(AGENPARL) – Wed 26 March 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG020(2025)
Council of Europe Congress calls for electoral and local self-government reforms in Montenegro
Rapporteur Randi Mondorf (Denmark, R, ILDG) noted that the Congress delegation, which visited 55 polling stations, found the procedures were largely followed in polling stations and the use of electronic identification ensured greater confidence in the identification process. The delegation also welcomed the availability of mobile ballot boxes, which facilitated voting for persons with disabilities. However, the Congress delegation observed breaches of the secrecy of the vote due to the polling station layout and the lack of clear distinction between polling officials and party representatives and invited the authorities to reinforce electoral integrity.
The Congress called on the Montenegrin authorities to make a stronger commitment to local self-government and electoral reform and to pursue the initiative to hold all elections on the same day to prevent electoral tourism. In its resolution, the Congress undertakes to strengthen a post monitoring and electoral dialogue with the authorities of Montenegro, and in particular the Ministry of Public Administration, with the aim to improve the situation pertaining to local democracy and local elections in the country in line with the Charter and electoral standards.
Finally, the Congress highlighted other areas for improvement, such as enhancing election administration transparency, ballot box sealing, accreditation of polling station members, and stepping up regulations on social media campaigning, abuse of administrative resources and campaign financing. It also encouraged the authorities to find a quick resolution to the situation of local democracy in Šavnik where local elections have remained incomplete despite nine rounds of voting between October and December 2022.
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Communication Unit
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Tunç Soyer (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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