Podgorica, (MINA) - The Council of Youth Initiatives of the President of Montenegro has submitted to the Parliament an initiative to amend the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, which would enable the Roma community to gain the right to a parliamentary mandate with a lower electoral threshold of 0.35 percent of valid votes.

The President Jakov Milatovic’s Office announced that the initiative, aimed at ensuring the authentic representation of the Roma community in the highest legislative body, was launched on the occasion of April 8 – International Roma Day.

“The proposed amendments introduce an affirmative action mechanism that would enable the Roma community to, following the example of the existing solution for the Croatian minority, obtain the right to a parliamentary mandate with a lower electoral threshold of 0.35 percent of valid votes”, the press release states.

Milatovic’s office said that, although Roma make up about 0.9 percent of the population of Montenegro, they have not had an authentic representative in the Parliament until today.

“This situation indicates shortcomings in the implementation of the constitutional right to authentic representation, which is guaranteed to all minority peoples and communities”, the press release says.

It is emphasized that the proposed measure does not represent a privilege, but a necessary corrective mechanism addressing the long-term political exclusion of the Roma community.

The Office also recalled that the initiative was supported by ten representatives of organizations working to improve the position of the Roma community in Montenegro

“The adoption of this initiative would contribute to the strengthening of democratic institutions, greater social inclusion and fulfilling of Montenegro’s international obligations in the EU accession process”, the press release said.