Montenegro's Central Election Commission stalls amid accusations of political interference

Montenegro’s Central Election Commission (CIK) has failed to fill its leadership positions after multiple competition rounds. Lawyer Amer Šukurica, a candidate for the commission’s presidency, alleges that the parliamentary commission deliberately disqualifies qualified jurists to lower standards and install political loyalists. He points to the legal requirement that CIK members hold law degrees and have extensive experience in the judiciary, human‑rights work, and electoral systems, and claims the commission creates a “legal vacuum” to justify rejecting professional candidates.

Members of the State Election Commission, including Damir Suljević, warn that the continued inability to appoint CIK officials threatens the upcoming parliamentary elections. Suljević says the process is compromised, that proposals to amend election law contradict international recommendations, and that the delay jeopardises the preparation of municipal election commissions and other electoral procedures. Both officials stress that the stalemate could undermine the legitimacy of Montenegro’s electoral system in the run‑up to the elections.