“The Working Group of the Parliament of Montenegro, which was formed for the implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, organised in the best manner, with observation of full transparency in its work, has managed in a very short time to achieve excellent results, and we are very close to having concrete proposals for improvement of electoral legislation, while a part of materials resulting from the work of the Working Group has already been submitted to the ODIHR for their opinion”, pointed out Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Branimir Gvozdenović, during his meeting with the OSCE Head of Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Ms Maryse Daviet.
Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Branimir Gvozdenović today has met with Ambassador Daviet, as well as with Political Officer at the OSCE Mission Ms Karen Gainer . The topic of the meeting was the sharing of information with regard to the implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations in order to improve electoral legislation.
Voicing his gratitude for the institutional contribution of the OSCE and personal efforts by Ambassador Daviet to apply the best world practice and standards, Vice President Gvozdenović emphasised that the OSCE’s work was especially appreciated in Montenegro before, during and after the election process, and that he believed that Montenegro would soon become a good practice example for others, when it comes to electoral legislation.
Vice President Gvozdenović voiced his regret due to partial or selective boycott of the work of the Parliament by the opposition, with assessment that even indirect participation of the opposition parties in the process of implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations was appreciated. In line with that, Mr Gvozdenović emphasised that the opposition parties, via their proxies - members of institutions and organisations involved in amending the electoral legislation - were however a part of the process, contributing to the efforts and the initiative to improve electoral legislation.
Ambassador Daviet pointed out that the OSCE/ODIHR would soon send a written proposal to the Parliament which would contain the information on the manner in which they could provide technical assistance to the Working Group. She further emphasised that the OSCE Mission would continue to provide technical assistance to the State Election Commission, by providing the information system necessary for the effective transfer of the election results on election day.
Voicing full commitment to the implementation of almost all OSCE recommendations, Vice President Gvozdenović pointed out that DPS would support the initiative to have every third place on electoral lists be given to females, which was met with full approval and praise from the OSCE representatives. In addition to that, Mr Gvozdenović also announced meeting the requests of associations of persons with disabilities, and emphasised that the issue would be defined by the law, and that the pace of its implementation would be defined by secondary legislation.
In conclusion of the meeting, Vice President Gvozdenović voiced his gratitude once again for the OSCE’s support, with assessment that the effective work of the Working Group had shown that the Parliament of Montenegro, regardless of the selective boycott by the representatives of the opposition, could, in full capacity, create preconditions for amending electoral and other legislation, so that almost all recommendations by the OSCE/ODIHR, as well as proposals which had been received as a product of fully transparent work of the Working Group, could be an integral part of the improved electoral legislation.
