ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Georgia: OSCE Deploys Mission to Observe Local Elections, Civil.ge (2010)

The article reports that OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has deployed 16 experts based in Tbilisi and 24 long-term observers will be deployed from next weekend across the country to monitor pre-election campaign ahead of the May 30 local elections.

Kyrgyzstan: ousted president's comeback bid ends in retreat

The article reports that a bid by the nominal Kyrgyz president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, to stage a comeback in Kyrgyzstan's second largest city, Osh, ended in fiasco on April 15 after he was forced to beat an ignominious retreat amid chaotic competing demonstrations.

Police Chief Says Kyrgyz Scenario 'Impossible In Armenia', RFE/RL (2010)

Teh article reports about the press conference of Armenia's police chief on 16 April, when the latter warned the country's opposition leaders against staging the kind of revolt that brought down the government in Kyrgyzstan.

Azerbaijani Police Disperse Rally, Detain Activists, RFE/RL (2010)

The article writes that Azerbaijani police have broken up an opposition rally against restrictions on freedom of assembly in the capital city and briefly detained demonstrators. Baku deputy police chief said "several people" were arrested due to "disobedience toward police." Opposition Musavat Party officials said more than 30 people were detained.

North Cyprus winner vows peace bid, Aljazeera (2010)

The winner of Turkish-held Northern Cyprus' leadership election has vowed to continue peace talks aimed at reunifying the divided island. Dervis Eroglu, the head of a party opposed to reunification of Cyprus, won 50.4 per cent of Sunday's vote, just enough to avoid a runoff against Mehmet Ali Talat, the incumbent.

Nationalist Dervis Eroglu wins Turkish Cypriot election, Irish Times (2010)

Mr Eroglu, the current prime minister, won by a whisker in one round by taking 50.38 per cent of the vote. Incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat trailed with 42.85 .

Forum to observe Nauru General Elections, Solomon Star (2010)

At the invitation of the Government of Nauru the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is sending a small team of Forum election observers to monitor and assess the general elections in Nauru. Polling in Nauru takes place on 24 April 2010.

New Afghan election chief promises to clean house, Washington Post (2010)

Afghanistan's newly appointed election chief promised on Sunday to remove officials responsible for fraud in last year's presidential vote in time to hold a cleaner parliamentary election this year.

Opposition antics prompt Nauru woman to enter politics, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

Greta Harris who is standing in the Nauru elections this weekend says she was prompted to enter the race by the opposition’s antics.

Austria: Fischer 'satisfied' with first term as election nears, Austrian Times (2010)

President Heinz Fischer said he was "satisfied" with his first term in office as Austrians head to the polling booths next Sunday (25 April). Fischer is up against the Freedom Party’s (FPÖ) Barbara Rosenkranz and Rudolf Gehring, head of the non-parliament Christians Party (CPÖ) in the upcoming election. He took office in 2004 and decided last year to run for a second term.

Austria: 'Jelly politics' attack as Kogler named Styrian Greens front runner. Austrian Times (2010)

Greens Graz Vice Mayor Lisa Rücker claimed the big two parties would make "wobbly jelly politics" as her party named Werner Kogler front runner for autumn’s provincial election.

Repeat vote in two Sri Lanka seats, BBC (2010)

Repeat polls for Sri Lanka's April parliamentary elections are being held in two districts where the ballots were annulled because of violence.

Police continue crackdowns on regional election events, The Hankyoureh (2010)

Amid the campaign season for the June 2 regional elections, regional election commissions and police have prohibited or forcibly dispersed events.

Afghan vote registration opens, law unresolved, Reuters (2010)

Afghan election authorities opened registration on 20 April for candidates standing in a parliamentary election, without resolving a dispute between parliament and President Hamid Karzai over the law for the vote.

Sri Lanka leader gets poll boost, Aljazeera (2010)

Sri Lanka's ruling coalition has increased its parliamentary gains but fallen short of the two-thirds majority it sought following a revote in the country's April 8 parliamentary elections.

Obama Likely to be Main Issue in Midterm Elections, VOA News (2010)

Political experts say 2010 could be a difficult year for President Barack Obama and his Democratic Party allies in Congress. Most analysts predict that Republicans will make gains in this year's midterm congressional elections. And they say the president's popularity and his health care reform plan will be major issues in the campaign.

Uganda:Parliament passes second crucial electoral law, Daily Monitor (2010)

Parliament yesterday passed into law, a Bill to amend the Electoral Commissions Act (2005) which includes provisions that compel the electoral body to avail political parties engaged in an election a copy of the national voters register. The new provision now mandates the EC to hand out copies of the voters register to political parties participating in an election at least six months before the election. This is the second of four crucial electoral law reform Bills that have been passed.

Kenya: Voter Education and Registration Seminar, IIEC news (2010)

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) CEO Mr. James Oswago assured the over 3.6 million PWIDs that IIEC does not discriminate them. “IIEC is not doing you a favor [by registering]. It is your right to take part in the governance of your country”. Mr. Oswago said although the UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities of 1948 did not comprehensively address the inalienable rights of PWIDs, the 2003 Act entrenches the rights of PWDs in Kenya.

South Africa: Youth drops Lekota - Shilowa preferred for top post, Sowetan (2010)

COPE president Mosiuoa Lekota’s chances of continuing to be the party leader have suffered a severe blow.

South Africa: Cope wants Mlambo-Ngcuka, Sowetan (2010)

A NEW lobby group in Cope is campaigning for Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to contest for president during the party’s first elective conference next month.