Presidential Election, 15 April 2018

Following an official invitation to observe the presidential election scheduled for 15 April 2018, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 15 to 19 January 2018, and in accordance with its mandate, ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for this election.

The ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term observation

The ODIHR EOM, headed by Tana de Zulueta, consists of 11 international experts based in Podgorica. In addition, 16 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 14 March.

The ODIHR EOM will assess the election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor voter and candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

Election Day

ODIHR will request 100 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 15 April election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the election, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

International Election Observation Mission press conference, 16 April 2018, Podgorica 

Co-operation with Other Partners

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will deploy observer delegations for the election.

Previous elections

ODIHR has observed six elections since Montenegro declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, most recently the 2016 parliamentary elections.