The fact that even ten days after the announcement of local elections, the Municipal Election Commission (MEC) of Zeta was not formed, represents a serious violation of laws and standards and the continuation of the collapse of our election processes.
This is stated in the announcement of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), which was signed by Biljana Papović, the deputy executive director of this NGO.
"After the unconstitutional postponement of the elections, after the illegal redrawing of the Podgorica electoral unit during the electoral process, we got another phenomenon that will position Montenegro even better on the map of undemocratic elections - the electoral process taking place without a key body for its implementation," says Papović.
He adds that instead of introducing international standards and improving and reforming the electoral process in Montenegro, we have violations of constitutionally guaranteed voting rights, international conventions and universally accepted principles.
"We are being led there by political parties and that process is no longer a surprise for citizens," Papović believes.
She adds that according to the Law on Territorial Organization, the MEC for the newly established municipality is appointed by the Parliament of Montenegro, on the proposal of the Administrative Board.
"Previously, political parties that have councilors in the assembly of the municipality where the territorial change took place should nominate their representatives to the MEC. According to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, the handing in of electoral lists should start on September 13. Applicants of confirmed electoral lists have the right on the appointment of authorized representatives in the municipal election commission and other rights arising from that," says Papović.
If the MEC is not formed and functional by September 13, and the electoral lists cannot be submitted, confirmed and announced within the deadline provided by law, Papović says that this will result in a new violation - this time of the right to run for office, which is an integral part of the electoral right protected by the Constitution.
"The casualness with which the competent institutions, and above all the Constitutional Court, ignore the improvisations and illegalities that occur in connection with the elections in Montenegro is very dangerous. As we have started, it could happen that the European Court of Human Rights introduces a permanent term for dealing with Montenegro, because considering what the parties are doing since the election process and how the most important institutions are behaving in this, it will really be necessary," concludes Papović.
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