Podgorica, (MINA) – The Office of President Jakov Milatovic has prepared a comprehensive electoral reform proposal, which includes allowing independent candidates to run in the elections, introducing of open lists and ensuring full gender equality in parliament.

During a conversation with journalists in Villa Gorica, Milatovic announced that his office will submit that proposal to the Parliamentary Comprehensive Electoral Reform Committee.

He explained that one of the key changes involves enabling independent candidates to run in elections.

As Milatovic explained, for the first time everyone will have the right, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, not only to vote, but also to be elected, not under party patronage, but in their own name.

Milatovic stated that the second major change is the introduction of open electoral lists, which means that citizens would be allowed to choose individual candiates within a party list.

“This law ends the practice of voting for parties, but the citizens will rather have the right to choose up to ten candidates from the electoral list they support”, said Milatovic.

He said that the third major change is aimed at the introduction of real gender equality in the Parliament.

“If there is 50 percent of women in Montenegro, 50 percent of women should be in the Parliament. I think that in every political option there are 40 extremely capable women who deserve to sit in the Parliament”, Milatovic added.

When asked whether he expects the support of MPs on the Electoral Reform Committee and in the Parliament for the proposed changes, Milatovic said that, after the proposal is submitted to the Committee, he will invite representatives of all parliamentary clubs to a meeting.

He emphasized that, even if the MPs are against the proposed changes, those reforms will inevitably come.

Milatovic acknowledged the ongoing talks about unifying local elections, which everyone in Montenegro supports, stating that it is important to reach that goal in accordance with the Constitution and the law.