WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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The European Parliament's Election Mission held a press conference today after the first round of the presidential election. Her members made key impressions of the first round of choice.
Tonino Picula, head of the European Parliament delegation, made two frame impressions of the electoral process.
First of all, Montenegro is a country candidate for the European Union, which is close to the top when it comes to the external policy of the European Union. This is also the reason for which electoral cycles in Montenegro have been followed by EU with great care. In this way, this mission shows how important Montenegro is to us. I want to emphasize the proevropic spirit of Montenegrin society, the fact that about 80 percent of citizens support Montenegro's entry into the EU. Their democratically selected representatives must work urgently on European Gndi, in order to achieve a national consensus over key reforms, above all when the rule of rights and the fight against corruption and an extensive electoral reform is in the question - said Picula.
He also pointed out that Montenegro part of the family of the Democratic peoples of Europe.
We emphasize the fact that Montenegro is an ally of the European Union when it comes to Russian aggression in Ukraine. The European Union and Montenegro must build on even firmer relationships. During our stay in Montenegro, we have gained a clear picture of the state in the country during the electoral process. Every step of the way and wherever we were, we came across extremely hospitality - Picala added.
Piculine objection
He emphasized the great work of people engaged in polling stations and then made the key impressions of the European Parliament mission.
The comprehensive reform of election legislation is required within the framework of previously established recommendations, especially considering the polarized public and the entire work of institutions in the previous three years. Our observers expressed concern about the "flammable" speech noted in the public during the campaign. We are particularly concerned about the fact that women were insufficiently presented in the election process, especially when it comes to leading positions - Picula said.
He also said that the media scene was polarized and very vulnerable by corporate and political groups.
The Black Mountain elections were the subject of the Finding of Find Lands. All this, taking into account the role of the Orthodox Church and their support to some candidates, was also a part of the impression on mixing in the electoral process and that is part of our concern. Also, we are worried about the work of the State Election Commission, because its members on key decisions, above all, confirming the candidacy, have shown that they are leading primarily to political interests. This is primarily about the rejection of Mr. Spajic's candidacy and the disappearance of part of the signature after the original candidacy of Mr. Danilovic - said Picula.
DIK Decisions in Focus
The head of the office for democratic institutions and human rights Tomaš Mesarić thanked the public for the public interest in their mission.
The elections were competitive, the confirmed candidates could freely run the campaign and are respected by the basic freedom of all citizens, but the candidate's confirmation was not inclusive. The long -standing shortcomings in the legal framework and financing of the campaigns have been registered again. The candidates had equal conditions during the campaign. The lack of a functional Constitutional Court during a large part of the process was a problem. The private media were biased and then they entered the campaigns. We have positively assessed most of the voting process in polling stations. The process is less positively assessed during the counting of voting - said Mesarić, who particularly emphasized the absence of a functional Constitutional Court during a large part of the electoral cycle as a key disadvantage.
Mesaric pointed out that the State Election Commission has manifested discrimination by not accepting the candidacy of some potential candidates and has stepped out of its legal frameworks.
Overall, the adoption of candidacy was not inclusive. Also, we point out that women remain insufficiently represented in electoral processes in Montenegro. They occupy only 18 of 81 seats in parliament, and we only had one candidate in the presidential election and she was a target of threats and was under police protection and a target on social networks. As a contrast, candidates whose candidates were accepted could be free to compete. When it comes to financing campaigns, the largest number of our complaints that have been concerned with the potential regulations that would have governed this from 2020. They have not been respected. Overall, deficiencies in the legal frame significantly affect a bad impression on the lack of transparency in this area - he said.
He pointed out that Montenegro has a variety of media scene, but that the media scene is vulnerable to the influences of business and political interests.
Unfortunately, the public service has decided to direct the almost complete campaign to the least viewed third channel. As many as three of the four private media who followed the elections had an apparent biased reporting - he added, pointing out that he was pleased with which the elections went into a overall quiet atmosphere.
Expectations of Europe's advice
JO O'RAJLI, the leader of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Ireland, pointed out that since 2001 their mission has been following the elections in Montenegro.
Our statement on the eve of the election has underfloated a series of deficiencies in the process, and the decision of the State Election Commission has been concerned. A key need to complete the Constitutional Court. We are pleased that this happened finally, two days after our original statement. I have to underline that whatever the outcome of the election is finally, the newly elected president will have to work openly with parliament to ensure the right to function of state institutions. Also, we expect significant engagement at the work of the Election Law, with the complete completion of the Constitutional Court, especially in mind the parliamentary elections, which will soon be held - said O'rajli, who announced a new report that will submit in Strasbur after the second round of the election 2. April.
M.J.
