Podgorica, (MINA) – The opportunity to implement an essential comprehensive reform, which would enable the full democratization of the electoral process, was not fully seized, Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj assessed, stating that the reform cannot be considered complete without a thorough overhaul of the electoral registry.

The Montenegrin parliament MPs adopted on Friday amendments to the laws on elections and local administration, as well as the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns.

“We are pleased that certain ideas from the Concept Law on Local Elections have finally seen the light of day, above all unifying all local elections on a single day, professionalizing electoral bodies, but also increasing electoral gender quotas”, Dukaj wrote on the X social network.

He added that, however, the opportunity to implement a fundamental and comprehensive reform, which would enable the full democratization of the electoral process, in accordance with the best practices, democratic standards and respect for the constitutional order, has been missed.

According to Dukaj, the citizens have been denied key democratic rights – to elect their representatives through open lists and to directly elect the municipal presidents and their deputies.

“Moreover, the reform cannot be complete without significant improvements to the electoral registry, which has caused mistrust among citizens and political actors for years”, said Dukaj.

He added that it is encouraging that the Comprehensive Electoral Reform Committee continues its work, in order to complete this crucial process in a way that reflects the needs of citizens and upholds the principles of constitutional democracy.