Democracy Digest » Elections

As Iran prepares for poll, US Syria action ‘could sway regime on nukes’?

Demdigest — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:30:28 +0000

The result of Iran’s upcoming presidential election” is related not just to normal domestic feuds, division of spoils, and concerns about the level of discontent in society, but also to the regime’s international policies,” says a leading analyst.

“No …

Iran elections ‘another chapter in regime’s gradual self-destruction’?

Demdigest — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:31:20 +0000

Iranian hard-liners are pressing for two prominent candidates to be barred from contesting next month’s presidential election “in a further sign of intense political jockeying over the final ballot list,” AP reports:

The appeal by nearly 100 parliament …

Pakistan poll ‘not a moment for triumphalism’ – support for democracy dangerously thin

Demdigest — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:30:32 +0000

“Pakistan is about to cross an important threshold: this weekend’s elections, if all goes to plan, will mark the country’s first transition between elected governments. But this is not a moment for triumphalism,” writes a prominent analyst.

Opinion surveys …

Khamenei adviser enters Iran’s presidential contest – voters left to choose ‘the least worst of the bad’

Demdigest — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:12:04 +0000

“An adviser to Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei joined the presidential race on Friday, with powerful conservatives keen to make the June vote a peaceful contrast to the upheaval that followed the disputed 2009 poll,” Reuters reports…

Syria: intervene, push for elections, or stabilize and disarm?

Demdigest — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:13:13 +0000

“The use of chemical weapons in Syria has increased pressure on President Obama to arm the opposition,” says Zalmay Khalilzad (right), a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Earlier in the conflict, I endorsed such a …

Scenes from Venezuela’s fragile democracy

Demdigest — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:18:35 +0000

During the recent presidential election campaign, Nicolás Maduro, the acting president and the person anointed by Chávez as his heir benefited from a constant presence in the media, writes the Carnegie Endowment’s Moisés Naím (left), while the visibility and …

Venezuela’s ‘Cubanochavista’ electoral machine: democracy prevention in action?

Demdigest — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:09:49 +0000

Are democracy assistance practitioners being outflanked and outmaneuvered by their democracy prevention counterparts? Venezuela’s recent presidential poll provides disturbing evidence of adaptive authoritarianism applied to the electoral process.

“As the facts behind Nicolás Maduro’s fabricated electoral ‘victory’ on April …

Saudi Arabia: new rights group faces harassment

Michael Allen — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:50:14 +0000

“Four Saudi activists are under investigation after forming a human rights group on April 3, 2013, and could face prosecution for ‘establishing an illegal organization,’ Human Rights Watch said today:

Saudi authorities should immediately cease harassing the four founding …

‘Stolen election’ unsettles Malaysia, as opposition leader Anwar disputes result

Demdigest — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:40:13 +0000

“Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (right) has urged supporters to stage a protest after Malaysia’s ruling coalition won polls he said were marred by fraud [as predicted],” the BBC reports:

His call came as PM Najib Razak was sworn …

Malaysia’s resurgent opposition ‘riding a wave of optimism’: ‘class war’ fuels election hopes

Demdigest — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:07:31 +0000

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and its largest party, the United Malays National Organization (Umno), is struggling to retain its hold on power, as the resurgent opposition Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) coalition, headed by Anwar Ibrahim, is “riding a …