Influence of political corruption on the decision making process at the local level
Influence of political corruption on the decision making process at the local level

Author(s): Nikola Djonović
Subject(s): Politics, Governance, Government/Political systems, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: Centar za građansko obrazovanje (CGO)
Keywords: Montenegro; political corruption; decision making; local level; municipalities; governance;
Summary/Abstract: The project Corruption at the local level- zero tolerance aims at strengthening the role of civil society organizations, local self-government and competent state bodies in development of policies, monitoring and implementation of campaigns for reduction of corruption in local communities of Montenegro. In line with the principle of balance representation of the northern, central and southern parts of the country, the project encompasses 14 Montenegrin municipalities: Bar, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi, Kolašin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Nikšić, Pljevlja, Plužine, Podgorica, Rožaje and Tivat. The intention of the authors of the analysis „Influence of political corruption on the decision-making process at the local level” is to examine one of the six identified areas - political corruption, through the role of political parties, i.e. its representatives and local self-government bodies. Existing legislative and institutional framework governing this area, media archives and examples from practice have been taken into account during collection of information. Local self-governments are facing a number of risks for emergence of corruption, whereas political corruption produces the most severe systematic consequences for the community. Aside from the fact that it has an adverse effect on the political system, making it dysfunctional, political corruption incites emergence of illegal corruptive (in)actions in many other fields, such as employment, public procurement procedures, concluding of public-private partnerships, in the field of spatial development and work of the local assemblies. Special problem for establishment of a more effective fight against corruption is indolence of the Supreme State Prosecution (SSP) in the cases where there is a reasonable doubt of elements of political corruption, i.e. that the actions of some councillors and party officials are in the zone of criminal liability. The fact that competent institutions, with emphasis on SSP failed to prosecute actions that had led to changing of the electoral will and inexistence of continuous fight against political corruption represent a serious constraint for democratization of Montenegrin society.

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