CDT, UZOR, UMHCG: Time for comprehensive electoral reform

The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), the Association for Responsible and Sustainable Development (UZOR) and the Association of Youth with Handicaps (UMHCG) will implement the project "Electoral reform in focus: It's time!" in the next two years, with the aim of reforming all segments of the electoral process will finally be realized.

Those non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said that their goal is for the electoral reform to be implemented after several unsuccessful attempts lasting almost a decade.

"And to take a step forward with it, towards the democratic election process, in accordance with international recommendations and standards," the announcement states.

CDT, UZOR and UMHCG said that they are implementing the project with the support of the European Union (EU), through the EU Delegation in Montenegro.

They appealed to the newly formed Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform to start dedicated and efficient work as soon as possible, which should lead to significant improvements in all laws related to electoral processes.

"Deputies have a great opportunity to finally put an end to the practice of putting politics ahead of the interests of the democratic community, and to do through an open and honest dialogue what the previous convocations of the Assembly, in the last ten years, did not have the political will to do," said those NGOs.

They pointed out that they believe that the time has finally come to depoliticize and professionalize the electoral administration, better protect electoral rights and increase the transparency and accuracy of the voter list, as well as the up-to-dateness of the registers from which it is derived.

As they assessed, the control over the financing of election campaigns should be significantly improved, the misuse of public resources should be sanctioned and the normative regulations regarding election silence should be improved.

"The undoubted need is for citizens to finally get the opportunity to vote on open lists and the possibility of individual candidacies, to achieve better guarantees of affirmative action for minority communities and women and full accessibility of the electoral process to people with disabilities," said CDT, UZOR- and UMHCG.

They added that many other issues burdening the election process, such as media coverage of elections with full protection of media freedoms, need to be resolved.

The three NGOs stated that they will support the work of the Committee and, in cooperation with experts from various fields, prepare a series of analyzes that will contain proposals and recommendations for improving election laws.

"Among other things, it includes analyzes on election administration, protection of voting rights, participation of persons with disabilities in elections, illegal foreign influence on elections and others," the statement said.

It is stated that they will also implement trainings that will focus on legal regulations, rules and procedures of the election process with special emphasis on PWDs, but also on all other vulnerable categories of society, such as Roma and Egyptians.

The CDT, UZOR and UMHCG emphasized that they want to contribute to the dialogue on electoral reform and that is why, as they stated, they will organize several events with MPs, citizens and the media and broadcast podcasts in which the details will be discussed electoral reforms.

"Also, we will organize a conference on the topic of electoral reform, where we will have the opportunity to hear the opinions of all interested parties, including representatives of the international community," said three NGOs.

As they announced, their first activity, after the start of the Committee's work, will be an initiative to expand its jurisdiction, because an oversight was made during the preparation of the decision on its formation, so the scope of work did not include the Law on the Election of the President of Montenegro, nor a set of media laws. parts of which concern election processes.

"The necessary analysis of the Law on Local Self-Government, the Law on the Constitutional Court and some other legal texts that are very important for the regulation of the election process is also missing," the announcement states.

It is emphasized that the new negotiation framework for Albania and North Macedonia foresees a stronger focus on fundamental reforms, as well as the functioning of democratic institutions.

"In that part, special attention is paid to the integrity of the elections, their financing, media coverage of them and disinformation in the electoral processes," the statement added.

CDT, UZOR and UMHCG emphasized that these are steps that Montenegro skipped, and to which, sooner or later, it will have to return in order to meet the political criteria of the EU.

"That's why we believe that the electoral reform and the work of the Committee is an ideal opportunity to adopt this important European standard," said three NGOs.

They added that they hope that the Board will achieve full transparency and openness in its work and that, after the quick election of associate members from among NGOs and the academic community, who will constantly participate in its work without the right to vote, it will find space for all experts. .

"With our activities on the project, we want to show once again that civil society is a constructive and active partner in the reform process and that there is hardly a single segment of the electoral process for which we do not have concrete suggestions for improvement," the statement said.