The best thing the Montenegrin government has delivered since its formation is self-promotion, says economic analyst Miša Brkić. According to him, populist boasting is in sharp contrast with reality. The government functions without a serious economic policy or vision for the country’s future, while Montenegro itself seems “frozen in time and space.”
Brkić argues that populism is the government’s main operating model, serving to please voters rather than make the state more functional and efficient. He warns that wage increases are not supported by productivity growth, and combined with constant borrowing, this fuels inflation. Much of the spending is financed through debt instead of real GDP growth, which he calls unsustainable. Ultimately, citizens will bear the cost, either directly or through inflation.
He also criticizes officials for prioritizing personal gain over public interest, describing the administration as driven by self-interest in state dealings. Montenegro’s public debt, at nearly 57 percent of GDP, is among the highest in the Western Balkans. Import dependency is alarming, with exports covering only 12 percent of imports, down from 14 percent last year.
On the government’s plan to issue diaspora bonds, Brkić questions how Montenegro can guarantee repayment since the planned projects are not profitable. He doubts that appeals to patriotism will convince the diaspora to invest, pointing to failed examples in Serbia.
Tourism, the country’s main industry, also underperformed. Brkić attributes the weak season to higher taxes, poor infrastructure, and government mismanagement. He dismisses talk of reindustrialization as unrealistic, instead advocating for a strategy centered on tourism, agriculture, IT, and infrastructure. He stresses that the government should improve, not worsen, the business climate.
Regarding the tender for airport concessions, Brkić calls the process a disgrace, citing incompetence and lack of vision. Airports, he says, are vital for tourism and should be sold to proven private operators rather than mismanaged through political appointments. The controversy over the tender, with legal disputes and speculation about Serbian influence, could expose whether the government prioritizes national interests or political bargaining. He warns that mishandling this issue risks undermining investor confidence and Montenegro’s economic future.
