Montenegro EU envoy Satler sets July deadline for election commission

EU ambassador Johan Satler said that Montenegro’s parliamentary majority and opposition have pledged to resolve the formation and election of members of the Central Election Commission (CIK) by the end of July, ending a prolonged legal vacuum and a series of stalled recruitment processes that critics say were politically motivated.

Satler added that the recent constitutional amendments approved by parliament are a positive step but are not sufficient on their own. He warned that additional reforms of the electoral law are required to meet OSCE/ODIHR standards, improve transparency, implement recommendations on election administration, revise procedures for presidential elections and party financing, and ultimately close the remaining EU negotiation chapters. He expects these reforms to be completed within the month.