ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Belgian king meets leaders in bid to preserve unity, Bloomberg BussinessWeek (2010)

This article reports on the latest political consultation in Belgium. King Albert II is currently holding meeting with the major parties to discuss the coalition building process. The leader of the Socialist Party, Elio di Rupo, believes that the country will have a coalition government in ten days.

Japan PM eyes July election, opposition resists, Reuters (2010)

In Japan, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party presented a motion of no-confidence to the Cabinet. This motion was voted down in the lower house, where the ruling Democratic Party of Japan holds a strong majority of the seats. According to the opposition, the newly-appointed Prime Minister Naoto Kan has no popular mandate. On July 11, the Japanese voters will elect a new upper house.

USA: The Disclosure Act is a matter of campaign honesty, The Washington Post (2010)

This article comments the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which abolished the Disclosure Act. This Act required the disclosure of political spending by special interests and prohibited foreign companies to finance American elections, guaranteeing transparency in the campaign spending.

Colombia: Gaviria to back Santos' candidacy, Colombia Reports (2010)

This article discusses the former Colombia President's decision to support to Juan Manuel Santos' candidacy for the 2010 presidential elections. Former Liberal President Cesar Gaviria released an open letter announcing his decision to support his former foreign trade minister. In the first round presidential election, Santos received the majority of the votes (46.6%), followed by Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus (21%).

Iran: Fate of city council elections still unclear, The Teheran Times (2010)

The Expediency Council passed a bill that requires presidential and city council elections to be held biannually. The Interior Ministry, however, opposes the idea of holding these elections together, and the Minister announced that city council elections will still be hold in 2010. The Minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, also announced that he would uphold the bill if will be ratified.

New security for Solomon Islands ballot boxes, Radio New Zealand (2010)

This article comments the presentation of the new security seals for the ballot boxes for this years elections in Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands Chef Electoral Officer, Polycarp Haununu, stated that the new ballot boxes will have a special numbered seal with the Electoral Commission logo.

USA: Loopholes grow in bill to offset campaign ruling, The New York Times (2010)

This article reports on a Congressional bill that would counter the Supreme Court's ruling on special interests campaign funding. This ruling, Citizens United vs the Federal Election Commission, established that the government may not forbid political spending by corporations in candidate elections. The Democratic Party is fighting hard to pass a bill that would guarantee disclosure on the role of special interests in paying for campaign advertising.

Uganda:Kabaka bolsters EC call for voter registration, The Independent (2010)

The Kabaka of Buganda has encouraged people to register to vote in preparation for next year's elections.

Guinea:Ecowas to Dispatch 200 Election Observers to Conakry, All Africa (2010)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be sending 200 observers to Guinea to observe the June 27th presidential elections.

Central African Republic targets Oct. 24 election, Reuters Africa (2010)

The electoral commission of the Central African Republic have set October 24th as the date for presidential and legislative elections. President Francois Bozize is currently ruling beyond his mandate, because elections could not be organized before June 11 when it expired.

International community concerned over mounting violence ahead of presidential election in Burundi, People's Daily Online (2010)

This article discusses growing concerns over the deterioration of security in Burundi since the beginning of the current series of elections on June 12. Burundi will hold presidential elections on June 28.

Representatives of The Right-wing Parties Ruled Out any Co-operation with Smer-SD (sktoday.com, 2010)

Political party of today's Prime Minister Robert Fico Smer-SD won the general elections reaching 34.79 - percent of votes. Despite the results SMER-SD won't be able to form a coalition as its former coalition partners Slovak National Party and HZDS didn't reach enough of votes.

Slovak right agrees Radicova to lead their cabinet (Forexyard, 2010)

Parties sign declaration on forming cabinet, SDKU election leader Radicova to be prime minister, PM Fico has almost no chance to retain power

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai resists calls for polls, IOL (2010)

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday resisted pressure for elections next year, in opposition to calls made by South African President Jacob Zuma over the weekend.

Rwanda: NEC warns against breaching election guidelines, The New Times (2010)

The National Electoral Commission has warned political parties who act contrary to the stipulated guidelines during elections, that they will be deregistered. According to the Commission, instead of sabotaging elections, the parties should strive to use the proper procedures in place.

Switzerland: Expats voice hopes and fears ahead of elections, Swissinfo (2011)

The article discusses the concerns of the Swiss expatriate citizens who will be voting in their home country’s next elections. Immigration, EU relations and the economic crisis are the central issues that can influence people’s voting orientation.

Iceland: Concerning Parliamentary Elections to the Althing (2000)

 

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Cambodia's 2 royalist political parties merge for next year's elections, Xinhua (2012).

This article discusses the agreement made by the royalist Funcinpec party and the Norodom Ranariddh party to merge together for the parliamentary elections in July 2013.