The Government of Montenegro has unanimously extended the deadline for the evaluation of technical offers for the concession rights of Podgorica and Tivat airports by an additional 30 days. The tender commission, in cooperation with the international consultant IFC, is gathering additional opinions to increase transparency and competence of the process. However, there are disagreements within the commission and with the IFC consultant, who warned it might withdraw from the process due to lack of information regarding the disqualification of the South Korean company Incheon International Airport Corporation. Some commission members have expressed doubts about the impartiality of the process, and some have resigned due to suspicions of irregularities. The government and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić have called for careful consideration of all expert opinions before making a final decision.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the need for transparency and fairness in the concession process, highlighting the internal conflicts within the tender commission and the concerns about the influence of international consultants like IFC. They focus on the potential irregularities and the importance of protecting national interests against foreign corporate influence.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the facts of the extension and the procedural steps taken by the government and tender commission, presenting statements from all involved parties including the government, tender commission members, and IFC. They emphasize the importance of due process and expert evaluation in ensuring a fair concession award.
Right: Right-leaning sources stress the sovereignty and national interest aspects, supporting the tender commission’s skepticism towards the IFC consultant and criticizing any external pressure. They highlight the commission members’ professional integrity and the government’s firm stance against perceived foreign interference or unfair treatment of local interests.
