· December, 2011

Stories about Elections from December, 2011

Jamaica: why they lost the election

  30 December 2011

Active Voice analyses yesterday's general election in Jamaica, explaining how Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party — who looked, a month ago, set to be returned to office — lost in a landslide to Portia Simpson-Miller and the People's National Party. “Let’s see if the PNP having...

Jamaica: a new prime minister

  30 December 2011

As Girl with a Purpose reports, the governing Jamaica Labour Party was defeated in yesterday's general election, and People's National Party head Portia Simpson-Miller is Jamaica's new prime minister — “a leader whose educational background is not as brilliant as her competitors,” observes Abeni from St. Vincent and the Grenadines,...

Mozambique: On the City of Quelimane, New Epicenter of Politics

  28 December 2011

Mayoral by-elections in the city of Quelimane, which opposition candidate Manuel de Araújo won, were enthusiastically debated in social networks. Interest in the electoral process went far beyond the provincial city and its repercussions were felt in the capital, Maputo. We document this unexpected end to 2011, an important political moment in Mozambique.

Zambia: Has the 90 Days Promise Been Fulfilled?

  25 December 2011

Zambia’s new government reached its landmark 90 days in government on December 23, a period during which it promised to turn around people’s lives. Netizens on various social networking sites have been assessing the new government’s achievements, if any, and failures.

Jamaica: politician too loud?

  24 December 2011

Yvette J. Rowe contemplates a Jamaican election campaign advertisement that portrays opposition leader Portia Simpson-Miller as “too loud”: “These ads about attitude and posture are scoring dubious points rather than talking about the policies or the future of the country.”

Bermuda: a blog break?

  23 December 2011

Is Bermuda’s blogosphere “taking a general break from blogging”? “Many of the newer blogs that set up in the last year or two seem to have generally been abandoned,” writes Catch a Fire, but he suggests that with a general election on the horizon Bermudan bloggers are likely to pick...

Jamaica: support for LGBT rights?

  23 December 2011

In a televised election debate, Jamaica's opposition leader Portia Simpson-Miller expressed cautious support for LGBT rights and for repealing the country's buggery laws. Ross Sheil gives a summary of the public reaction, “which shows the country softening or becoming more pragmatic on the issue.”

Jamaica: out of context

  23 December 2011

In the run-up to a general election in Jamaica, is a political advertisement misrepresenting opposition leader Portia Simpson-Miller by taking her comments out of context? Active Voice asks: “is it accurate and ethical to splice disparate bits of video and audio together like this?”

Russia: Opposition Faces Online Communication Problems

RuNet Echo  23 December 2011

The ability to broadcast the events of December 2011 in Russia live online, has made people around the world and in the country the spectators of a truly historical event – the December 22 gathering of some 100-150 opposition activists, who represented thousands of the netizens and millions of not-connected Russians.

Jamaica: election language

  22 December 2011

With a general election swiftly approaching in Jamaica, OwenSoft shares an online tool for comparing the frequency of words and phrases in the official election manifestos of the country's main political parties.

Russia: Alexey Navalny Released From Jail

RuNet Echo  20 December 2011

“Everyone's waiting for Navalny ) 5 more minutes! pic.twitter.com/3BRHiuGa,” tweeted [ru] @varlamov a short while ago, posting a picture of the crowd waiting outside a Moscow prison for activist Alexey Navalny‘s release. @plushev tweeted [ru]: “Absolutely fantastic numbers. In the middle of the night, some 5,000 people are viewing [the...

Jamaica: vote or not?

  19 December 2011

Idle Yout Speeks asks if he should bother to vote in Jamaica's upcoming general election. “I blame my reluctance … on a deep rooted fear that stemmed from the more violent days of Jamaica's more violent election campaigns,” he writes. “I see some subtle differences in the parties but ultimately...

Rwanda: Tweeps Debate as President Kagame Eyes Third Term

  15 December 2011

As debate on whether Rwanda's constitution should be amended to allow for a third term rages on, Rwandan President Paul Kagame says that citizens are free to say that they want him. British journalist Ian Birell responded on Twitter saying, "They're not free, of course, to say he should go…"