ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Symposium, conference on election issues in Goa, The Times of India (2010)

This article reports on a symposium held in Goa in the next two days. Many election-related issues will be discussed by election officials, such as monitoring expenditure and how to guarantee participation in the elections. Best practices from all the states in India will be documented and shared by election officials and police superintendents. This symposium is part of the Election Commission of India's Diamond Jubilee (60 years) celebrations.

Guinea prime minister denies bias ahead of vote

In order to avoid the mistakes from the first round, the prime Minister of the transition wants to modify the electoral code to have the Ministry of the Territory to supervise the elections along with independent electoral commission. M. Cellou Dalein Diallo the front runner believes that this decision is made to favor his opponent M. Alpha Condé, which M. Jean Marie Doré denies.

2011: Hard times for political parties •As INEC stops grants to them, halts registration of new parties Nigerian Tribune (2010)

INEC has stopped funding the political parties, according to new electoral code. But they are still going to monitor closely to orgins of the fundings.

Кыргызстан: Бишкек готовится к выборам и интифаде, НГ (2010)

Статья передает, что всего четыре политические партии из 57 заявивших подали документы в ЦИК Киргизии для участия в парламентских выборах 10 октября. Сегодня – последний день приема списков кандидатов и документов, удостоверяющих внесение избирательного залога. В статье также анализируется ситуациа действующего правительства страны и причины по которым многие политические партии не могут участвовать в выборах.

No new government in Australia as election impasse drags on, VOA News (2010)

This article reports on the political situation in Australia. After last week's elections produced an hung parliament, political parties are holding coalition talks unsuccessfully. Experts believe that if the two major parties, the Labor and the opposition, will not reach an agreement with the Green Party lawmaker and the four independents, the country will have to hold new elections.

CNMI Election Commission receives funds to pay for November's poll, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the preparations for the November elections in the Northern Marianas. The Election Commission announced that new funds ($30,000) have arrived for the polls to elect the CNMI delegate to the US Congress. The Commission's proposed budget is $100,000, but the government has been facing economic issues and could not meet this request. Most of the funds will be used for voters' education programmes and printing of the ballot papers.

Kidnapped workers of Afghan female MP found dead, BBC News (2010)

This article discusses the security issue in the electoral campaign in Afghanistan. Five people working for a female candidate running in the parliamentary election in Afghanistan have been killed. Police officials believe that Taliban insurgents might have carried out the executions, as they openly opposed the female candidates in the elections.

Campaign workers killed as Afghan violence spreads, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the security situation in Afghanistan. As elections are approaching, the security situation is deteriorating. Five campaign workers have been found dead in the western Herat province. The five people were campaigning for an outspoken female MP seeking re-election, Fawzia Gilani. During the weekend, a candidate from the same area, Haji Abdul Manan, was killed while walking towards a mosque.

Solomon Islands: UN Secretary General praises peaceful elections, The Solomon Times (2010)

This article reports on the statement made by the UN Secretary General on the elections in the Solomon Islands. The SG spokesperson stated that Ban Ki Moon has commended the people and the government of Solomon Islands for successfully carrying out the last elections. The UN assisted the Solomon Islands by coordinating the deployment of international observers.

Ukraine: Extraordinary session of Verkhovna Rada has opened (NRCU, 2010)

An extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has opened with three questions put on the agenda of its meeting.

The rebalancing of Ukraine's political system (BNE, 2010)

In a speech given to mark Ukraine's 19th year of independence on Aug 24, President Viktor Yanukovych declared that he has a "formula" for strengthening Ukraine that includes "a strong president who has real powers to coordinate and control the implementation of key reform issues and the country's strategic course." The main ingredient in the president's "formula" is a return of Ukraine's government to the presidential-parliamentary system of the Kuchma era. In order to accomplish this, Yanukovych is pushing for a repeal of law No. 2222-IV.

Hungary: Greens to boycott Socialist ethical code in protest against smear (Politics.hu, 2010)

The green opposition party Politics Can Be Different (LMP) said on Friday they would not sign a code of ethics for the upcoming local elections proposed by the main opposition Socialists.

Hungary: Ruling Fidesz expects landslide victory at local elections (Politics.hu, 2010)

The governing Fidesz party expects a victory in the upcoming municipal election similar to the one it gained in the general elections in April, Lajos Kosa, the party's deputy head said in an interview in Magyar Nemzet daily on Saturday.

Hungary: PM Orbán to assess 100 days in office on Sept 7 (Politics.hu, 2010)

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban will assess the first 100 days of his government on September 7, the prime minister's spokesman announced on Friday.

Australia PM rejects fresh election call, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article reports on the Australian Prime Minister's statement against early elections. As a matter of fact, despite the hung parliament, PM Julia Gillard rejected the idea to call early elections. Ms Gillard's Labor party and the opposition Liberal-National coalition are currently holding meetings with independent lawmakers, in order to form a government coalition.

Swedish government in lead ahead of September vote-poll, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the Swedish electoral campaign. New opinion polls show that the center-right coalition government is gaining popularity and would gain enough votes to form a majority government. The Alliance is currently supported by 49.8% of the people, while the center-left opposition by 44.8%. The polls also show that, as of now, the far-right Swedish Democrats would not reach the 4% threshold to enter the parliament.

Tunisia unveils new cabinet, Magharebia (2011)

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on Thursday (December 22nd) presented his government to the Constituent Assembly. The 41-member coalition cabinet consists of 30 ministers and 11 state secretaries.

Yemen: Preparation of security plan for early presidential elections start, Yemen Observer (2011)

This news article says that the Reconciliation Government has approved the budget of early elections scheduled on next February 21, according to memorandum from the Finance Minister following agreement with the Supreme Elections and Referendum Committee (SERC). Meanwhile, the security committees in the governorates continued their meetings that are designated for carrying out early presidential elections on February 21, 2012, that is approved by the SERC.

Kuwait: New faces, new approach needed in Assembly: al-Ghanim, Arab Times (2011)

This news article says that thirty parliament hopefuls from a variety of backgrounds submitted their nomination papers on the sixth day of the election registration period. This brings the total number of registered candidates to 252, including 13 women.

Iraq: Sadrists Call for New Elections , VoA News (2011)

This news article says that the Iraqi political bloc led by anti-American Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has issued a call to dissolve Iraq's parliament and hold early elections, in a move that could escalate the country's growing sectarian crisis.