ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Lungo Drom wins two-thirds of the vote at national ethnic minority elections, Politics.hu (2011)

The Roma organisation Lungo Drom scored a two-thirds victory at the national ethnic minority elections on Sunday, taking 37 seats in the 53-seat body, while the National Forum of Hungarian Gypsies (MCF) won 16 seats, the National Election Commission (OVB) said Monday evening.

Pakistan: Restructuring of Election Commission, The Daily Times (2011)

This article discusses the restructuring of the Election Commission of Pakistan according to the 18th Amendment. As a first step, the Lower House received nominations for the formation of the 12-member committee to implement the reform in the EC, and which will eventually nominate the members of the commission.

Germany Calls for EU to Renew Sanctions against Belarus, Telegraf.by (2011)

German Government supports the renewal of EU sanctions against Minsk

Belarus Releases Election Protesters From Jail, Interfax Says, Bloomberg (2011)

Interfax reported that Belarus released about 150 demonstrators detained after protesting the results of President Alexander Lukashenko’s re-election last month, citing the Interior Ministry.

DR Congo opposition anger over electoral changes, BBC News (2010)

This article reports on the opposition parties' reaction against the government's plan to change the electoral system in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government announced its intention to change the Constitution in order to elect the president in one round of voting, arguing that this would avoid violent confrontations. As a matter of fact, in the 2006 presidential elections, riots broke out precisely during the second round of voting. The opposition parties, however, argues that this proposal is intended to favor President Kabila's reelection in November.

EU criticizes post-election clampdowns in Belarus, Deutsche Welle (2011)

Belarus closed down the OSCE's local operation, after it called last month's presidential elections in that country "flawed." US and EU diplomats voiced their concern.

West Ratchets Up Pressure On Belarus Over Vote, rferl (2011)

Western leaders are looking for new ways to pile pressure on Belarus because of its presidential election and detention of hundreds of opposition protesters.

Belarus facing unprecedented sanctions, The Telegraph (2011)

Belarus' foreign minister, Sergei Martynov will be told that the EU expects "the immediate release of detainees" imprisoned after a wave of beatings and arrests aimed at the opposition following presidential elections in Belarus in December 2010.

Police Filed Charges against 31 Protesters of December 19, Telegraf.by (2011)

Belarusian police filed charges against 31 members of mass protests, taken place in Minsk after the presidential elections in the evening of December 19 and the night of December 20. Alexander Lastovski, Minsk police spokesman told that over 120 people participated actively in the mass actions.

Money, not politics, behind Congo constitutional amendment, VOA News (2010)

This article comments the proposed constitutional changes that would modify the electoral system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the information minister, Lambert Mende, the country's economic condition is the main reason for the amendment that would eliminate the second round for the presidential elections, as the international community will be unable to fund the upcoming November elections. According to Mr Mende, this amendment will now weaken the opposition in any way.

UN Secretary General calls on Belarus to release detained journalists and opposition leaders, The Sofia Echo (2011)

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on January 10 2011 for the release of journalists, opposition candidates and their supporters who are still detained in Belarus following the presidential elections in December 2010.

Kosovo Reruns Vote Under Heavy Scrutiny, rferl (2011)

Rerun elections in Kosovo

PDK celebrates after revote in Kosovo, SETimes (2011)

More than 52% of the voters in five municipalities in Kosovo cast their votes Sunday (January 9th), repeating the December 12th general elections due to irregularities.

Serbia's Djelic urges compromise solution over Kosovo, SETimes (2011)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said on Friday (January 7th) that the upcoming dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina could be an opportunity for an historic compromise between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians.

Elections to be repeated in Kosovska Mitrovica on January 23, emg.rs (2011)

Central Election Commission of Kosovo-Metohija (CIK) released on Monday that parliamentary elections will be repeated at all voting stations in Kosovska Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, on January 23.

PM’s party wins Kosovo re-election, The Voice of Russia (2011)

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo has won the Sunday re-elections to the parliament of the unrecognized republic.

Moldovan parliament to gather for extraordinary session, Itar-Tass (2011)

The Moldovan parliament will gather for an extraordinary session that is expected to approve a new government.

Leader of Party of Industrialists killed in Ukraine, Itar-Tass (2011)

Alexander Korobchinsky, leader of the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (PIE), has been killed in Ukraine.

Philippines:’ New Comelec head should have IT know-how', The Philippine Star (2011).

This article discusses criteria suggested by political analyst in Philippines for the chairman of the Philippines Commission on Elections.

Indonesia: Election supervisor gets new chairman, The Jakarta Post (2011).

This article discusses the newly elected chairman of the Election Supervisory Body ‘Bawaslu’ in compliance with the decision that a chairman would lead for 2.5 years for the member 5 years tenure.