· February, 2012

Stories about Elections from February, 2012

Yemen: Hadi President After 33 Years of Saleh

  27 February 2012

After 33 long years of Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule, Yemen finally inaugurated today a new President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, for the transitional phase, following a whole year of protests. Hadi had assumed his position as president according to a GCC-brokered power deal which made him the sole consensus presidential candidate in the one man election, in which he won 99.8 per cent of the votes.

Russia: The “Big White Circle” Protest in Moscow

RuNet Echo  27 February 2012

On Sunday, Feb. 26, thousands of people gathered in central Moscow for the Big White Circle protest, forming a human chain along most of the length of the Russian capital's 15.6-kilometer/9.7-mile Garden Ring, protesting against corruption and demanding a fair presidential election, which is to take place in one week, on March 4.

East Timor: Cats, Monsters in Pre-Election Video Humor

  24 February 2012

Less than one month to go for the presidential elections in East Timor, and one of the most original uses of citizen media in the anticipation of the elections is not serious at all - user Slogheinn on Youtube, has uploaded a series of humorous videos that mock four of the best known presidential candidates.

El Salvador: Facebook Photo Album Documents Worst Examples of Campaigning

  20 February 2012

Legislative elections for El Salvador are scheduled for March 11, 2012. Tim's El Salvador Blog reports on an interesting Facebook initiative: “The Facebook page called “Sociedad Civil”  (Civil Society) is sharing a photo album of the worst examples of campaigning during this campaign season leading up to the March elections....

China: Wukan Elections Continue and Inspire

  19 February 2012

Wukan has moved quickly along its path toward clean and fair village elections, inspiring villagers in other parts of the country and winning support from microbloggers all the way up to university halls. However, at least one central government official has blamed the democratic advancements on psychological disorders.

Mexico: Citizen Initiative to the Clear the Streets of Election Trash

  17 February 2012

Every three years, the streets of Mexico are plastered with a thick layer of unending advertisements sporting images of smiling candidates for a variety of elected positions. But after the elections, the advertisements remain for days, weeks and even months. #QuitaUnAnuncio ["TakeDownAnAd"] is a citizen initiative to clean up Mexico City during the election period.

Singapore: Politician's Expulsion Triggers By-Election

  15 February 2012

A by-election has been triggered in Singapore's Hougang Single Member Constituency after the Worker's Party expelled Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong amidst allegations of extramarital affairs. Netizens used the #hougangbyelection hashtag to express their comments about the issue

Mexico Prepares to Elect a New President

  14 February 2012

As personalities and political parties in Mexico prepare for the presidential election this year, various bloggers and Twitter users are analyzing its implications while others are seemingly more interested in the ineptitude of the candidates.