Stories about Elections from July, 2006
DRC: Diaspora excluded from electoral process
Prince du Fleuve du Congo points to (Fr) a program for the Congo by Alain Matumona that deplores the USD 50,000 deposit required of presidential candidates and the exclusion of the Congolese Diaspora from the electoral process.
Mexico: Election Inspires Online Creativity
Boli-Nica once again measure the online support behind Lopez Obrador and Calderon and includes a hilarious parody Barney parody.
Mexico: “Mexico Deserves Better”
Ricardo Carreón gives a historical view of Mexico's electoral process and explains why the country deserves better. León Felipe Sánchez, noting the surge in demand for a full recount, worries that the peaceful civil resistance could soon turn violent (ES). Finally, Wave Making makes some interesting Mexican Reflexions from Abroad:...
Mexico: Calderón on Recounts and Speaking English
Ceci Connolly points to a Washington Post interview with Felipe Calderón, emphasizing that “he would accept a partial recount but that a complete recount would be ‘absurd’ and illegal.” Ana Maria Salazar clarifies that, although Calderón insisted he needs to practice his English, “we have heard Felipe speak English, a...
Venezuela: Looking Towards the Elections
Oil Wars applauds the CNE for announcing that “both the European Union and the Organization of American States will be sending observation teams to oversee the Venezuelan presidential elections this coming December 3rd.” Francisco says the opposition needs to focus on the recent increase in crime.
Mexico: Podcast on Electoral Citizen Journalism
Trespuntocero has an excellent podcast review of citizen journalism during the Mexican elections (ES). English speakers with an interest in Mexico should check out the podcast Here From Mexico.
Belarus: Opposition Leader Kozulin Sentenced to 5 1/2 Years
Belarusian opposition leader Aleksandr Kozulin has been sentenced to five and a half years in jail for organizing protests in Minsk following the March presidential election. Vilhelm Konnander writes that “the now sentenced Kozulin remains somewhat of an enigma to most analysts.” Iryna of Belarus Blog posts Kozulin's final statement,...
Bolivia: Purple Drinks,Fried Cheese, Hip-Hop, and Elections in La Paz
“Purple Drinks and Fried Cheese in La Paz.” I think the title speaks for itself. Also worth checking out is Dangl's post on “Hip-Hop and Electoral Adventures in Bolivia.”
Taiwan: Girl shaving hair for saving her father
A Taiwanese girl created a blog and annouced that her action in shaving her hair and silent protest on her blog in order to save her father from injustice trial regarding corruption in village level election(zh). Another blog post in Chinatimes reports that her action has got the attention of...
Across West Africa this week
We start this week's blog round-up with Under the Acacias who blogs: Osama bin Laden in Burkina Faso The face of Osama bin Laden glared down at me from his camel, a kalashnikov gun in his hand. Fortunately, he was only on the front of a t-shirt of a young...
Russia: Voting System To Resemble That in Belarus
TOL's Belarus Blog writes about a new law that allows early voting in Russia – which, in its turn, would allow manipulations.
Mexico: Stuffing or Moving Ballots?
Michelle Dion has an an explanation of and response to claims by Lopez Obrador that a precinct official stuffed ballots into a box.
Macedonia: Parliamentary Election
Doug Muir of A Fistful of Euros sums up the parliamentary election that took place in Macedonia last week and writes about the country's problems and prospects.
Mexico: Election Update and Audience Expectations
Ceci Connolly and Ana Maria Salazar both have thorough updates on Mexico's election that refuses to end. Meanwhile, Juan Luis Hortelano wonders (ES) how many regular readers of ALT1040 and Isopixel are tired of the recent political focus and would prefer a return to the weblogs’ “normal content.” Mariano Amartino...
Bolivia: Final Election Tally
Miguel Centallas writes that the official numbers from Bolivia's Sunday elections are now available. Morir antes que esclavos vivir says the narrow voting on the autonomy referendum reveals a divided country.
Ukraine: Politics and Reality
Ukraine has been without a new government since the March 26 election. A coalition between Victor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko's Bloc and the Socialist Party was finally formed at the end of June, but it didn't last past yesterday, when Socialist leader Oleksandr Moroz unexpectedly joined forces with the...
DRC: June 30 UDPS March in Belgium
UDPS Liege offers (Fr) pictures of a June 30 Congolese March in Brussels. Pictured slogans include: ” Louis Michel, the Congo is not for sale” and “All with Etienne Tshisekedi for free, democratic and transparent elections.”
Mexico: Calderon Win, Obrador Sues
Are there penalty kicks in presidential elections? Perhaps there should be. With 100% of the ballots counted Felipe Calderon was declared victor by half of a percentage point. Randy Paul, in a comment, observes that Mexico is one of the few Latin American countries which does not require a 50%...
Ukraine: Oleksandr Moroz is Elected the Speaker
LEvko of Foreign Notes posts on the latest developments in the parliament shortly before the vote for the speaker. Socialist Oleksandr Moroz wins the position (unexpectedly for many), and LJ user vaxo (journalist Vakhtang Kipiani) sums up the situation (UKR): “The Communists – who belong in the garbage pile of...
Russia: Thoughts on Mikhail Kasyanov
Edward Lucas, the Economist's Central and East Europe correspondent, writes about a disappointing conversation with former prime minister and opposition politician Mikhail Kasyanov: “That seems very odd to me. Russia is increasingly nasty at home and abroad – and the main pro-western challenger for the presidency says that we shouldn't...
Mexico: AMLO Takes the Lead
Incredible, now it is Lopez Obrador who has taken the lead. Michelle Dion, Matthew Shugart, and A.M. Mora y Leon are all updating on the hour in English. With 85% of the votes in, Lopez Obrador has more than a one percent lead over Calderon, but as Dion explains, “Calderon...