Stories about Elections from August, 2006
Transparency is Promoted and Debated in the Brazilian Election Process
The call for transparency is ringing in the Lusosphere these days. Brazilian presidential and general elections are six weeks from now and, after the innumerable corruption scandals involving congressmen and executive officials, the push for truth has become a vigorous movement on the Internet. The issue was on top of...
DRC: Louis Michel's Performance as a Mediator
According to Ndjoli Bodjenga at Le Blog du Congolais (Fr) European Commissary Louis Michel has performed poorly as a mediator during the transition to elections in the DRC: “An impartial political mediator would not overtly confront one of the principal actors of the conflict to be solved; he would not...
DRC: A Wasted Election?
At Le Blog du Congolais, Ndjoli Bodjenga assesses the recent election as follows (Fr): “The posh crowd from the international community (Miche, Okala, Barosso, Swing, etc.) is happy to have organized co-called elections and to have prioritized the participation of the 3 local warlords. (…) Elections that could have made...
Estonia: “Democracy in Action”
In preparation for Estonia's presidential election, Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa decides to annoy municipal representatives of political parties and thus show “democracy in action“: “So for the next eleven days I will be putting up the contact information for different municpalities, starting with the capital of Tallinn.”
Mexico: Elections: Still Waiting …
The partial vote recount has concluded in Mexico, but what can one do except wait, says Ceci Connolly in a thorough (and well-linked) post of what's to come. The post has inspired an active comment conversation. Meanwhile, Ana Maria Salazar points out that “Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador´s honeymoon with the...
Guyana: At the airport
MediaCritic describes the experience of arriving at Guyana's international airport, wondering why the place is so empty and desolate: “Is it the election effect? This is after all the height of summer when loads of people usually return to visit family and friends to sip a bit of El Dorado...
Brazil: Lula Declines Debate
Boz says that President Lula da Silva made a big error by declining to show up for the first presidential debate. Opposition blogger Luís Afonso Assumpção is bothered by Lula's increasing numbers in the polls despite recent kidnappings by the PCC (First Command of the Capital). Andrew of Comings Communiqué...
DRC: The East Votes Kabila
Of the eastern DRC's 85% vote for Kabila, UDPS Liege writes (Fr): “They are free to make that choice. (…) The eastern DRC opted to align themselves with the Rwandan subject to pillage the Congo and all those who collaborate with him will pay dearly for betraying the people.” The...
Russia: “The Presidential Panic”
Ruminations on Russia writes about post-Putin “transition risk” and explains what's in store for those willing to make business in Russia.
Nepal: A revolution at the ballot box
Paramendra Bhagat on how voting day marks a revolution by itself. “But you can not beat getting 15 million people out at the voting booth on a single day. No street revolution could beat that. And so I say, the next revolution will not be out in the streets. It...
Mexico: AMLO Moving On?
After writing an open letter which asks the former Mexico City mayor and presidential candidate to be more tolerant in his civil disobedience, Ricardo Carreón says there are now signs that Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador is moving on despite his own rhetoric. Ana Maria Salazar derives the same conclusion in...
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Nweala's exit from the Nigerian govt. Bloggers share their thoughts.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Nweala's exit from the Nigerian government. Bloggers share their thoughts.
Mexico: Recounts and Protests
As the partial recount of disputed votes gets underway, Ana Maria Salazar says that Sympathizers of the Coalition for the Good of All, blocked major banks across Mexico City. Ceci Connolly describes two articles on the violent birth of a baby and the death of a middle-aged man sleeping among...
Ecuador: Undecided Voters
Boz asks “what's the matter with… Ecuador?” as 60 to 80% of surveyed voters remain undecided just two months before elections.
Death of Joseph Sankara, Drug menace in Ghana, Prof Chike Obi and Prez Election in Gambia
Burkina Faso's independence day, a Nigerian mathematician, and elections in Gambia
Guyana: Flawed election list
“Something is very dodgy here,” says MediaCritic, having perused the list of electors and found the names of two relatives who left Guyana several years ago (and who, moreover, had never gone through the registration process) but not his own. General elections in Guyana are set for August 28, 2006.
Mexico: Obrador's Supporters Disappointed
Having just returned to Mexico City from South America, Ricardo Carreon observed last week that much of the “protest” in support of Lopez Obrador consisted of empty tents along Reforma Blvd. Carreon also links to a video tour of the Reforma area in the midst of the protests. Ana Maria...
Venezuela: Outsider Presidential Candidates
Boli-Nica gives historical and geo-political context to the outsider presidential campaign of Benjamin Rausseo, wondering aloud if the Venezuelan comedian might actually have a chance against Chavez in this December's elections.
Iran: Reformist journalists won election!
Iran paparazzi reports that reformist journalist won Association of Journalists’ election. The blogger says it is possible that Ministry of Labour does not accept this election and conservative journalists who lost the election, will launch a new Association of Journalists [Fa].
Ukraine: Victor Yushchenko the Anti-Hero (Or Not)
Victor Yanukovych is Ukraine's new prime minister, and it looks like the president, Victor Yushchenko, is the nation's new “anti-hero.” At least, this is what LJ user didaio concludes (UKR) after reading through the recent posts of his fellow-bloggers: Before August 2, the only problem with my friend list was...
Ukraine: Yanukovych and Democracy
Jonathan Taylor of Publius Pundit lauds the election of Victor Yanukovych as Ukraine's prime minister: “Yanukovich’s premiership is an accurate reflection of the political situation in Ukraine and thus another victory for democracy.”
