ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Law on the Election of Councillors and Representatives as amended in July 2006

This is an unofficial translation of the law. The official original language text enacted by the Parliament of Montenegro is published in the Official Gazette.

Law on Election of President of Montenegro, adopted on 27 December 2007

Law on Election of President of Montenegro, adopted on 27 December 2007 (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 17/07, as of 31.12.2007).

Dominican Republic: Reinaldo Pared Perez is not leaving the PLD secretariat, Dominican Today (2010)

"Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez tried to intercede for the PLD leaders that were outvoted for mayor's posts or congressional slots during the past electoral contest and have pressured the administration for appointments to government jobs."

Clash mars Venezuela election campaign, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the beginning of the electoral campaign in Venezuela for legislative elections. The opposition parties are determined to win seats in the September 26 vote; in the last elections, these same parties decided to boycott the elections. Opinion polls in the past weeks showed Hugo Chavez's decreasing popularity, however, experts believe that his party will lose some seats but hold its majority.

Polish MEP blasts opposition leader (thenews.pl, 2010)

MEP Marek Migalski from the opposition Law and Justice has written an open letter to leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, blaming him for the party’s poor opinion poll ratings.

Ukraine: New wording of law on elections limits political parties' rights to participate (Kyiv Post, 2010)

The U.S. International Republican Institute and the U.S. National Democratic Institute have drafted a memorandum that says the new wording of the law on elections in Ukraine limits the right of political parties to participate in this process.

Ukraine: Will Yanukovych change local elections law to make way for Tihipko and Yatseniuk? (ZIK, 2010)

Pres Yanukovych has okayed changes to the local elections law, Dzerkalo tyzhnia says, referring to its sources among presidential insiders. Until now, Yanukovych has approved two changes. The first will cancel a provision allowing parties with only above-one-year registration to nominate their candidates.

Ukraine is failing the democracy test (guardian.co.uk, 2010)

A new election law that protects the ruling elite is undemocratic and raises fresh doubts about Ukraine's suitability to join the EU

Two-tailed dog livens up Hungary's election (Reuters, 2010)

A two-tailed cartoon dog offering free beer and eternal life has galvanized Hungary's latest election campaign.

Hungary: Green party issues complaint to police over false activists (Politics.hu, 2010)

Hungarian green party Politics Can Be Different (LMP) has turned to the police with a complaint that people in Budapest's sixth district have been masquerading as activists for the green party and illegally collecting names for election nomination slips, the party told MTI on Sunday.

Serb resolve for breakaway grows with autumn election set (TribuneMagazine.co.uk, 2010)

The international community is bracing itself for the fallout from this autumn’s presidential and parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Latvia: Ušakovs: PLL, Harmony Center coalition feasible (Baltic Reports, 2010)

Riga Mayor Nils Ušakovs indicated that despite acrimonious rhetorical attacks betweent the two parties ahead of the fall election, a coalition between the pro-business Par labu Latviju and Harmony Centers is possible. Photo by Andris Krieviņš/Riga Municipal Government.

Azerbaijan: CEC starts the courses for the members of lower election commissions, CEC Press Service (2010)

The article reports that Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan has conducted professional development courses on election right for the chairpersons of Constituency Election Commissions.

Jailed journalist cannot run for Azerbaijani parliament, News.az (2010)

The article reports that Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan has not allowed imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev to run for parliamentary election this fall. Fatullayev's attorney argues that court verdicts against Fatullayev had been overturned by the European Court of Human Rights, while a sentence imposed for the possession of drugs had yet to begin, so technically he was eligible to stand.

OSCE experts, Kyrgyzstan's authorities discuss how to improve elections, OSCE/ODIHR (2010)

The press release informs that OSCE/ODIHR representatives had meeting with the authorities in Kyrgyzstan on 24 and 25 August, where they discussed measures to improve elections in Kyrgyzstan, including providing for effective and timely remedy to complaints, improving voter lists and promoting fair media coverage. ODIHR is going to observe the parliamentary elections in October at the invitation of Kyrgyzstan's government.

EU won’t send parliamentary election observers to Azerbaijan, Panarmenian.net (2010)

The article reports that about 450 observers, among them 45 long-term, will observe parliametnary elections in Azerbaijan in November 2010. EU will not send observers.

Australia opposition says doesn't want new election, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on Tony Abbot's response to accusations that he would prefer new elections to negotiations with independent parties and the Greens. Mr Abbot, leader of the opposition, denied all accusations.

India: EVM theft: Court extends Prasad's police custody, The Times of India (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates from Electronic Voting Machine's theft in India. Hari Prasad, technical coordinator of VeTA Citizens for Verifiability, Transparency and Accountability in Elections) was arrested for stealing an EVM in Mumbai early this week. The Metropolitan Court decided to extend his custody until further investigations will clarify the event.

U.S. concerned over Afghan voter turnout, violence, Reuters (2010)

This article report on the security issues in the Afghan electoral process. The United States expects a sharp increase in terrorist attacks in the next month, and the elections will be a great test for the country's stability. The election turnout will probably be very low in the Northern regions, where the Taliban are still fighting. Corruption and vote-buying will probably be the major issue in assessing the integrity of the elections.

Taliban attacks expected to increase pre-election in Afghanistan, The Malaysian Sun (2010)

This article reports on new threats to the elections in Afghanistan. The Taliban forces are expected to undermine the integrity of the elections, and to intimidate candidates and voters. The elections will be a clear indication of how the Karzai government is managing the security issues.