· March, 2013

Stories about Elections from March, 2013

Venezuela Gears Up for Upcoming Elections

  27 March 2013

After the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, online conversations are focusing on the country's next political episode: the April 14 presidential elections. Although electoral campaigns have not officially kicked off, candidates and their supporters are already on the move.

Nepal’s Politics in Crisis Once Again

  23 March 2013

Nepal’s political parties have again failed to respect the people's mandate to elect a prime minister and instead have installed Chief Justice (CJ) Khila Raj Regmi as the head executive (chairman of the interim electoral council of ministers). Shiromani Dhungana at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal writes about...

Guinea-Bissau is Second Worst Democracy

  21 March 2013

The Democracy Index 2012 from The Economist Intelligence Unit, published on March 19, 2013, places Guinea-Bissau second to last in the ranking, just before North Korea. The same day a coalition of civil society organizations released a roadmap with concrete proposals for the restoration of constitutional order following the military...

How Russian Villagers Can Terrify the Kremlin

RuNet Echo  21 March 2013

The ploy was simple: Andrei Turinov, a town councilman from Novouspenskii, posted to the Internet an open letter addressing Dmitri Medvedev, declaring the exit of 60 United Russia members from the party. The timing was perfect, and for a brief moment one small village in Krasnoyarsk had the attention of the nation's political elite.

Peru: Exit Polls Say Villarán Remains Lima's Mayor

  18 March 2013

Even though the first official results of Sunday's recall referendum have not been published, exit poll results [es] indicate that mayor Susana Villarán will not be revoked. According to Ipsos Apoyo the ‘No’ received 52.6% of the votes and the ‘Yes’ 47.4%. Datum reports that the ‘No’ got 53.2% of...

Peru: Controversy Ahead of Lima's Recall Referendum

  16 March 2013

Lima will hold a recall referendum tomorrow, March 17, to decide whether Susana Villarán keeps her post as mayor of Peru's capital. The last surveys showed the 'Yes' ahead of the 'No' by 8%, but a recent debate where some of the 'Yes' representatives didn't show up could change things.

Moldova Without Government: What's Next – East or West?

  11 March 2013

On March 5, Moldova’s Parliament passed a no-confidence motion, dismissing the country's pro-European three-party coalition government led by Vlad Filat. Just a few weeks earlier, Moldova seemed to be the greatest hope on the European Union’s Eastern borders. Now, it is headed for a serious political crisis. Diana Lungu reports.

Kenyans Flood Polls Despite Election Day Violence

  5 March 2013

Machete-wielding separatists left at least 13 dead in Kenya as millions of people turned out in historic numbers to cast their votes on March 4, 2013 in one of the most watched general elections in Africa since the country's elections in 2007 ended in ethnic bloodshed. Sporadic acts of violence marred the otherwise peaceful election.

Violence Holding Youth Hostage in Guinea

  3 March 2013

Diallo Thierno Sadou [fr] analyzes the political situation in Guinea where violence erupted between police forces and the opposition since February, 27. The fightings has led to multiple casualties and lootings in the capital city Conakry. The current governor of the city, officer Sékou Resco Camara [fr], was charged in...