What role does money play in European elections, and how is it regulated? Such questions need to be addressed to ensure the integrity of Europe's democratic processes, says IDEA’s Samuel Jones in an article published by openDemocracy on 20 May 2014.
Search
Region
Country
Type
By Shailaja Chandra, a former Secretary to the Government of India and former Chief Secretary, Delhi. The views expressed in this analysis are hers and should in no way be construed to represent those of International IDEA, its Board and/or Council members.
2.5 million Panamanians put an end to the ruling party’s attempt to remain in officeon 4 May 2014 and reasserted their faith in democracy and in alternation, when they cast their votes to elect the President, a Vice-President, 71 deputies, and the officials for many local and regional positions.
Los panameños pusieron fin a los intentos continuistas del partido en el poder y, el pasado 4 de mayo, reafirmaron su característica fe en la democracia y en la alternancia, cuando 2.5 millones acudieron a las urnas a elegir Presidente, Vicepresidente, 71 diputados y numerosos cargos locales y regionales.
On 15 May 2014, International IDEA hosted an event in New York entitled Advancing Genuine Political Participation: Strategies for Overcoming Exclusion for Marginalized Groups.
A political party that embraces a clear set of policies or programme to reach out to citizens is more likely to listen, reflect and address citizens’ views. How does such a programmatic party come about?
On 9 May 2014, International IDEA’s Permanent Observer to the UN, Massimo Tommasoli, addressed a group of Permanent Representatives and Heads of Delegations to the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG/SDGs) on the need for promoting inclusive, accountable and effective institutions in the post-2015 Development Agenda.
Second round, run off ballots (ballotage), are currently the trend in Latin America: of the seven presidential elections expected this year, a second round is provided for legally in six countries (Panama is the sole exception).
El balotaje está de moda en América Latina: de las siete elecciones presidenciales previstas para este año, la segunda vuelta está reglamentada en seis de los siete países (la única excepción es Panamá).
International parliamentary institutions (IPIs) are seen as a valid response to the democratic challenges posed by globalization and regional integration.
Since August 2013, IDEA has supported political parties in Kenya to develop their strategic plans using the Institute’s Strategic Planning Tool for Political Parties. This initial phase has now come to an end (April 2014) and the next step will be the implementation of these plans.
In April 2014, Peru expanded the ‘indigenous quota’ which now provides that at least 15 per cent of candidates on electoral lists for regional and provincial elections in certain areas of the country must be representatives of the original peoples. In the lead up to the decision, International IDEA worked jointly on this issue with the Ministry of Culture and the National Elections Board (Jurado Nacional de Elecciones, JNE).
“Media, civil society and electoral observers” was one of the topics addressed in a 5-day conference, organized by the Electoral Commission (EC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Joint Task Force on Electoral Assistance, held at the Dead Sea in Jordan, on 7–11 April 2014.
The Arab World is experiencing an unprecedented moment of constitutional transition. Many countries in the region are reforming their systems of constitutional judicial review as a way of signalling the government’s commitment to the rule of law. This includes establishing constitutional courts, a body with exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional judicial review.
Over the last 60 years the Arab region has been dominated by strong presidents and weak legislatures. The democratic revolutions of the Arab Spring created an opportunity to reconstitute the political system.
Corruption plagues many democracies, emerging or otherwise. Here are a few tips for those who want to fight back.
Read the full article published by Foreign Policy here.
A second round of voting for the President of Costa Rica
For the second time in Costa Rica’s history the election of the President of the Republic required a second round of voting, since none of the candidates obtained the required minimum of 40% of the votes cast in the first round.
Programa Regional para América Latina y el Caribe, con el apoyo de María José Cascante (Máster en Estudios Latinoamericanos) La campaña electoral con miras en la segunda ronda
The Union Election Commission (UEC), which is responsible for delivering peaceful and credible elections in Myanmar, emphasizes the management of electoral risks in its five-year strategic plan.
Indonesians at home go back to polls for the fourth time since the fall of Soeharto to vote in general legislative elections this Wednesday, 9 April 2014. And for the first time in its history, Indonesians residing overseas get to vote on a different date than their fellow citizens in Indonesia.