A proposal to hold local and parliamentary elections in Montenegro on one day could be adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro by the end of July, as there is allegedly broad political consensus for this - "Vijesti" has learned unofficially from the ruling and opposition parties.
A newspaper source from the ruling majority claims that it has been "generally agreed" with the opposition that the idea of elections in one day should be accepted, or rather voted on, and that the issue should be "finalized" by the end of the spring session, i.e., by the end of July.
"The intention is for all elections to be held on one day in 2027 - both parliamentary and local. This means that all local elections (which should have been held in the meantime) would be postponed to that date," the source said.
Elections are scheduled to be held in Cetinje, Mojkovac and Petnjica by the end of the year. However, if there is an agreement to go to the polls on the same day in 2027, the electoral processes in the capital and two municipalities could be postponed.
"If this were to end this way, then it would mean that the elections in these municipalities would be postponed to the date when the elections would be held in all the others," a source told "Vijesti".
According to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Representatives, elections are held no later than 15 days before the expiration of the mandate of councilors. Their mandate lasts four years, starting from the day of the constitution of local assemblies.
The constituent session of the Assembly of the royal capital Cetinje was held on January 4, 2022, in Mojkovac it was held a day later, and in Petnjica on January 24 of the same year. This means that elections in Cetinje and Mojkovac must be held no later than December 20 and 21, and in Petnjica by January 9, 2026.
Next year, regular elections should be held in Tivat, Plužine, Žabljak, Bijelo Polje, Šavnik, Bar, Danilovgrad, Kolašin, Pljevlja, Zeta, Plav and Rožaje, and regular state elections in 2027.
Member of the Electoral Reform Committee Nikola Rovčanin (Democrats), told "Vijesti" that, judging by the positions of all political entities, there is a will to go to the polls on the same day.
"If someone were to change their mind or be against this European solution, they would be in favor of Montenegro's stagnation and slowdown," he said.
Rovčanin said that he believes that the Committee will reach such a decision by consensus and establish a proposal for the necessary amendments to the law, which will be decided by the state parliament.
"One-day elections imply, in terms of implementation, that those municipalities whose mandate expires before the day of the one-day elections will have their mandate extended, and those municipalities whose mandate continues after that date will have their mandate shortened," he explained.
He said that the cases of Cetinje, Mojkovac and Petnjica depend on the situation.
"If the amendments to the law on holding elections in one day were adopted before elections are called in these municipalities under the current law, then their mandate would be extended until the day of holding the elections in one day. Otherwise, the elections would be held within the time prescribed by the current law," said Rovčanin.
Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj (Albanian Forum), announced in late April that the draft law on local elections, which, among other things, envisages holding all local elections on one day, had been sent to the Electoral Reform Committee. Dukaj stated at the time that Montenegro is the only country in the region and Europe that has seven, eight or more elections during the year.
During this year, in Montenegro, people went to the polls in Nikšić and Herceg Novi, and previously in Podgorica, Budva on two occasions, Kotor, Berane, Andrijevica and Gusinje.
The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) on 13 May “strongly supported” the Draft Report on Montenegro, with the message that political stability and reform progress, including electoral reforms, remain crucial. In the statement, they specifically called for the establishment of a single date for local elections, stating that this would help to manage them more effectively and reduce political tensions.
"They also urge the Montenegrin authorities to establish a single municipal election day throughout the country, in order to improve governance efficiency and reduce political tensions, and emphasize that this reform step is a condition for future disbursement of funds under the Reform and Growth Fund," the European Parliament said at the time.
The European Union-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) called on Montenegro in April to fully harmonize its electoral legal framework with Union standards, emphasizing the importance of setting a single date for holding local elections at the state level.
Program Director of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) Milica Kovačević, told Vijesti in December last year that the current practice of “fragmented elections” prevents impartial observation and independent verification of the quality of elections. In addition, she claims, elections in one or several municipalities direct enormous resources of parties and public institutions to a small number of citizens, creating undue pressure on voters.
"All party resources are harnessed, the misuse of public resources is focused on just one city, officials move all their activities to one place, the propaganda machinery from the country and the region fires all weapons at the same targets," Kovačević assessed at the time.
She stated that the misuse of public resources and propaganda pressures in such situations limit citizens' freedom to form opinions without undue influence, adding that holding the elections on one day would significantly reduce such pressures and enable "a more peaceful and fair electoral environment."
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