Vice President of the Civic Movement URA Ana Novaković Đurović today called on all political parties participating in the parliamentary committee for electoral reform to declare whether they are in favor of open lists or not, and said that citizens must not be deceived.
"URA has clearly stated that open lists are our condition for further electoral reform. Likewise, all political entities participating in the parliamentary committee for electoral reform should clearly state whether they support the introduction of open lists or not," Novaković Đurović stressed in a statement.
She added that the delay in talks on this issue clearly indicates that there is no consensus within the parliamentary majority.
She also said that further delay would mean deceiving citizens, because all the entities that make up the majority in previous years had promised open lists.
"The introduction of open lists and preferential voting is in the best interest of citizens, who will thus more directly elect their political representatives, which would be a new step forward in the democratic development of the country," said Novaković Đurović.
The Vice President of URE emphasized that the messages about how the introduction of open lists opens up numerous questions are excuses, because, as she said, every serious reform opens up challenges, but when there is political will, these challenges are overcome.
"After the changes on August 30, 2020 and the removal of decades-long government, Montenegro began the development of democracy. Six years later, it is time to go a step further, and open lists are a mechanism that reduces partitocracy and increases the direct participation of citizens in the election of their representatives in the local and state parliaments," emphasized Novaković Đurović.
She said that it is high time for all entities to clearly communicate their position on this issue and for citizens to know who is preventing their right to participate more directly in the elections.
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