Montenegro Opposition Ends Boycott With Call for Elections

Leaders of the strongest opposition alliance in Montenegro, the URA movement and the Democrats [Demokrate] are heading to Brussels next week to present what they call a plan to overcome the long-lasting political crisis in the country.

The leader of URA, Dritan Abazovic, and the Democrats' chief, Aleksa Becic, will meet the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, early next week.

The meeting comes after two parties demanded the formation of the special parliamentary commission composed of both ruling and opposition representatives.

Its aim would be to revise the election and judiciary laws in line with the recommendations of the international community, but also deal with organized crime and corruption and political pressure on the public broadcaster RTCG.

The work of the commission should lead also to what they call "the first ever fair and free elections in the country".

Their plan, presented on Wednesday, is seen as marking an end to an opposition boycott that started after the October 2016 general election when the entire opposition left parliament, alleging abuse of the elections and demanding fresh snap elections.

The boycott started after the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, run by the country's veteran leader Milo Djukanovc, won yet another election.

Although URA and the Democrats did not confirm having ended the boycott, Commissioner Hahn on Twitter said he welcomed that Becic and Abazovic had announced "their gradual return to the parliament" and welcomed also a "decision saying that all political actors in democratic institutions need to engage constructively in debate and reforms".

Hahn said he was looking forward to meeting the Montenegro opposition leaders in Brussels.

URA's leader,...

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