The goal of the boycott against large retail chains is not to reduce anyone’s profit, but rather to call for price reductions, said Zarija Pavićević from Alternative Montenegro.
Speaking on the “Good Morning Montenegro” show on TVCG, he commented on the retail boycott last Friday, stating that he is proud because, for the first time, Montenegro was officially a leader in the region.
“I mean that in Montenegro, profits were 56% lower compared to the previous Friday. It was around 51% in Croatia, 49% in North Macedonia, and similar in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Finally, the people of Montenegro have shown the greatest responsibility, and they were united in a cause that affects all citizens, regardless of their purchasing power. I am honored and pleased to be part of this nation,” said Pavićević, as reported by the RTCG portal.
He noted that the citizens of the northern part of the country, in particular, demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility, with a 20% difference in comparison to the south.
Pavićević emphasized that the goal of the action initiated by Alternative Montenegro is not to destroy the profit of large megastores, but to find a common compromise and balance so that everyone can afford what they need.
“The infamous Milka chocolate at ten EUR, which has been in the media for days, should be a right for every child, not a luxury. A compromise needs to be found between the government and the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG). We can act as mediators, putting together the views of the ordinary citizen. I owe an apology to all those people who are genuinely suffering real losses that may one day become irreparable. That is something none of us want,” said Pavićević.
He reiterated that the goal of the action is to reduce prices, and that they will persist in this effort.
“I hope that business owners will realize in time that the people of Montenegro are united and will not give up. Once we decide on something, we will stick to it and achieve our goal. Again, I want to emphasize, the goal is not to reduce anyone’s profit, as these are the people who pay significant amounts in taxes to the state. This is merely an appeal for price reductions, because just as the state depends on them, they also depend on us,” concluded Pavićević.
