Budva Municipality faces dispute over housing subsidy discrimination

Human rights activist Danijel Kalezić has challenged the Municipality of Budva regarding its housing subsidy decisions, alleging that same-sex life partners are being unlawfully excluded from the support system.

In response to an open letter and a complaint filed with the Ombudsman of Montenegro, the Budva Secretariat for Social Activities maintained that its definition of a family household is fully compliant with the Law on Social Housing. The municipality asserts that its decision was made following a public discussion and adheres to specific articles of the existing law.

Kalezić has countered that compliance with a single sectoral law does not justify violating the Constitution, anti-discrimination laws, or the Law on Same-Sex Life Partnership. He argues that while the Law on Social Housing does not explicitly mention life partners, it also does not prohibit their inclusion, and that the municipality's failure to recognize these partnerships constitutes discrimination.