In their opening remarks at the conference "Electoral Reform in Montenegro: How to Make the Electoral Process Functional?", they said that electoral reform is key to strengthening democracy, restoring citizens' trust in institutions, and accelerating Montenegro's European path, and given that reforms are a condition for membership in the European Union (EU) by 2028, the country has no more time to wait or room for political blockades, said the PR Center.
The conference was organized by the Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI) with the support of the British Embassy Podgorica.
The President of the CeMI Board of Directors, Zlatko Vujović, said that the conference on electoral reform, which was originally planned for February, has been postponed to allow more time for reaching an agreement between the government and the opposition and renewing political dialogue.
"We could not have predicted that the conference would take place on the very first day of the opposition's return to Parliament, but that is good because we will be able to talk much more openly and directly. Our wish was to encourage dialogue and agreement between the government and the opposition on electoral reform through all activities," said Vujović.
He emphasized that electoral reform is a key step in the European integration process and that it is necessary to complete it by the end of the year in order for Montenegro to remain on the European agenda and become a member of the European Union by 2028.
"Little has been done on electoral reform, which I can say as an associate member of the parliamentary Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform. However, it is clear to all of us what needs to be done and how these issues have been resolved in European practice. All that is needed is a clear political will to implement the reforms, because these are mainly technical issues," Vujović stressed.
He welcomed the efforts of the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, in opening issues such as open lists, as well as the engagement of the Minister of Public Administration, Maraš Dukaj, regarding local elections, the PR Center announced.
Vujović stressed the need to separate local and parliamentary elections in order to avoid constant electoral uncertainty that delays key decisions at the national level.
The British Ambassador to Montenegro, Dawn McCann, once again emphasized that she welcomes yesterday's agreement to continue electoral reform until the end of 2025.
"Electoral reform in Montenegro is of crucial importance and represents one of the main conditions for further progress on your path towards the EU. However, this is not just a technical requirement necessary for progress in the EU, but it is a fundamental political obligation. The need for reform is not solely dictated by your path towards the EU, but must be an obligation for all political actors in Montenegro," said British Ambassador Dawn McCann.
"Both the government and the opposition must play an active role in building consensus and finding a way forward. The essence of this reform process should be guided by the recommendations of the OSCE and ODIHR. Reforms should also be transparent and inclusive, and include the input of the non-governmental sector, academia, and other relevant stakeholders and experts," Ambassador McCann emphasized.
"The British Embassy in Podgorica supports Montenegro's democratic European path and strongly supports the non-governmental sector in their efforts to contribute to creating the conditions necessary for free and fair elections. I look forward to the efforts of all political actors to quickly achieve the necessary reforms," reiterated Ambassador McCann.
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, recalled that in December last year he proposed a reform of the electoral system through the introduction of open lists, which initiated a dialogue at the highest level with the participation of national and regional experts, reports PR Center.
He pointed out that Montenegrin citizens back in 1905 had more open lists than in the 2023 elections, which, he believes, shows the democratic regression of the country.
"Our goal remains the same - for citizens to once again be the ones who decide, not party elites," Milatović emphasized.
He pointed out that elections are not just a formality, but an essential mechanism through which citizens exercise their will and determine the direction of development of society and the state.
He warned that if voters feel their vote does not carry real weight, Montenegro must reconsider the kind of democracy it is building.
"Research shows that citizens trust political parties the least. This is no coincidence. The current closed list system allows parties, not voters, to decide who will be an MP. Introducing open lists would mean a blow to partitocracy and the breaking up of closed political circles," said Milatović.
Referring to Article 2 of the Constitution of Montenegro, which provides for the direct exercise of power, the President emphasized that it is necessary for citizens to have this power not only in presidential, but also in parliamentary and local elections.
"Open lists are not a privilege, but a constitutional right of citizens. Montenegro has no more time to wait. Citizens want a system that listens to them, not a system that ignores them," said Milatović.
The President announced that, according to the PR Center, if there is no political will to adopt open lists, he will use his constitutional powers and propose a referendum on this topic.
"Those who oppose open lists should come before the people and explain why they think citizens should not elect their representatives directly. If they are right, let them prove it to the voters. If they are not, let them withdraw before their will," said Milatović.
Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj pointed out that, as the ministry responsible for the local self-government system, they monitor local elections with particular attention, because the exercise of the right to local self-government depends on their quality implementation.
"By analyzing the existing system, we have noticed that local elections represent a challenge, which is confirmed by specific cases in the municipalities of Šavnik and Kotor. Insufficiently precise procedures, inappropriate election of the mayor, the frequency of local elections - both regular and extraordinary - inadequately regulated by municipal electoral bodies, as well as issues of protection and security of polling stations, indicate the need for urgent and systemic solutions," said Dukaj.
He noted that the Ministry of Public Administration will actively contribute to the process of reforming the electoral system at the local level, providing specific and expert proposals, the PR Center announced.
"Our commitment is clear - local governments, in accordance with their constitutional concept, demand an electoral system based on open lists, direct election of the mayor and holding all local elections on one day. We have sent very specific initiatives to the Parliament of Montenegro, which we expect to be part of the electoral reform. We are providing and will provide full professional support to this," Dukaj emphasized.
The Minister thanked the Center for Monitoring and Research, as well as other non-governmental organizations, which are dedicated to monitoring the electoral processes and contributing to their improvement through analysis, recommendations and dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, and added
"Your efforts and dedication significantly contribute to the strengthening of democratic institutions and the transparency of the electoral system, which is of key importance for the democratic development of our country," Dukaj emphasized.
Minister of Culture and Media Dr. Tamara Vujović emphasized that no electoral reform, no matter how precisely legally formulated, can be fully effective if the media space does not enable free, professional and objective information for citizens.
"The media is an indispensable pillar of democracy. They not only inform citizens about political programs, candidates and electoral procedures, but also ask key questions, analyze and enable the confrontation of different opinions. A free, professional and responsible media sector ensures that citizens have access to accurate and balanced information, which enables them to make informed decisions in elections," said Vujović.
She emphasized that in ideal circumstances, the task of the media is to be neutral mediators between political entities and the public, reporting accurately, objectively and in accordance with professional standards, reports PR Center.
"World best practices show that the media in the pre-election period should ensure equal treatment of all political actors, enabling pluralism of opinions and providing citizens with analytical and verified information that will help them make their own political decisions. However, the Montenegrin media scene is often perceived as deeply divided along political lines, which leads to favoring certain political options, while others are marginalized or portrayed in a negative light. Such polarization further makes it difficult for citizens to gain an objective insight into the political offer," Vujović pointed out.
According to her, it is crucial that all media, regardless of their editorial policy, provide fair treatment to all political entities.
"This is not just a question of professionalism, but also of responsibility towards the public and the democratic process. The media must not become a tool of political propaganda, but should encourage a culture of dialogue, reasoned debate and mutual respect," Vujović stated.
She pointed out the problem of abuse of media space during election campaigns.
"We often witness hate speech, sensationalism, manipulative reporting and the spread of disinformation. Instead of contributing to clarifying key issues and informing the public, certain media content further polarizes society. A particular problem is political advertising in commercial media and on social networks, where those with the most money advertise the most," said Vujović.
She recalled that for three decades, media advertising of electoral lists has been regulated by the electoral law, but that the parliamentary committee that would deal with this rarely meets and reaches conclusions.
"In commercial media, political lists are advertised without restrictions, so the scope of their marketing depends solely on available funds. The key responsibility lies with the Public Service and local public service broadcasters, which are obliged to ensure equal representation of all political entities," said Vujović.
She pointed out that a particular challenge is posed by disinformation, which has become increasingly present in the digital age.
"Social networks and online media often become a breeding ground for the spread of fake news and manipulative narratives. Professional journalism plays a key role in combating disinformation - through fact-checking, analytical reporting and raising awareness of the importance of critical thinking. Citizens have the right to the truth, and the media have a duty to provide them with that truth," the minister said.
The Ministry of Culture and Media, as Vujović pointed out, is dedicated to strengthening professional standards in journalism, improving media literacy, and strengthening regulatory mechanisms.
"We are working to create an environment in which the media will be able to fulfill their function in accordance with the highest standards. In addition, it is important that the media themselves recognize their responsibility in this process. Credibility is built over years, but can be lost in an instant. Therefore, it is crucial that all media actors – from traditional to digital – work to preserve professional principles, objective reporting and protect the public interest," said Vujović.
State Secretary of the Ministry of European Affairs, Biljana Papović, emphasized that elections are not just a technical process, but also a key indicator of citizens' trust in institutions and the state.
"A transparent and credible electoral system is necessary for progress in the rule of law and the realization of fundamental rights, which is a condition for EU membership. Only through comprehensive and inclusive reform can we ensure that elections in Montenegro meet the highest European standards, thereby accelerating the European path and strengthening citizens' trust in democracy," Papović stressed.
According to her, long-standing problems with the electoral system - from unregulated control mechanisms, misuse of public resources, problems with financing political entities, to inadequate voter registration - seriously threaten the transparency and integrity of elections, reports PR Center.
"These shortcomings lead to reduced citizen trust and hinder progress towards European standards," added Papović.
She assessed that in order to build an efficient electoral system, it is necessary to implement key reforms, including the regulation of the voter register, transparent financing, consolidation of local elections, the introduction of open lists, efficient supervision and the establishment of mechanisms that will enable full control of the electoral process.
"Free and fair elections are not exclusively the task of the government or the opposition - it is a challenge for the entire society. By blocking electoral reform, we are blocking the progress of our democracy," Papović pointed out.
She said that the unblocking of the judiciary, with the support of the opposition, has already resulted in an accelerated European path for Montenegro.
"The government has set an ambitious goal to close the negotiation chapters by the end of 2026, paving the way for full EU membership. Our European future depends on our commitment to building strong, functional and democratic institutions that citizens trust," said Papović.
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