The Higher Court in Bijelo Polje confirmed sentences in which three individuals were given suspended house arrest sentences for electoral tourism in the municipality of Šavnik. The accused provided false information to MUP officials to be registered in the electoral roll in Šavnik, a municipality where they did not actually reside, in order to exercise their right to vote in local elections held in October. The elections in Šavnik were not completed due to blockades by opposition members of electoral boards who contested the voting of newly registered voters, alleged to support the Democratic Party of Socialists. More than a dozen people have been prosecuted for incidents related to the elections in Šavnik, and authorities have proposed amendments to the electoral roll law to prevent voters who deregistered their residence after the elections from voting. The opposition in Šavnik has been blocking the road to Šavnik and Žabljak in protest over the unresolved elections.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the abuse of electoral rights through electoral tourism and the need for stronger protections of democratic processes. They highlight the role of opposition members in trying to ensure fair elections and criticize the ruling party’s alleged manipulation of voter registration.
Center: Centrist sources report the facts of the court rulings and the ongoing electoral issues in Šavnik, focusing on the legal processes and the attempts by authorities to reform electoral laws to prevent irregularities. They present balanced views on the conflict between ruling and opposition parties.
Right: Right-leaning media focus on the enforcement of law and order, supporting the court’s decisions against electoral fraud. They emphasize the importance of maintaining electoral integrity and criticize the opposition’s blockades as disruptive to democratic order.
