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Press release
OSCE/ODIHR dismisses calls for boycott of Montenegrin elections
- Date:
- Place:
- WARSAW
- Source:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Mission to Skopje
- Fields of work:
- Elections
Warsaw, 30 August 2002 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today dismissed calls by some political parties for a boycott of the parliamentary elections in Montenegro scheduled for 6 October.
"There is absolutely no justifiable reason for calling for a boycott or cancellation of the upcoming elections", said Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, the Director of the OSCE/ODIHR. "It would be irresponsible for the sake of short-term tactical advantages to sacrifice the Montenegrin voters' right to freely choose their government from among a broad spectrum of political parties."
The calls for a boycott of the elections came after a series of round tables discussions on amendments to the election legislation ended abruptly on 27 August without reaching a final conclusion, although significant progress had been achieved in most areas, including more effective media supervision.
The OSCE/ODIHR called on the political parties to use this last opportunity and urgently adopt the amendments which would improve the Republic's electoral framework and replace the controversial July changes.
At the same time, the OSCE/ODIHR made clear that the adoption of the amendments in no way can be seen as a precondition for holding elections on 6 October as scheduled. "The present electoral legislation is already adequate for the conduct of democratic elections", said Ambassador Stoudmann. "Preparations for the elections should now begin without delay." He confirmed that a possible boycott would have no bearing on an OSCE/ODIHR observation of the upcoming elections.
"There is absolutely no justifiable reason for calling for a boycott or cancellation of the upcoming elections", said Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, the Director of the OSCE/ODIHR. "It would be irresponsible for the sake of short-term tactical advantages to sacrifice the Montenegrin voters' right to freely choose their government from among a broad spectrum of political parties."
The calls for a boycott of the elections came after a series of round tables discussions on amendments to the election legislation ended abruptly on 27 August without reaching a final conclusion, although significant progress had been achieved in most areas, including more effective media supervision.
The OSCE/ODIHR called on the political parties to use this last opportunity and urgently adopt the amendments which would improve the Republic's electoral framework and replace the controversial July changes.
At the same time, the OSCE/ODIHR made clear that the adoption of the amendments in no way can be seen as a precondition for holding elections on 6 October as scheduled. "The present electoral legislation is already adequate for the conduct of democratic elections", said Ambassador Stoudmann. "Preparations for the elections should now begin without delay." He confirmed that a possible boycott would have no bearing on an OSCE/ODIHR observation of the upcoming elections.
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