Human Rights Action (HRA) welcomes the nomination of two candidates for judges of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro at yesterday’s session of the Constitutional Committee of the Parliament.

It is encouraging that the Deputy Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms (Ombudsman), Mirjana Radović, and the judge of the High Court in Podgorica, Jovan Jovanović, have been given the green light to be considered by the full Parliament. Neither has ever been a member of a political party, nor is there any known political party favoring their candidacy.

Both candidates, in addition to meeting the requirements of the public call, are deserving of election due to their personal integrity and professional competence. Mirjana Radović spent seven years as a legal advisor at Human Rights Action and the past eight years at the Ombudsman’s institution, first as an advisor and then as Deputy Ombudsman. She has independently issued several important opinions in complex cases concerning protection from torture and other forms of abuse. Jovan Jovanović served for years as a civil law judge at the Basic Court in Ulcinj, and later as a criminal judge at the High Court in Podgorica. The broad experience of both candidates can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of different aspects of human rights protection by the Constitutional Court.

At the sessions of the Constitutional Committee, neither the expertise of the candidates nor their capacity for impartial decision-making—so necessary for the Constitutional Court of Montenegro—was disputed.

We believe that all candidates should be discussed publicly by MPs in the Parliament—both in Committee sessions and in the plenary—rather than through behind-the-scenes dialogues and criticism on social media.

The nomination of candidates is an important step toward filling vacancies in the Constitutional Court and ensuring effective protection of human rights, constitutionalism, and the rule of law. Completing the Constitutional Court is also essential for Montenegro’s progress toward the European Union.

The Constitution stipulates that the Constitutional Court shall have seven judges. Currently, there are four, and one of the judges will step down in December. This means four judges must be elected—two proposed by the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee and two by the President of the State.

HRA expects the Parliament of Montenegro to elect all necessary judges as soon as possible and thereby accelerate the country’s path toward the European Union.