ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Togo hopes for more peaceful presidential election, BBC News (2010)

As the closely watched polls are taking place in Togo today, all parties stress the need for their peaceful conduct, so that violence from last election is not repeated. 6,000 member election security force is in place and several organizations such as the EU, AU and ECOWAS are observing the election. The two main candidates are the current president Faure Gnassingbe running for his second term, and Jean Pierre Fabre of the Union of Forces for Change, which believes that it won last elections as well.

Dutch anti-Islam leader is major winner in polls, Reuters (2010)

Local authority polls, seen as a first test of the public opinion after the fall of Balkenende's government, were won by Geert Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) in the city of Almere. His party came second in the Hague. The results, together with an opinion survey which indicates that he would win the most seats (27 out of 150) in the Dutch parliamentary elections, scheduled for June 9, make Wilders a serious challenger of power in the upcoming elections.

Nigeria ruling party wants Muslim leader for 2011 poll, BBC News (2010)

Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party has indicated that since a southern Christian had led Nigeria for 8 years, a northern Muslim should now be able to do the same. This would effectively disable the acting president, Goodluck Jonathan who is a southern Christian, to run for presidency in 2011. Under an unwritten power-sharing agreement within the People's Democratic Party, party's presidential candidates should rotate between north and south after every two terms in office.

Nigeria: Groups call for review of voters' register, Nigeria Daily Champion Newspaper (2010)

A coalition of around 50 civil society organizations has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to start with voter register review, so that it can accommodate those who have moved and those who have just reached the voting age of 18 years, while deleting the names of the deceased.

Socialists not to support Fidesz against Jobbik in 2nd round (Politics.hu, 2010)

The Socialist party's candidates will not step down in favour of main opposition Fidesz in the second round of elections, Socialist prime minister candidate Attila Mesterhazy said on Monday.

Collection of electoral nomination forms at half-way stage (Politics.hu, 2010)

The period for gathering electoral nomination forms has now reached the half-way mark.

Green party LMP not to name PM candidate (Politics.hu, 2010)

The green Politics Can Be Different (LMP) party seeks to become a parliamentary force rather than a governing party and has therefore decided not to nominate a prime minister candidate for the upcoming general elections, a senior LMP official told national daily Nepszabadsag on Tuesday.

Socialists: past, present and uncertain future (The Budapest Times, 2010)

The ovation given to the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) prime ministerial candidate Attila Mesterházy’s speech on Saturday, 20 February brought back memories of Ferenc Gyurcsány’s triumphant debut as prime ministerial candidate that instantly won over MSZP supporters at the party congress in September 2004.

Ukrainian Parliament Seals Leader’s Ouster (The New York Times, 2010)

MOSCOW — The Parliament in Ukraine passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko on Wednesday, ousting the last of the Orange Revolution leaders from power but almost certainly not from politics.

PM Tymoshenko to take leave, first deputy to take over (RIA Novosti, 2010)

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whose government was dismissed by parliament on Wednesday, will take a leave of absence, handing duties to her first deputy, Oleksandr Turchynov, a Ukrainian news agency reported.

Klaus hopes elections will bring stable govt (Prague Daily Monitor, 2010)

Prague, March 1 (CTK) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus hopes that this year's general election will be the last in the three years that are left until the end of his presidential tenure, as the country urgently needs a functioning government, he said at the presentation of his new book, The Year Seven, yesterday.

Klaus and Topolánek make peace in run-up to elections (Prague Daily Monitor, 2010)

Prague, March 3 (CTK) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Civic Democrat (ODS) chairman Mirek Topolanek have observed the truce in the past months ahead of the May 28-29 general election since it is advantageous for both of them.

Burmese Election Expected to be Credible: Asean Secretary, The Irrawaddy (2010).

This article discusses The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) expectation for the 2010 election in Burma to be credible and transparent.

Burma: An Alternative Solution to Amend the Constitution, The Irrawaddy (2010).

This article discusses Burma 2008 constitution and election scheduled for 2010.

Burma: Again, Than Shwe Mentions Election But No Date, The Irrawaddy (2010).

This article discusses the statement released by Burmese Snr-Gen Than Shwe regarding election that will be held in 2010.

Indonesia: South Tangerang mayor hopefuls begin campaigning, The Jakarta Post (2010).

This article discusses the campaign of candidates for mayor in 2010 local elections in Indonesia.

Indonesia: Over 116,000 voters registered for Bintan election, The Jakarta Post (2010).

This article notes the 116,002 voters registered for Bintan regional elections in Indonesia.

Indonesia: Improving the management of direct local elections, The Jakarta Post (2010).

This article notes the organization of local direct elections for 2010 that will be held in 244 regions in Indonesia.

Indonesia: Bawaslu-KPU Election Law Battle in Court, The Jakarta Globe (2010).

This article discussess the judicial review filed by the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to the constitutional court regarding the selection of members of regional Election Supervisory Committees (Panwas).

Philippines: All automated machines here–Comelec, Philippine Daily Inquirer (2010).

This article discusses the complete delivery of counting machines for the 2010 Philippines automated elections.