Final report on Montenegro’s parliamentary elections by OSCE/ODIHR recommends continuing electoral reform process

The 16 October 2016 parliamentary elections in Montenegro were held in a competitive environment and fundamental freedoms were generally respected, according to the final report on the elections issued by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 25 January 2017.

While recognizing considerable efforts made to improve the electoral legal framework in advance of the elections, the report recommends undertaking comprehensive electoral reform to harmonize election legislation internally and with other relevant laws, in an inclusive process well ahead of the next elections.

One priority recommendation in the report is a review of the residency and legal competence requirements for voting, to bring those in line with the Constitution and international obligations. In order to increase transparency and accountability of the election administration and to earn the trust of election stakeholders, it also recommends that media be granted access to all meetings of the State Election Commission. 

Noting the legislative amendments that introduced a new gender quota for electoral lists, the report recommends that political parties consider internal measures to promote women to senior positions within party structures to achieve a better balance between women and men holding publicly elected positions.

A review of the election appeals system to guarantee an effective and timely remedy for all complaints, as well as the submission by electoral contestants of interim reports on campaign expenditures prior to election day, are also among the report’s recommendations.

Other recommendations include removing the restriction to sign in support of only one candidate list, amending the election law to clearly define the official campaign period, as well as strengthening effective supervision of media compliance with the law during the electoral campaign by a proactive independent body.

The final report follows the preliminary statement of findings and conclusions, issued by ODIHR along with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which joined ODIHR for election day observation.