Independent candidates will have a problem in collecting signatures if several leaders of political parties participate in the election race for the President of Montenegro, believes the executive director of the Politikon network, Jovana Marović.
She said that in accordance with previous announcements and the dynamics of relations between opposition political parties, more presidential candidates can be expected.
The candidacy for the President of Montenegro must be supported by at least 7.993 voter signatures.
"The fact that there will be more candidates for president, and among them members or leaders of political parties who count on the support of part of the electorate, independent candidates will have a problem in collecting signatures," Marović told the MINA agency.
When asked if there is a legal limit for holding presidential and local elections in Montenegro on the same day, Marović said that the Montenegrin legislation does not know the limit on (not) holding presidential and local elections on the same day.
She believes that the opposition's argument that this would represent a "minimum condition for elementary relaxation of the social atmosphere and stabilization of political conditions in Montenegro" is well-founded and logical.
"Since we already have local elections in two municipalities in February, and then presidential elections, I believe that we should be practical and avoid the atmosphere of a "constant campaign" and direct time and resources to reform processes," said Marović.
This, she added, is of particular importance, bearing in mind that this year and the next year are crucial for meeting transitional standards in the area of the rule of law, and that the new Strategy for the successful accession of Montenegro and Serbia to the European Union foresees the first cross-section of the situation in 2019.
"Holding elections on the same day means saving time and resources, which should be an important reason for such a decision," Marović emphasized.
She said that she assumed that the scenario of local elections being held on the same day as the presidential elections was avoided in Berane as well.
"However, since the elections in Berane will be held together with the elections in Ulcinj, such a decision is partially justified, especially since there were no negative comments from the Municipality," said Marović.
According to her, holding local elections after the presidential elections is more appropriate for a political group that achieves success in the presidential elections.
The commentators state from Filip Vujanović's cabinet that the opposition is trying to use political and media pressure to force the president to illegally schedule local elections, Marović pointed out that the president would not break the law by deciding to call local elections ahead of time, but that such a decision should not be the result of any pressure.
Marović said that the public and the opposition expect consultations between the president of the state and the presidents of municipalities about the possible benefits or harms of scheduling elections earlier.
"Only then would it be possible to get a broader picture of possible negative consequences, because they are not visible now," she assessed.
When asked whether the opposition parties should have submitted a written proposal to Vujanović in which they would have provided legal arguments for their demands, Marović said that any proposal addressed to the president of the state in which the petitioners expect him to act in accordance with the constitution and the powers defined by law must be submitted. in writing, and be adequately explained.
"Otherwise, these kinds of demands are reduced to polemics through the media, that is, a fight for political points," said Marović.
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