Stories about Elections from February, 2010
Ukraine: “Everyday Problems” vs “Geo-Politics”
Vadim Nikitin of the Foreign Policy Association's Russia Blog writes that “the success or failure of Yanukovich’s government will depend on fixing the everyday problems dogging ordinary people, not on geo-politics.”
Ukraine: “‘Post-Orange’ Future”
Oleksandr Sushko, research director of the Kyiv-based Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, comments on Ukraine's “‘post-Orange’ future” at OpenDemocracy.net: “The newly elected president’s relative (limited) social legitimacy will be likely to restrict his ability to govern by his own will and perceptions only.”
Ukraine: Post-Election Politics
Updates on Ukraine's post-election politics – at Eternal Remont, here and here.
Ukraine: “Start of Stabilisation”
Ari Rusila of BalkanBlog analyzes the outcome of the Ukrainian presidential election and makes some forecasts.
Ukraine: “Idealism” vs “Practical Concerns”
Natalia Antonova comments on the outcome of the Ukrainian presidential election: “The way I see it, people who urge Ukrainian voters to lay aside petty practical concerns and see the big picture are getting off easy.”
Sri Lanka: Another Blunder
A Voice In Colombo thinks that the victorious Mahinda Rajapaksa's government had “created another chance for opposition to gain public sympathy” by arresting general Sarath Fonseka.
Costa Rica: Laura Chinchilla Elected First Woman President
Costa Ricans went to the polls on February 7th and elected Laura Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party, who will be the country's first woman president. Bloggers provide their opinions on the election results.
Sri Lanka Presidential Elections: Sarath Fonseka arrested
General Sarath Fonseka, the opposition candidate who lost to the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the recently concluded 6th Presidential Election in Sri Lanka, has been arrested by the military police.
Ukraine: Campaign Ads; “Final Rallies”
Ukrainiana takes readers on a video tour “through inter-election Kyiv” – and to the “final rallies” of the two presidential candidates, which took place on Feb. 5 “just a block away from each other.”
Ukraine: Waiting for the Election
Greetings From Kyiv talks to a local friend on the possible outcome of the Feb. 7 presidential election.
Costa Rica: Thumbs Up or Down to Campaign Ads
With the Costa Rican presidential campaign winding down, many local bloggers have been providing their thoughts on the wide range of election ads by the various candidates.
Ukraine: Notes on the Upcoming Election
Blair Sheridan of Eastern Approaches explains why he doesn't understand the “hysteria” about the last-minute changes to Ukraine's election law. Leigh Turner, UK Ambassador to Ukraine, writes: “Some people I respect are saying there's a fair chance of good quality elections on 7 February.”
Ukraine: Yanukovych Campaign Ad in Crimean Tatar
LJ user indrih posts a copy of Victor Yanukovych's campaign ad in the Crimean Tatar language and explains (RUS): “Next to Yanukovych's last name are the words ‘light’ and ‘kindness,’ next to Tymoshenko's last name – ‘darkness’ and ‘evil.’ ‘This is the difference between them,’ is written underneath this comparative...
Ukraine: Changes to Election Law
Foreign Notes comments on the last minute changes to election law in Ukraine: “It seems to me any attempts to change the rules half way through any competition, even sporting, should be treated with the greatest of suspicion.”
Hungary: Opposition Leader on Facebook
Hungarian Spectrum reports that Victor Orbán, leader of the opposition party Fidesz, now has a Facebook page – and nearly 8,000 fans: “By the way, I'll bet that as soon as Orbán wins the elections this whole flirtation with the Internet will come to an abrupt end.”
Sri Lanka: Reason For Rajapaksa's Landslide Victory
Serendipity comments on the reason for the landslide victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Sri Lankan presidential election – namely gratitude for ending the war against LTTE: “living in fear of the LTTE for so long, left a permanent scar on the psyche of the people, which only the end...
Trinidad & Tobago: Local Rasputin?
Trinidadian blogger Tattoo shares his thoughts on former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday: “I’m sure of one thing: [he] will never be able to live down the events of last month. He will never be able to dust-off the fact that he contested the post of leader within his own party...
Bosnia: Croats call for secessionist referendum?
M. Bozinovich of Serbianna reports on an alleged plan among Bosnian-Croats to have a referendum on secession from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Costa Rica: Online Videos add Humor to Presidential Elections
The Costa Rican Presidential elections are this Sunday and through videos, many Costa Ricans are expressing their concerns regarding the candidates and the future of their country through parody and humor.
Ukraine: Presidential Election Roundup
Tetyana Vysotska of What's Up, Ukraine? and Leigh Turner, UK Ambassador to Ukraine, post their “guesstimations” for the outcome of the Feb. 7 presidential election; Tammy Lynch of Jamestown Foundation Blog writes about a raider attack on the printing company “responsible for producing ballots” and the Feb. 1 TV debate...
Hong Kong: Five District Referendum campaign
DM from Learning Cantonese blogs about his observations on the five district referendum campaign in Hong Kong.
