Stories about Elections from December, 2011
Video: Middle East Responds to Media via Webcam
Talk Back TV Middle East provides a way for people from in the Middle East and North Africa can talk back and give their take on state controlled television and mass media using only a webcam and computer.
Zimbabwe: Outrage as Octogenarian Mugabe Eyes 2012 Election
ZANU-PF has endorsed Robert Mugabe as their candidate for Zimbabwe's presidential election expected next year. If it happens, Mugabe will be 88 years old and Africa’s second oldest person to stand in a presidential election.
Russia: December 10 Opposition Rally in St. Petersburg
Russia hasn’t seen such a mass political rally in almost twenty years. On Dec. 10, thousands of Russians all over the country hit the bricks to participate in peaceful demonstrations. Maria Lelyuk reports from St. Petersburg.
Egypt: Long Queues in Second Stage of Egyptian Elections
The second stage of Egypt's parliamentary elections started today, with Egyptians in nine provinces going to the polls. Here is a snap shot of reactions from Twitter on how the first day is going so far.
Russia: Post-Election Protest in Vladivostok on December 10
Prior to the national protests that took place on December 10 in various Russian cities, Vladivostok internet community has been actively discussing the necessity to protest. Masha Egupova reported the events and discussion.
Arab World: Congratulations Tunisia!
Human rights activist Moncef Marzouki, 66, has been elected as Tunisia's new interim president today. His appointment, which was followed by a moving acceptance speech, was noted by netizens from across the Arab world, who cheered on Tunisia's progress towards democracy, wishing the same for their countries.
Brazil/Russia: The Struggle for Democracy in the Aftermath of Elections
Brazilian professor in political sciences Maurício Santoro, has written an analysis [pt] about of recent Russian elections. He comments on the allegedly rigged results and the struggle for democracy in the country.
Tunisia: Moncef Marzouki the New President of the Republic
Tunisia, the country that was the spark of the so called Arab Spring almost a year ago, now has a new interim President: Moncef Marzouki. Tunisian netizens react to the 66-year-old human rights activist's new position.
Russia: Gregory Shvedov on Braving the Putin Regime Online
The wave of popular, peaceful and nationwide protests in Russia has spread hopes of piecemeal reform. Gregory Shvedov, who heads the online news agency Caucasian Knot, is optimistic—but state pressure on his organization is far from easing.
Jamaica: Politics or Party?
Jamaica Woman Tongue says of the new Prime Minister's choice of a December 29 election date: “If our PM/minister of education knew his history, he would never have dared to ‘mash up’ the holidays with politics. But ‘im young; im wi learn.’”
Russia: A Critical Eye on Protests
Der Unbequeme turns a critical eye on [ger] the ongoing protests in Moscow against the results of parliamentary elections, arguing that protesters are few, divided, and that an actual OSCE-assessment of elections is still lacking.
Belarus-Poland: Ex Presidential Candidate Arrested in Warzaw
According to LJ user artem_ablozhei [ru], former Belarus presidential candidate Ales Michalevic earlier today was arrested at Warzaw airport by Polish police acting on an extradition request by Belarus authorities.
Russia: 13 Protest Tweets, 6 Photos “Storified” (Updated)
“Tens of thousands protest Russian election” – 13 tweets, 6 photos from the Dec. 10 rally in Moscow, “storified” on Storify.com by Colleen Kelly. (Update: A Storify compilation by GV's Asteris Masouras – “Russia: Post-election protests against Putin” – is here.)
Egypt: A Baha’i Blogger's Take on the Elections
The Baha’is of Egypt number perhaps only 2,000 people, but over the years the community has faced discrimination and sometimes hostility. Global Voices Online has spoken to Baha’i blogger Wael about the current situation of the Baha’is in Egypt and the changes that the elections might bring.
Arab World to Gingrich: “If Palestinians Are Invented People, Americans Are …”
Palestinians are “invented” people, who want to destroy Israel, says US Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. His comments, in an interview with a Jewish television channel, have drawn the anger and ridicule of netizens across the Arab world.
Russia: “Why Are Russians Protesting Now?”
On Saturday, the world watched the biggest show of political activism seen in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. This is hardly the first time Putin's Russia has been accused of undemocratic policies, so the question is, "Why are Russians protesting now?"
Russia: An “Ethical Revolution”
Photographer Oleg Klimov posts photos from the Dec. 10 rally in Moscow and describes it [ru] as an “ethical revolution”: “The issue at stake wasn't that of social justice, but of ethics. The regime has violated the universal laws of human ethics with its political technologies, and this is what...
Russia: Ukrainian Blogger's Photos From the Moscow Rally
Kyiv-based blogger Oleksandr Arhat (LJ user olarhat) posts a photo report [uk] from the Dec. 10 post-election rally in Moscow, which reminded him of the 2004 post-election protests in Kyiv: “Unbought people, protesting [not in order to get a piece of bread in return]. Doesn't happen every day, especially in...
Russia: English-Language Tweets From the Moscow Rally
@MiriamElder, @ioffeinmoscow, @shaunwalker7, @A_Osborn, @oflynnkevin, @agent_Alka, @courtneymoscow, @PeterGOliver_RT, @mschwirtz, @markmackinnon, @tonyhalpin, @Amiefr_Reuters, @RolandOliphant, @niktwick are tweeting live in English from the big protest rally that is taking place at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow right now; @agoodtreaty is monitoring Russian-language Twitter coverage of the protests in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia.
Russia: Anglophone Bloggers’ In-Depth Analyses of Dec. 4 Elections
In-depth Anglophone blog commentary on the results of the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections in Russia: OpenDemocracy.net – here and here; Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog on Al Jazeera – here; Siberian Light – here, here, and here; Sublime Oblivion – here; The Kremlin Stooge – here; Mark Adomanis –...
Russia: Protests (and Security Forces) in Moscow
Siberian Light, Leopolis, and Mark Adomanis comment on the past week's post-election protests in Moscow. In Moscow's Shadows provides “a quick update as to the security forces available in the capital, not least as a counter to some of the more fanciful suggestions about the imminent victory of people power.”