ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Botswana splinter group forms new party, IOL (2010)

A splinter group of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party which recently fell out with its leader and country President Ian Khama has formed a new party, an official confirmed Tuesday.

Madagascar: Leaders to Meet in New Bid to Resolve Political Deadlock, All Africa (2010)

Four months after Madagascar's de facto leader Andry Rajoelina repudiated internationally-brokered mechanisms aimed at restoring constitutional rule, African leaders will make a new attempt this week to resolve the country's political deadlock.

Zambia: ECZ not decided on where to print 2011 ballot papers, Lusaka Times (2010)

The Electoral Commission of Zambia says it has not yet decided on whether to have ballot papers for the 2011 elections printed in Zambia or South Africa.

Zambia: Mufumbwe Ballot Papers Distribution Starts, All Africa (2010)

MUFUMBWE parliamentary by-election returning officer Rogers Chayang'a has said the distribution of ballot papers in the constituency which started on Monday is going on smoothly ahead of tomorrow's polls.

Zambia: UNIP Markets Musa Banda, All Africa (2010)

UNIP national elections chairperson Chigaga Banda has urged the people of Milanzi to vote for the former ruling party candidate Musa Banda in tomorrow's parliamentary by-election because he has sound leadership qualities.

Zambia: Battle lines drawn for Mufumbwe, Milanzi by-elections, Lusaka Times (2010)

Today marks the end of a grueling campaign period for the two parliamentary by elections in Mufumbwe and Milanzi.

Zambia: Banda clarifies move to adopt Muzungu for Mufumbwe by-election, Lusaka Times (2010)

President Rupiah Banda has clarified the move by the ruling MMD to field Zambia’s Ambassador to Libya, Mulondwe Muzungu as MMD parliamentary candidate for Mufumbwe by-election.

Zambia: ‘Fr Bwalya wants to contest Kwacha seat’, Lusaka Times (2010)

MMD deputy national treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulima has said Change Life Zambia director Frank Bwalya is seeking to contest the position of Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwacha Constituency in Kitwe in next year’s tripartite elections.

Antigua & Barbuda: Electoral Commission member resigns, Caribbean Daily News (2010)

A member of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission has resigned less than a week after Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer criticised the commission in the wake of a High Court ruling that declared his parliamentary seat and that of two other Cabinet ministers invalid.

Antigua & Barbuda: Electoral Commission “shocked” at PM’s recent statements, Carribean Daily News (2010)

The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) says it is “shocked at the malicious and unwarranted attacks” made against it by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer at a public meeting last week as the fall-out continues from a recent High Court ruling voiding the election of Spencer and two Cabinet ministers.

Slovakia: Poll of voters shows Smer well ahead; SDKÚ, SaS and KDH nearly neck-to-neck (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Ruling coalition Smer party would have won a general election with 35.1 percent of the votes had the election taken place in the latter half of April according to polling results released by the MVK agency on April 28, the TASR newswire reported.

Ethiopia: Forum expresses distrust in AU, EU election observers, The Reporter (2010

The Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Forum) on Thursday said that it does not accept the neutrality of the African Union and European Union Election Observers. "We know how the AU and EU observed previous elections in Ethiopia. This time, too, we will not expect any impartial observation from them," said Beyene Petros, chairman of Forum. Beyene added that his party had no idea as to what exactly the election observers were doing in Ethiopia and that the observers have not made any attempts to talk to any of his party members.

Ethiopia:EU EOM deploys election observers, The Reporter (2010)

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia (EU EOM) deployed 90 Long Term Observers (LTOs) to every region of the country on Tuesday April 27, it was learnt. These groups of observers arrived in Ethiopia on April 24 and stayed in the capital city for three days to undergo a series of briefings on various aspects of the electoral process. Out of the total number, 81 were deployed by car while the rest flew to their destination. The mission is working hard to contribute to the democratic nature of the election, Tony Reis, Deputy Chief Observer of EU EOM told The Reporter.

Kenya:AG to publish draft May 6, KBC (2010)

Attorney General Amos Wako said Thursday the publication of the draft law in both English and Kiswahili will herald the referendum in August. Earlier, Wako had promised to publish the draft within seven days upon receiving the draft law from parliament on April 7th.

Malaysia: May 27 For Case Management Of Sivakumar's Challenge Of Ec Decision, Bernama (2010).

This article discusses the application of former Perak state assembly speaker and six others for judicial review of the Election Commission's (EC) decision not to hold by-elections for three state seats in Perak.

Malaysia: DAP Launches Sibu By-election Fund, Bernama (2010).

This article discusses DAP fund-raising campaign for the Sibu parliamentary by-election.

Thai Anti-government Protestors Seek EU's Help To Protect Them, Bernama (2010).

This article discusses the Thai anti-government protesters who submitted a letter to the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Thailand and asked help to prevent government from using forces to deal with them.

Thailand warns international community not to meddle in its political affairs, Channel News Asia (2010).

This article discusses Thailand Foreign Minister who told reporters that Thai government was "in control" of the situation and did not need international intervention.

Myanmar: Suu Kyi asks court to stop party dissolution, Bangkok Post (2010).

This article discusses Aung San Suu Kyi who filed a lawsuit with Burma's Supreme Court for an attempt to prevent the dissolution of her party under the new election law.

Myanmar: New Political Parties' Biggest Challenge: Money, The Irrawaddy (2010).

This article discusses the registration for political parties in Myanmar 2010 election.