Montenegro Parliament moves to replace Dragan Koprivica in election commission

The Administrative Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro is initiating the replacement of Dragan Koprivica in the commission responsible for electing the president and members of the Central Election Commission (CIK). This move aims to expedite the procedure for establishing the new election body.

Koprivica, the executive director of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), recently resigned from his position following amendments to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament. He argued that the legislative changes rendered the CDT's participation in the commission meaningless, claiming that professional and expert criteria for CIK members have become practically voluntary. He warned that the new legal framework could allow for the selection of candidates who meet only minimum administrative requirements without prior electoral experience.

Montenegro is currently undergoing a transition where the State Election Commission (DIK) is to be transformed into a professional, depoliticized Central Election Commission. However, the DIK is currently in a state of formal blockade because its president, Nikola Mugoša, has become a judge of the Constitutional Court. Consequently, there is currently no functional body in the country capable of conducting elections in the event of an extraordinary election.