ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Iceland's PM: elections the end of four-party system, Iceland Review (2010)

This article discusses the statement of Prime Minister of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir. The Prime Minister stated that after Saturday's municipal elections the four-party system is over, and that all parties should be aware of this. In Reykjavik, new parties won seats in the council and presented themselves as bearers of new ideas.

Iceland: More voters than ever hand in empty ballots, Iceland Review (2010)

This article points out to a significant new trend in Iceland's latest elections. On Saturday's municipal elections, 6.4% of the voters turned in an empty or invalid ballot, whereas in the 2006 only 2.4% did.

Iceland: Comedian elected Reykjavik's mayor, Financial Times (2010)

This article comments the results of the latest municipal elections in Iceland. Jon Gnarr Kristinsson, stand-up comedian, was elected mayor of Reykjavik. The Best Party represents the people’s dissatisfaction towards politics after the country's 2008 economic crisis.

Call for French Polynesia independence referendum, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the statement by Oscar Temaru, leader of the assembly, about the possibility of a referendum on the territory's independence. Mr Temaru reached this decision after France's attempts to impose reforms. However, French Polynesia is not on the UN list of territories to be decolonised.

Georgia: Distribution of Seats in Tbilisi City Council, Civil.ge (2010)

The article reports that in the result of 30 May 2010 nationwide local elections in Georgia, the ruling National Movement party will have 39 seats in new 50-member Tbilisi City Council with the rest 11 seats distributed among four other parties. The ruling party is also heading to winning majority of seats in rest of 63 councils across the country.

Georgia opposition leader Alasania says: Elections Valid, Time to Keep Sight on 2012 Polls

Georgia's opposition leader Irakli Alasania told his party activists on May 31, that Sunday elections were valid despite minor irregularities. The said that the new target should be 2012 elections.

OSCE Notes 'Significant Shortcomings' In Georgia Vote, RFE/RL (2010

The article presents results of OSCE/ODIHR preliminary election assessment report for Georgia's local elections, stating the election was "transparent" and marked "evident progress towards meeting international standards." But the OSCE statement added that "significant shortcomings remain to be addressed."

Georgia: Local Watchdog Group on Local Elections, Civil.ge (2010)

This article summarizes the report of ISFED, leading domestic election watchdog in Georgia. ISFED preliminary report says that election administration and the government demonstrated will to conduct fair elections, however, a number of tendencies observed on the election day cast the shadow on positive assessment.

OSCE/ODIHR Press release on Georgian local election, OSCE/ODIHR (2010)

The OSCE/ODIHR press release on May 30, 2010 municipal elections in Georgia states that observers marked evident progress towards meeting international standards, but significant shortcomings remain to be addressed.

Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions on the Municipal Elections in Georgia, 30 May 2010, OSCE/ODIHR (2010)

The preliminary findings and conclusions of International election observation mission in Georgia mention in the preliminary report that the 30 May municipal elections marked evident progress towards meeting OSCE and Council of Europe commitments. However, significant remaining shortcomings include deficiencies in the legal framework, its implementation, an uneven playing field, and isolated cases of election-day fraud. The authorities and the election administration made clear efforts to pro-actively address problems. Nevertheless, the low level of public confidence persisted.

Georgia: ISFED Preliminary statement on May 30, 2010 Local Self-government and Parliament by-elections, ISFED (2010)

This is the preliminary report of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Georgian domestic election watchdong, on the May 30 elections. ISFED carried out Election Day monitoring of the May 30 Local Elections and Parliamentary by-elections of Georgia. The organization observed the voting process through 1100 PEC observers, 73 DEC observers, 73 mobile groups and 15 legal teams. At the same time the organization conducted qualitative and quantitative monitoring of Election Day.

Georgia: quantitative monitoring results of May 30, 2010 Local Self-government elections, ISFED (2010)

This document presents a diagram of the results of May 30 local government elections in Georgia: Tbilisi Mayoral election results, Nationwide List proportional results, and Tbilisi's list proportional results.

Suriname's uneasy elections, Stabroek News (2010)

This article discusses the results of the latest elections in Suriname. Last Tuesday, the people of Suriname elected Desi Bouterse as Prime Minister. Bouterse is the country's former dictator, and he is currently under trial for political killings.

Democracy at the Local Level (2001)

In today’s globalizing world, there is growing emphasis on local democracy. More than ever, cities need new ideas for ways of managing the political challenges and opportunities that arise from increased urbanization and globalization. Governing effectively at the local level is all the more urgent as vigorous local civic engagement builds the foundation for a strong and more enduring national-level democracy. Organized in six chapters and written by experts from around the world, this International IDEA Handbook offers: Practical suggestions for designing systems of local governance Principles and policies for managing culturally diverse cities Choices for enhancing local elections and representative democracy Options for expanding citizen participation Recommendations for the international community for enhancing local democracy.

Democracy and Deep-Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators (1998)

The handbook provides practical advice on how to broker peace in countries emerging from deep-rooted conflict and outlines options negotiators can draw upon when trying to build or rebuild democracy. The handbook provides a thorough overview of democratic levers - such as power-sharing formulas, questions of federalism and autonomy, options for minority rights, constitutional safeguards and many others. It analyses actual negotiated settlements from places like Bosnia, Fiji, Northern Ireland, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and South Africa. Written by international experts and experienced negotiators, the handbook is designed as a quick reference tool containing numerous case studies, fact sheets and practical examples.

[···]

 

South Korean ruling party likely to fare well in local elections, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article discusses the main issues in the electoral campaign in South Korea. On Wednesday, the South Korean people will vote for local elections. According to the latest polls, the ruling Grand National Party will still gain the majority of the votes.

Dutch parties manoeuvring into pre-election positions, Radio Netherlands Worldwide (2010)

This article discusses the electoral campaign of the main political parties and leaders in the Netherlands. One week before the general elections, candidates try to find the most strategic and effective political statements.

Poland sends election observers to Georgia (News from Poland, 2010)

A group of politicians and experts from Poland has arrived in Tbilisi as observers of local elections in Georgia. The voting took place last Sunday and is the first local election since the end of the Russian-Georgian conflict over Southern Ossetia.

[···]