ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Chinchilla Still First in Costa Rican Race, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

"Ruling Liberal National Party (PLN) candidate Laura Chinchilla is still ahead in Costa Rica’s presidential race, according to a poll by Borge & Asociados published in Diario Extra. 38.7 per cent of respondents would vote for Chinchilla, up two points since December."

Ethiopia ruling party official says May election will be credible, VOA News (2010)

The ruling Ethiopia People's Revolutionary Democratic Front has recently made a statement in which it ensures the voters that this year's May elections will be free and fair, as the party is cooperating with the opposition parties and international observers have been invited to monitor the elections. This year's poll will be the first after the 2005 disputed elections, in which about 200 opposition partisans were reportedly killed by the police.

Blast targets Sri Lanka opposition activist in Colombo, BBC News (2010)

Only a few days ahead of the presidential election, the pre-poll violence has escalated with an explosion at the home of an opposition activist and General Fonseka's ally. The blast comes after the UN has expressed concern over the escalating violence, and the groups monitoring the election campaign have remarked that the election violence and the misuse of state resources are the worst in last 20 years.

ECOWAS will help Guinea organize credible elections, says official, VOA News (2010)

The Economic Community of West African States has promised to help Guinea with organizing credible elections within the next 6 months. The promise comes after the junta named long-time opposition leader Jean-Marie Dore a prime minister of the transitional government tasked with organizing elections. An international team including ECOWAS, the African Union as well as the UN representatives will arrive in Guinea in the coming days to monitor the political situation.

Voters in Martinique, French Guiana reject efforts to reduce French control, VOA News (2010)

Voters in both Martinique and French Guiana rejected the proposal of greater autonomy from France in January referendums. Nearly 79% of the residents in Martinique and almost 70% of those in French Guiana voted against the efforts to reduce French control. The referendums come a year after Martinique and some other French overseas territories were hit by strikes and protests caused by low wages and high prices.

French Guiana, Martinique vote against more autonomy, France 24 International News (2010)

Almost 70% of voters in French Guiana rejected more autonomy from France, while a similar result was seen in a referendum in Martinique, where more autonomy was rejected by 79% of voters. The mayor of Guiana's capital Cayenne remarked that the campaign and the referendum result were driven by the question of financing.

Costa Rica Braces for Tight Presidential Election, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

"Costa Rica’s next presidential election might need a run-off and the second round could see a tight finish, according to a poll by Unimer published in La Nación. 40.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling Liberal National Party (PLN) candidate Laura Chinchilla in next month’s ballot, down 2.1 points since November."

Georgia: Parliament Elects New CEC Chairman, Civil.ge (2010)

The article reports that Georgian Parliament has elected a new chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) for a five-year term. The Parliament elected CEC chairman among three candidates nominated by the President of Georgia. The new chair of the CEC is Zurab Kharatishvili, a member of public broadcaster’s board of trustees since February, 2008.

Son Of Jailed Kyrgyz Politician Vows To Challenge Government, RFE/RL (2010)

The article reports about opposition political movement to be formed against the acting Kyrgyz government. The initiator of this movement is Ruslan Isakov, the son of a Kyrgyz polititian Ismail Isakov, who broke with Bakiev's government in 2008 and joined the opposition. Soon after, Ismail Isakov was put into prison for corruption and his son lives in self-imposed exile in the United States. Ruslan Isakov's goal is to create a political movement abroad to challenge "the antidemocratic regime of President Kurmanbek Bakiev", which is taking Kyrgyzstan to "a catastrophic downfall" as "journalists are being killed, the population is getting poorer, and opposition leaders are declared 'enemies of the nation.'"

Observation of parliamentary elections in Tajikistan, OSCE/ODIHR (2010)

The press release reports about starting an Election Observation Mission of OSCE/ODIHR in Tajikistan, which will observe 28 February 2010 parliamentary elections.

Armenia: Prison term for opposition activist revives democratisation debate, EurasiaNet (2010)

The article writes that seven-year prison sentence was handed down to opposition activist and journalist Nikol Pashinian on January 19 for his alleged role in Armenia’s violent 2008 election protests. Pashinian, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak, led crowds of young protestors through central Yerevan during demonstrations against the 2008 presidential election that brought President Serzh Sargsyan to power. The newspaper editor, wanted for allegedly helping to organize clashes between police and protestors that resulted in at least 10 deaths, emerged from hiding in July 2009 after the announcement of a presidential amnesty for individuals detained after the violence.

Albania: Observation Report, General Election, Robert Schuman Foundation (2009)

This observation report includes analysis and results of the 28th June 2009 general election. The report describes the structure of the Albanian Parliament and the parties and groups present in the parliament. There is analysis of the electoral administration and the issues at stake in the election. (Translated from French)

Presidential Election in Romania 22nd November and 6th December 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Report and Analysis

General Elections in Bulgaria, 5th July 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Results and Analysis

General Elections of 29th July 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Analysis and Results

General Elections in Lithuania, 12th October 2008 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2008)

Results and Analysis

Presidential Election in Lithuania, 17th May-7th June 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Results and Analysis

Out of war's shadow, Sri Lanka votes for president, Reuters (2010)

The article provides updated information about the election day in Sri Lanka, where polling was smooth despite blasts before polling in the northern city of Jaffna (Sri Lanka's Tamil cultural center) and a petrol bomb attack. No one was injured however, and the election day did not prove as bloody as the electoral campaign itself.

Army, police called to quell St Kitts election disturbance, Jamaica Observer (2010)

Armed police and soldiers were called in one of the closely watched battleground constituencies in St Kitts after angry voters protested against what they perceived as election irregularities. The protests came after the opposition candidate for the constituency made several allegations about the indelible ink used to identify people who had already voted and filed an official complaint. The Elections Supervisor has however stated that overall he is satisfied with the safeguarding of the election process.

Bangladesh moves to ban religion-based parties, RTT News (2010)

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has issued a directive to three Islamic parties, ordering them to change their charters, found to be in conflict with the Constitution and the Representation of People Order. The Election Commission identified several problematic provisions, such as the fact that these parties do not acknowledge any other entity other than Allah as the sovereign and supreme being, which is seen by the Commission as undermining the authority of the parliament.