The concession process for the Podgorica and Tivat airports has sparked political tensions and disagreements within the Montenegrin government and the tender commission. The government extended the deadline for the tender commission’s report by 30 days, while consultants from international financial institutions such as IFC expressed dissatisfaction due to lack of transparency and information. There are differing opinions on the scoring of bids, particularly regarding the South Korean company Incheon International Airport Corporation, which was disqualified by the tender commission, while the consultant gave a different evaluation. This situation led to postponements of the tender commission and government sessions, as well as internal conflicts between Prime Minister Spajić and Deputy Prime Minister Đeljošaj. The process has been accompanied by accusations of political influence and threats of government destabilization.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the lack of transparency and potential political interference in the concession process. They highlight the concerns raised by international financial consultants and the internal conflicts within the government as signs of possible corruption and mismanagement. The narrative focuses on the need for accountability and protecting public interest in the management of national assets.
Center: Centrist sources report the facts of the concession process, including the extension of deadlines and the involvement of international consultants. They present the differing evaluations of bids and the procedural delays without strong bias, focusing on the complexity of the tender process and the government’s efforts to ensure a fair and transparent outcome.
Right: Right-leaning sources tend to emphasize the importance of completing the concession process efficiently and criticize any delays or internal disputes as harmful to economic progress. They may downplay the concerns of international consultants and frame the process as being obstructed by political infighting, stressing the need for strong leadership and decisive action to finalize the concession.
