19 March 2023, Podgorica, Montenegro – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), following the official invitation by the Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Danijela Đurović, deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM), on the occasion of the 2023 Presidential elections in Montenegro.

The PAM delegation in Montenegro was composed by Hon. Belal Qasem, PAM Vice-President (Palestine), Hon. Dumitrita Gliga (Romania), Sen. Horea Soporan (Romania), PAM Member Emeritus, and representatives of the PAM Secretariat. On the first day of the mission, PAM delegates met with Hon. Dragan Krapović, Head of the Delegation of Montenegro to PAM, who gave an overview of the current socio-economic and political developments in the country, and details on the electoral law and process.

On the Election Day, the delegation visited polling stations in Podgorica, Cetinje, Kotor, Budva, and Bar. The EOM reported that, in all the polling stations monitored, the voting procedures were conducted regularly, with transparency, openness and discipline, both of the voters and of the staff of the election committees. This was also acknowledged and shared by colleagues from other international monitoring missions, among others, PACE, OSCE PA and the European Parliament, who praised the civic spirit of Montenegrin voters.

As a result of the first turn of the Presidential elections, the run-off will be held on 2 April 2023. Moreover, legislative elections will take place on 11 June 2023.

PAM delegates wish to thank the authorities of Montenegro for allowing them to be a part of the election process, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Montenegro delegation to PAM, for the kind advice and assistance.

PAM wishes also to express its appreciation to other State institutions, political parties and civil society organizations representatives for their cooperation.//