ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Brazil holds its first online presidential debate, BBC News (2010)

This article reports on the first online presidential debate in Brazil. Dilma Rousseff, Jose Serra and Marina Silva confronted each other in a two-hour debate that was showed in streaming in a dozen websites, as well as Twitter and Facebook. Brazil amended its electoral law in 2009, making it possible to show political debates without being transmitted on TV.

Guatemalans Expect Fraudulent Election, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

"A large majority of people in Guatemala think the next general election will be marred by fraud, according to a poll by Vox Latina published in Prensa Libre. 63.9 per cent of respondents share this opinion."

Nicaraguans Ponder if Things Were Better with Somoza, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

"People in Nicaragua are split on whether their country is better off today than during the dictatorship of the 1970s, according to a poll by M&R published in La Prensa. 34.6 per cent of respondents say Nicaragua is better now, but 40.4 per cent say it was better in the 1970s."

Nicaraguan top court replaces opposition judges, KMTR.com (2010)

"Nicaraguan Supreme Court justices who support President Daniel Ortega picked seven lawyers from Ortega's Sandinista party Wednesday [August 11] to replace opposition judges who have been boycotting court sessions."

Nicaragua's President Stealing Limelight From Revolutionaries, Critics Say, Insidecostarica.com (2010)

"Critics accuse Ortega of sidelining what was a collective movement, the Sandinista Front, to replace it with glorification of his role and current virtual omnipresence."

Dominican Republic: New legislators to be sworn in today, Dominican Today (2010)

"For the new extraordinary six-year term, for the period 16 August 2010 to 16 August 2016, 190 deputies and 32 senators will be sworn in today [August 16], following the fact that the Constitution was changed in order to unite the presidential and congressional election in the same year."

Dominican Republic’s ruling party tightens its grip on Congress, Dominican Today (2010)

"The PLD legislators hold 28 of the 32 Senate seats, with the other four won with candidates of the PRSC and other minority opposition party allies, which left the main opposition PRD without representation in that chamber."

People mired in scandals spearhead Dominican President’s reelection bid, Dominican Today (2010)

"Despite that several of the people at the heart of the preparations for president Leonel Fernandez’s reelection have been involved in serious scandals, their effort appears to have the support of the National Palace where the project is being defined, and from where the gatherings with leaders of allied political groups hatch a sweeping ad campaign."

Dominican Republic: Anti-corruption group says officials must prove what they say they have, Dominican Today (2010)

"The Dominican Alliance Against Corruption (Adocco) yesterday demanded that elected officials accompany their financial statements with the corresponding certification of their assets."

Sao Paulo Forum to Meet in Nicaragua in 2011, Prensa Latina (2010)

"The 17th Forum of Sao Paulo will be celebrated in 2011 in Nicaragua, to greet the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the National Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN)."

Dominican Republic: Cedulas don't have to be renewed until January, Dominican Today (2010)

"The Central Electoral Board (JCE) yesterday [August 18] extended the use of the identity card (Cedula) until January 3, after it had expired on July 31."

Wyclef Jean not on list for Haiti election for elegal reasons, official said, The Guardian (2010)

This article reports the declarations of an electoral official in Haiti about the list of qualified candidates for the upcoming presidential elections. The member of the of the country's provisional electoral council (unofficially) stated that popular singer Wyclef Jean is not on the list because he did not meet the constitutional requirements. The official and final list, however, will be released later today (Friday, August 20).

Nigeria: INEC to recruit NYSC members as ad hoc staff, The Nigerian Tribune (2010)

This article report on the decision of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission to recruit members of the National Youth Service Corps to carry out the voters registration. The Chairman of the commission, Professor Jega, made this announcement yesterday, that a Memorandum of Understanding will be soon developed and signed.

Nigeria: INEC gives conditions for de-registration of parties, NEXT (2010)

This article discusses the decision to the Independent National Electoral Commission to de-register all political parties that will not win at least one national or state legislative seat. The Chairman of the commission, Attahiru Jega, stated that INEC is entitle to do so by the newly-amended electoral law. At this date, no new political party can register for the January 2011 elections, as the law rules.

USA: Democrats reject gloomy election forecast, Reuaters (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates for the November midterm elections in the U.S. Public opinion polls show that the Republic Party might gain the majority of the seats, but the Democratic Party is currently focusing on the first-time voters (who helped President Obama in his campaign). In the elections, 435 House seats and 37 seats in the Senate will be at stake. The Republicans only need 29 seats in the House and 10 in the Senate to gain the majority.

Burma's Democracy Leader Encouraged by Meeting With President, VOA (2011).

This article discusses the meeting conducted by Aung San Suu Kyi with Myanmar’s President Thein Sein on August 19, 2011.

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