Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - Elections

Following an invitation from the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Montenegro to observe the presidential election on 6 April 2008.

The presidential election was called by the Speaker of the National Assembly on 17 January 2008. The election was the first for president since the country voted for independence in a referendum on 21 May 2006. The election was conducted under a relatively new legislative framework, with the constitution passed in October of 2007 and the law on the election of the president in December 2007.

Long-term observation

The EOM, headed by Julian Peel Yates of the United Kingdom, consisted of 11 international experts based in Podgorica. In addition, 14 long-term observers were deployed throughout the country from 5 March 2008.

The EOM assessed the presidential election for its compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including commitments agreed to by all OSCE participating States, as well as with national legislation. Observers closely monitored 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.

Election day

The OSCE/ODIHR requested 100 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 6 April election. The short-term observers were deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, counting of ballots, and tabulation of results.

The day after the election, the Election Observation Mission issued a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed ten elections in Montenegro since 1997, most recently the parliamentary elections of 10 September 2006.

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