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 has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Montenegro to observe the presidential election. The first round of the election will take place on 6 April 2008. If no candidate wins over 50 per cent of votes cast, a second round will be held on 20 April 2008.

The presidential election was called by the Speaker of the National Assembly on 17 January 2008. The election will be the first for president since the country voted for independence in a referendum on 21 May 2006. The election will be 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, consists of 11 international experts based in Podgorica. In addition, 14 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 5 March 2008.

The EOM will assess 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 will closely monitor 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 will request 100 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 6 April election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, counting of ballots, and tabulation of results. Contingent on the possibility of a second round, short-term observers may be requested to monitor the run-off election.

The day after the election, the Election Observation Mission will issue 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.