Political environment
The Constitutional Charter consist of a accurate definition of the powers of the new State Union. These consist of five coordinating ministries with joint armed forces and common foreign policies. The parliament elects the new president for a four year term. The members of parliament (126) are indirectly chosen and they will be in parliament for a period of four years. The legislative body consist of 250 seats, these are directly chosen by the Assembly.
The judiciary consists of community courts, a few district courts, a Supreme court and a constitutional court. All these courts have jurisdiction, which means they are entitled to rule in criminal law, civil law and administrative cases. Judges are appointed for life.
The current Government of the Republic of Montenegro comprises the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers as well as ministers. Željko Šturanović is the Prime Minister of Montenegro and head of the Government. The ruling party in Montenegro is the center-left Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) (Demokratska Partija Socijalista Crna Gore), in coalition with the much smaller Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (SDP) (Socijaldemokratska Partija Crne Gore).
The President of Montenegro is elected for a period of five years through direct and secret ballots. According to the constitution, the President will represent the republic in the country and abroad.
Members of the European People’s Party
There are no EPP linked parties in Montenegro at the moment.
Projects and activities
Serbia and Montenegro/KAS
Project: 'Women in Politics' - four seminars (May, June, September, and October 2005)
EFF Trainers: Clarien Slot-Abeling, Bieke Oskam, Monique Vogelaar, and Gerda Kempen
In October 2003, the KAS in joint co-operation with the EFF organised a conference in Belgrade on "Women in Politics and Society". More than 80 women took part in the conference. Because of its successful outcome, women from Montenegro asked the KAS to organise a similar conference in Montenegro to which only Montenegrin women would be invited. As a result of these successful conferences, the EFF and KAS have initiated a platform for Montenegrin and Serbian women in politics.
In 2005, four seminars on the following topics were organised for Montenegrin and Serbian women who are active in politics: "Women and the Media", "Violence against Women", "Education and Training for Women", and "Women in Power and Decision-Making".
Project: Conference for Youth associated with EPP Affiliated Parties (June 2006)
The Konrad Adenauer foundation, in co-operation with the YEPP and the EFF's youth organisations, hosted a conference for youth associated with EPP affiliated parties from the Balkan countries. The conference's goal was to start up a structured dialogue between youth from several Balkan countries and between said youth and like-minded youth from Western European countries.
Project: three seminars for youth of G17Plus and DSS (September, October and November 2005)
EFF Trainers: Aart van Bochove, Titus Frankemölle, Hans van der Vlies, Bieke Oskam, and Hester Tjalma-den Oudsten
As a result of a fact-finding mission headed by the EFF Board to Serbia and Montenegro, it was decided that, together with the KAS, three training courses would be organised for youth from DSS and G17PLUS. These parties both have big youth organisations and they were pleased to attend courses on the following topics: "Party Management", Decision-Making Practices", "Building Political Arguments", "Political Lobbying", "Coalition Building", and "Performing in Public".
Reports
English newspapers
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