The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) called on the assemblies of the municipalities of Andrijevica and Nikšić to appoint municipal election commissions (MEC) in those cities in accordance with the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament.
CDT program director Milica Kovačević pointed out that the electoral process for the presidential elections is underway and that it is of essential importance that it be carried out by legally appointed MECs in full capacity.
She said that this represents a serious problem in the election process, since the legal deadlines for the performance of certain tasks of the MEC are already running.
"We must not allow political games and the irresponsibility of local self-governments to have a negative impact on the electoral process this time," said Kovačević.
As she stated, in Nikšić, where the elections were held in March 2021, a new MEC has not yet been appointed.
"According to the knowledge of our municipal coordinators, it is about political reasons where the appointment of this important body is being postponed due to party interests," Kovacević said.
She explained that election commissions are appointed after the constitution of the newly elected assembly, for a period of four years.
"In the municipality of Andrijevica, the municipal assembly appointed a municipal election commission, but did not properly apply the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, so a representative of the electoral list that won the largest number of mandates in the local elections was not appointed as president," Kovačević said.
As she reminded, according to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, the municipal election commission consists of the president and four permanent members and one authorized representative of the applicant of the electoral list.
"Two members of the permanent composition of the municipal election commission are appointed at the proposal of the opposition", stated Kovačević.
She added that the candidate of the political party, i.e. the applicant of the electoral list that received the largest number of council mandates in the previous elections, is appointed as the president of the MEC.
Bonus video:
