the things as they are and explains that progress demands not only serious reforms, but also mature institutions. He also promises to work for a stable economy, but rather then using administrative measures such as raising salaries or cutting prices, the government would try to remove red tape and improve the productivity and the competitiveness of the local economy.

His speech sounds convincing and we should wish him good luck and enough time for his Facebook friends. (More photos from Podgorica can be seen in the gallery next to the article)