Electoral reform is a prerequisite for entry into the European Union, which wants a functional member, said Vasilije Čarapić, deputy of the Europe Now Movement.
At the session of the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform, he said that according to the recommendations, it should be seen in which areas reform is needed.
Ana Nenezić from the Institute for Socio-Political Research Analitiko said that it is clear to everyone who was part of the election process that the laws are outdated.
"I would point out that when precise deadlines are defined, it has its own purpose. A certain number of laws need to be expanded, and some need to be completely changed," said Nenezić.
The Executive Director of the Center for Civic Education (CDT) Dragan Koprivica said that the Law on the President should be on the agenda.
"I am not sure that we can complete all the tasks by the end of the year. Subcommittees should be done according to topics, not according to laws," said Koprivica.
The President of the Management Board of the Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI) Zlatko Vujović reminded that Croatia adopted the law before joining the EU and passed the provision that "the law enters into force upon joining the EU".
"The law must be passed in accordance with EU law. This means that we are not free, but that we have some rules as to what the law should be. Possible EU membership means that citizens of other EU members who reside in Montenegro have the right to vote," he said. Vujović.
The director of the Association of the Blind of Montenegro, Goran Macanović, said that the primary reason why he ran for membership in this committee was to help improve the law, first of all, enabling voting for people with disabilities.
The MP of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Nikola Rakočević said that December is the deadline for the reform of the electoral law.
"We have eight months until then, so there is no need for an urgent reaction to extend the deadline," he said.
Democrat MP Nikola Rovčanin recalled that the parliament had worked on electoral reform several times, and that there had been a large number of good proposals in past convocations.
Social Democrats (SD) MP Boris Mugoša said that it is possible to get into an incredible situation where the elections in one municipality are not over, and new ones are called.
"That's why the law on local self-government must be part of the reform package," said Mugoša.
The deputy of the Democratic Union of Albanians, Nikola Camaj, said that it is very important to resolve the voter list, in order to avoid "election tourists".
"People from other cities showed up in my polling station. What is important to us is that a model is found to protect the rights of minorities. This existing model does not meet the needs of minorities," said Camaj.
Čarapić: The elections should have been organized on the same day; Rovčanin: The board does not have the authority to change the election date
Čarapić said that he is advocating that the local elections in three municipalities - Budva, Andrijevica and Savnik be held on the same day, and not on three Sundays one after the other.
Rovčanin said that the Committee does not have the authority to change the election date, but that its recommendation definitely means something.
"I have nothing against, if there is an agreement, send a position on three local elections being held on the same day," Rovčanin said.
Mugoša said that syou agree that this is the prerogative of the president.
"Previous postponements were due to an emergency situation (Tivat 2020), or due to a change in the law (moving 2022 from June to October). I did not vote for those changes in the law in 2022. There are some legal grounds for the deadline for writing the election from publication in the official list, but I am not sure if there is a legal basis for changing established decisions. We often use the term election tourism. We forget that the Constitutional Court overturned the decision that someone who has been registered in a certain place for less than half a year does not have the right to vote," said Mugoša.
Member of Parliament of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Simonida Kordić said that the idea of local elections is to regulate the way of life and development of a local community.
"That meaning is fundamentally disrupted in the case of Šavnik. In Šavnik, the anomaly is visible because it is a small community, so everyone knows each other. We have a situation that certainly occurs in other municipalities, only it has escalated here. The example of Bosnia and Herzegovina shows that elections in one day solve the problem election tourism," said Kordić.
Vujović: The election model in Bosnia and Herzegovina has proven to be successful
Vujović said that Frorder of several organizations from the region that the countries of the Western Balkans exchange voter lists.
Also, one suggestion is that, when you change your place of residence, you vote in your old polling station for one year.
"Solving elections in one day is a model that has proven successful in BiH. If there is a shortening of the mandate and extraordinary elections, the new mandate lasts only until the day when the elections are held in all municipalities. As for Šavnik, we are talking about new elections, and the old ones we are not done yet. It is necessary that, if the MEC cannot solve a problem, the SEC takes over the solution of that problem. The parties should give a mandate to the SEC. Will some other parties or individuals interrupt the processes if they do not like the process ", Vujović asked.
Kordić: Elections solve election tourism in one day
ZBCG Member of Parliament Simonida Kordić pointed out that the idea of local elections is to regulate the lifestyle and development of a local community.
"That meaning is fundamentally disrupted in the case of Šavnik. In Šavnik, the anomaly is visible because it is a small community, so everyone knows each other. We have a situation that certainly occurs in other municipalities, only it has escalated here," said Kordić.
She added that the example of Bosnia and Herzegovina shows that elections in one day solve the problem of electoral tourism.
MP Mihailo Anđušić believes that the question of expediency should be raised.
"It is important that we have an agreement on this board. Our goal should be to roll up our sleeves on this board and find a legal solution".
Independent member of parliament Jevrosima Pejović said that we do not have open sessions of the Government, so we do not know what is happening there.
"I don't have the ability to anticipate certain political situations in certain municipalities".
Boris Pejović (PES) said that it is not about anticipation, but about knowing the Constitution.
"Each government has a maximum term of 4 years to be in power. We must have elections in Kotor by August," he stated.
Rakočevć: If you wait for IBAR by breaking the law, you will wait
DPS MP Nikola Rakočević said that if "you wait for IBAR like this - by breaking the law and legal fraud, then you will wait".
"It is the decision of this Committee and the Government to break the law by mocking this Committee. Does this contribute to our European path and the dialogue between the government and the opposition or deepen our differences? Will the election of the Acting Director of the Police Directorate affect the work of the Committee? No. But all questions concerning the election will. We will soon come out with a clear position and an appeal to the institutions to do their job," he announced.
The President of the State Election Commission (SEC) Nikola Mugoša said that the election process has already started with the announcement of elections.
Čarapić (PES) recalled that there was a situation in Podgorica where the Municipal Election Commission (MEC) did not want to hold a session, despite the SEC's recommendations.
"It is important that the SEC has powers over the MEC".
ZBCG deputy Maja Vukićević pointed out that there is no legal mechanism by which they can change the president's decision.
"We have a situation where, on the eve of the elections in Podgorica, Zeta was separated. As for Šavnik, I hope that both the opposition and the government will come up with a solution that is in the service of democracy. It is not normal to be in power longer than what has been confirmed," Vukićević believes.
Rakočević replied that the obstruction was caused by politicians at the local level.
"If we wait for IBAR like this, we will not meet him. We must not take the law into our own hands and interpret it as we think".
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