Parliamentary Elections, 30 August 2020

Following an official invitation from the authorities of Montenegro, ODIHR has deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) to the 30 August 2020 parliamentary elections. The ODIHR LEOM and the OSCE Mission in Montenegro operate separately under their specific mandates. 

ODIHR press conference: Montenegro, Parliamentary Elections, 31 August 2020

Long-term observation

The ODIHR LEOM, headed by Tamás Meszerics, consists of 11 international experts based in Podgorica. In addition, 10 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 11 August 2020. The ODIHR LEOM will assess the parliamentary elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, campaign activities, election-related legislation and its implementation, and resolution of election-related disputes. They will also assess how prior ODIHR election-related recommendations have being considered.

Election day 

While ODIHR originally requested 100 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 30 August elections, the deployment of short-term observers was not feasible due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions across the OSCE region. Therefore, ODIHR took the decision to change the format of the observation activity from an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM). While the mission will visit a limited number of polling stations on election day, systematic observation of voting, counting or tabulation of results on election day is not envisaged. 

Cooperation with other partners

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are planning to deploy observer delegations for these elections. The day after the elections, ODIHR, together with its parliamentary partners, 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.

Previous elections 

ODIHR has observed seven elections since Montenegro declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. Most recently ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission for the 15 April 2018 presidential election.