DPS proposes open electoral lists

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) will propose amendments to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Representatives, which would introduce the model of open electoral lists, the party confirmed to "Vijesti" (News).

The open list model allows voters, in addition to voting for an electoral list, to express preferential support for candidates from that list.

They say they decided to take this step after it became clear that the Electoral Reform Committee would not deliver results.

"Namely, the law proposes that voters can vote for one electoral list, and within that list up to 10 candidates for MPs in parliamentary elections, or for one list and up to five candidates for councilors from that list in local elections. It is guaranteed that female candidates of the underrepresented gender will have 40 percent of the passing places on electoral lists," the DPS proposal stipulates.

This proposal will be put to a public debate organized by the party.

The party will seek proposals from the media community, civil society, academic community, competent independent institutions and other interested parties for further amendments to the law on the election of councilors and deputies:

"So that through the amendment of the law we can obtain a proposal that reflects a comprehensively reformed umbrella electoral law."

The strongest opposition party will invite all opposition parliamentary groups to join the initiative and "through public debate, realize the common important democratic and reform goal of Montenegrin society."

The Law on the Election of Councilors and Representatives regulates the rules of the election procedure, the manner of exercising the right to vote, as well as the distribution of mandates in representative bodies.

In the proposal, which Vijesti has access to, the DPS states that the current legal framework is based on a system of closed electoral lists, in which political entities determine the order of candidates on the list, while voters vote exclusively for the electoral list as a whole.

"The proposed amendments to the Law introduce a model of open electoral lists, which allows voters, in addition to voting for an electoral list, to express preferential support for candidates from that list," the proposal states.

In this way, they argue, voters are given the opportunity to directly influence the choice of candidates who will receive a mandate, which further improves the democratic character of the electoral system.

"The introduction of preferential voting aims to strengthen the political accountability of elected representatives towards citizens, increase the transparency of the electoral process, and encourage greater participation of citizens in political life," the proposal states.

By enabling voters to decide not only on the electoral list, but also on individual candidates, they emphasize, the connection between elected representatives and the citizens they represent is strengthened.

They recall that the model of open electoral lists is present in a significant number of developed European democracies and represents one of the mechanisms for improving the quality of representative democracy.

They state that the proposed model retains the proportional electoral system, but improves it by introducing preferential voting.

"A voter votes for one electoral list and can cast up to ten votes for candidates for MPs, or five preferential votes for candidates for councilors, from the list they vote for. The mandates belonging to the electoral list are awarded to candidates according to the number of preferential votes received, thus ensuring that the mandate is awarded to candidates who enjoy the greatest support from voters," the DPS proposal emphasizes.

At the same time, as they emphasize, the institute of the leader of the electoral list is retained, who receives the first mandate if the electoral list wins at least one mandate, thus ensuring clear identification of the list and stability of the electoral process.