Opposition Critical of Government’s New Economic Measures, Dubs Them Marketing Ploy

Groceries (Free Image)

Serbia’s opposition parties have lambasted the new economic measures designed to increase the living standard of mid- and low-income citizens, which were presented by President Aleksandar Vucic on Aug. 24 even though the matter is not under his purview.

According to the opposition, the announced 20-percent cap on retail mark-ups for the next six months is not a long-term solution but rather yet another of the regime’s marketing ploys.

Genuine economic measures – that would indirectly reduce gross retail mark-ups – should entail fiscal benefits for staple food producers, easing the retail of said goods at lower prices, the opposition opined.

Especially problematic, the opposition said, is the measure ensuring lower interest rates for cash, consumer and housing loans taken out in the next year, but only for individuals with monthly salaries below RSD100,000 (approximate EUR855).

Such a limit is not only completely random, the opposition stated, but also excludes a great number of people who still struggle to make ends meet.

The new measures further entail mitigating measures for low-income individuals with regards to electricity bills and heating fuel procurement along with a ban on seizing housing units smaller than 60 square meters when said unit is a debtor’s only piece of real estate and current place of residence.