A group of non-governmental organisations and civic activists expresses concern over reports that the local executive authorities in Podgorica have submitted a request to the Ministry of Public Administration for an inspection of the Capital City Assembly concerning the organisation of consultations with citizens on matters of public interest.

Although the content of the request has not yet been made public, the statement by the President of the Capital City Assembly, Srđan Perić, that its purpose is to suspend these consultations is particularly concerning. If confirmed, such a move would run counter to the fundamental principles of participatory and deliberative democracy, according to which the quality and legitimacy of public decisions derive not only from formal voting procedures, but also from open, informed and continuous dialogue between elected representatives and the citizens affected by those decisions.

Consultations, public debates and other forms of direct citizen participation are not merely decorative elements of a democratic system, but an integral and functional part of it—particularly at the local level, where decisions are made that most directly affect people’s daily lives.

The Law on Local Self-Government stipulates that citizens shall participate in decision-making on their needs and interests, both directly and through freely elected representatives (Article 6). In addition to expressly defined forms of direct participation, the Law allows other forms of consultation and decision-making to be established by municipal statutes. It also requires transparency in the work of local self-government bodies and guarantees municipal autonomy, which state authorities may restrict only in the cases and under the conditions prescribed by law.

Montenegro has also ratified the Council of Europe’s European Charter of Local Self-Government, which obliges the state to guarantee the political, administrative and financial autonomy of local authorities and to enable citizens to participate, either directly or through their representatives, in decisions affecting their daily lives. Using inspection mechanisms—whose purpose is to verify the legality of public bodies’ work, rather than to restrict transparency and participation—to prevent consultations with citizens would constitute a misuse of the supervisory function and undermine the autonomy of the local parliament as a representative body.

We call on the executive authorities of the Capital City to publish the request submitted to the Ministry of Public Administration and clearly state its legal basis and purpose. We call on the Ministry of Public Administration to inform the public whether it has initiated an inspection and, if so, to conduct it transparently and strictly within the limits of the law, without jeopardising citizens’ right to information and participation in decision-making.

We call on the Capital City Assembly to continue the practice of consulting citizens and, if necessary, further regulate it through clear rules established in advance. Good local governance is not built by closing institutions off from citizens, but through dialogue, transparency and their meaningful participation in decision-making.

Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)

NGO Prima

Human Rights Action (HRA)

Queer Montenegro

Goran Đurović, civic activist