President of Montenegro proposes change to open list electoral system

The President of the State, Jakov Milatović, sent to the Assembly the Initiative for the Reform of the Electoral System through the Introduction of Open Electoral Lists. He assessed that the need for this reform stems from the "expressed feeling of citizens' dissatisfaction" with the current state of the political system, which is characterized by limited opportunities for voters to directly influence the choice of their representatives. "By introducing open lists, Montenegro would join numerous European countries that have successfully implemented similar systems, ensuring greater participation of citizens in decision-making and democratization of political processes. The introduction of a system of open electoral lists would mean more than a technical change in the electoral process – it would be a reform that would enable the voice of every citizen to be heard and valued. This change would bring greater transparency to the political process, enable direct influence of citizens on the choice of representatives and ensure the compliance of the electoral system with modern democratic standards," announced Milatović. The initiative indicated that the existing proportional system with closed lists gives political parties complete control over the order of candidates on the list.
Read the full article here: Vijesti