The preliminary statement of the international observers of the presidential election in Montenegro on 15 April has highlighted a mixed picture as regards the organisation of the elections. These elections saw the re-election of Milo Đukanović with 54% of the votes. He had withdrawn from parliamentary sittings following the parliamentary elections of October 2016.
In a press release, the head of the European Parliament delegation, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, said that while "fundamental freedoms were, indeed, respected" and the elections managed positively, work was still needed "on the laws governing elections and on electoral reform in general". "The relevant political actors in Montenegro will need to work together to effectively address these shortcomings, as a step along the path toward realising their European aspirations", he added.
According to the observers, the governing party candidate held an institutional advantage and, while the candidates campaigned freely and the media provided the contestants with a platform to present their views, "the lack of analytical reporting and absence of the frontrunner in the televised debates reduced voters’ opportunity to make an informed choice".
The observers also said that "the transparency and professionalism of the State Election Commission remain issues of concern". "Election day proceeded in an orderly manner, despite a few procedural irregularities", they said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)