The Ministry of Public Administration in Montenegro has reiterated its commitment to local governance stability following recent developments within the Kotor Municipal Assembly. In a formal statement, the ministry emphasized that its guidance regarding the assembly’s legal obligations is firmly rooted in established law and aims to protect the integrity of local self-governance rather than individual mandates.
The ministry’s remarks come in response to claims of legal interpretation favoring certain political interests. It clarified that this is not a new legal stance but a continuation of its consistent application of the Local Government Act. The act mandates that a municipality must elect its president within 30 days of the assembly’s constitution. According to the ministry, similar situations have arisen in other municipalities such as Bar, Bijelo Polje, and Budva throughout 2023, where the same legal position was upheld.
In this context, the ministry underlined that Kotor is just one among several local government units requiring adherence to legal protocols. Refuting allegations of bias, the ministry described such insinuations as not only unfounded but damaging, asserting that they appear to substitute legal arguments with political rhetoric when legal justifications are lacking.
The crux of the ministry’s legal argument centers on the imperative nature of the requirement for the assembly to choose a president within the stipulated time frame. Failure to do so, the ministry warned, could lead to severe consequences, including the truncation of the assembly’s mandate as per the Local Government Act.
The ministry aims to avoid any legal uncertainty and to uphold the democratic framework within Montenegro. It stated, “The Municipal Assembly is a representative body elected directly by citizens in free elections, while the president is an executive authority accountable to this assembly.”
In the specific case of Kotor, where the assembly’s mandate expired in March 2025, the president elected by the previous assembly has continued to act despite clear legal requirements for a new election following the constitution of the new assembly. This situation raises critical questions about accountability, as the president appears to be operating without the necessary mandate from a currently existing assembly.
The ministry further asserted that allowing the current president to maintain their role undermines the constitutional and legal framework governing local autonomy, leading to a potential crisis of governance. It highlighted the essential principle of executive accountability to the representative body, warning that if this situation persists, it would effectively disenfranchise the electorate’s will expressed through democratic elections.
The Ministry of Public Administration cannot endorse the viewpoint emanating from Kotor, as it poses a threat to the local governance system and the balance between executive and legislative authorities. Accepting the notion that the president need not be elected post-assembly constitution could lead to grave implications, including the president retaining their mandate beyond the prescribed electoral period.
In July 2025, Montenegrin lawmakers restricted the terms of municipal presidents to a maximum of 60 days following the confirmation of mandates for newly elected assembly members. This measure was aimed at ensuring timely transitions and maintaining democratic integrity.
Concerning the administrative findings sent by the ministry, it is noted that they were dispatched on February 5, 2026. The ministry expressed its commitment to addressing the current challenges without delving into procedural matters at this time.
In light of recent judicial rulings mentioned in public discourse, the ministry clarified that these decisions regarding the duration of municipal presidents’ mandates do not pertain to the specific legal context of Kotor. Therefore, they cannot be mechanically applied to the current situation.
The ministry remains steadfast in its dedication to upholding the law, preserving the constitutional order, and ensuring the democratic legitimacy of local government bodies. It concluded by stating that those who fail to comprehend or wish to disregard this legal framework will face legal accountability for their actions, affirming that the ministry’s role in this matter is definitive.
