Brotherhood Dominates Egypt Polls
Egyptians are contining to vote in multi-stage elections to determine the make-up of the country's new parliament. But, the Muslim Brotherhood, a group banned from politics for decades, already looks like the biggest winner from the process. Its Freedom and Justice party has secured close to 50 per cent of the total vote so far. Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna reports from Cairo.

Egypt’s Salafi Surge

FOREIGN POLICY: These guys make the Muslim Brotherhood look like latte liberals.

MANSOURA, Egypt — It's the morning of the third and final round of Egypt's parliamentary elections and Ammar Fayed, an activist for the Muslim Brotherhood's political party, is nervous as hell.

The 28-year-old marketing manager, who sits on the executive board of the youth branch of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in the governorate of Dakahlia, sports a tiny FJP pin on the lapel of his gray blazer and a thumb stained blue from voting. He explains the situation: Thirty-six seats are up for grabs in this province in the fertile Nile Delta. The conservative region is in the Brotherhood's heartland -- it should have been a cakewalk.

There's just one problem, Fayed admits: "We made a fundamental miscalculation."

The Brotherhood has found itself outflanked on the right by the Salafi al-Nour Party, which has challenged the movement's religious credentials and gained a surprising degree of traction in the process. The Salafis appear poised to claim between 25 and 30 percent of the vote, though the Brotherhood could still win an outright majority and will certainly become the largest party in the new parliament.

Who could have predicted that the Salafis -- adherents to a fundamentalist version of Islam that until Egypt's revolution eschewed politics as un-Islamic -- would morph into an electoral powerhouse? Even the Brotherhood, whose vote-counting abilities would impress the likes of Karl Rove, never saw it coming, and the Salafis' success threatens to upend the movement's carefully laid plans for dominating Egypt's post-revolutionary political scene. » | Sarah A. Topol | Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Gay Mayor of Berlin Elected to Third Term

ADVOCATE: Klaus Wowereit, the openly gay mayor of Berlin, won a third term on Sunday in a convincing victory that makes some believe he could be the Social Democratic Party’s candidate for German chancellor in 2013.

According to Spiegel Online [E], Wowereit secured a third five-year term while his party won 28.3% of the vote and held off the resurgent Green Party, which took 17.6% of the vote.

Wowereit, 57, won reelection despite the fact that Berlin struggles with high debt, unemployment, and an influx of tourists seeking the city’s famous cultural and nightlife scenes. Analysts attribute his ballot box success to his personal popularity, which seemed assured in 2001 when he came out at a party conference prior to his election by declaring, “I’m gay, and that’s a good thing.” » | Julie Bolcer | Monday, September 19, 2011

Gaddafi Revives Offer of Vote to End Libya Conflict
REUTERS: The Libyan government on Sunday renewed its offer to hold a vote on whether Muammar Gaddafi should stay in power, a proposal unlikely to interest Gaddafi's opponents but which could widen differences inside NATO.

Pressure is growing from some quarters within the alliance to find a political solution, three months into a military campaign which is costing NATO members billions of dollars, has killed civilians, and has so far failed to topple Gaddafi.

Moussa Ibrahim, a spokesman for Gaddafi's administration, told reporters in Tripoli the government was proposing a period of national dialogue and an election overseen by the United Nations and the African Union.

"If the Libyan people decide Gaddafi should leave he will leave. If the people decide he should stay he will stay," Ibrahim said.

But he said Gaddafi -- who has run the oil-producing country since taking over in a military coup in 1969 -- would not go into exile whatever happened. "Gaddafi is not leaving anywhere, he is staying in this country," Ibrahim said.

The idea of holding an election was first raised earlier this month by one of Gaddafi's sons, Saif al-Islam. » | Nick Carey | TRIPOLI | Sunday, June 26, 2011

Inside Story - A Hollow Victory for Turkey's Erdogan?
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK party won a third term in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

It won just under 50 per cent of the vote, and secured 326 of the 550 seats in parliament. But the AKP will not be able to make unilateral constitutional changes.

The mandate is 40 seats short of the two-thirds majority needed to re-write the constitution without the co-operation of other parties.

The AKP is also short of the 330 seats it needs to refer a constitutional reform to a public vote.

However, it is the party's largest electoral victory since it came to power in 2002.

Many say Erdogan's support rests on his success in creating a booming economy and in ending decades of chaotic coalitions, military coups and failed international financial bailouts.

He has promised to build consensus with opposition parties to write a free civilian constitution that unites and embraces all parts of Turkish society.

Does another resounding election victory make Recep Tayyip Erdogan the most successful prime minister in the history of Turkey?

Inside Story with presenter Jane Dutton discusses with Yusuf Kanli, a columnist for the Hurriyet Daily News in Ankara; Nicole Pope, the author of Turkey Unveiled, A History of Modern Turkey in Istanbul; and Mustafa El-Labad, the director of Al Sharq Centre for Regional and Strategic Studies in Cairo.

King of Jordan Announces Elected Governments

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: King Abdullah of Jordan last night became the first Middle Eastern leader to hand over substantial power voluntarily since the start of the 'Arab Spring' as he announced the country would move to constitutional, elected government.

In a televised address, the king, who has faced repeated demonstrations this year but no uprising on the scale of those in Tunisia, Egypt or Syria, said that future governments would be "based on parliamentary majority and political party manifestos".

The king's move will be welcomed by his backers in the West, who have privately urged him to remain in step with public opinion and increase the pace of reform in the country. » | Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Sunday, June 12, 2011

Inside Story - Does Turkey Need a New Constitution?
On Sunday, Turkey will go to the polls to elect a new parliament and government. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is expected to win and continue its rule for a third consecutive term - a first in Turkey's history. But this election is less about who is going to win and more about whether the party that does win, will secure a big enough majority to amend the constitution. The AKP needs between 330 to 367 seats in the National Assembly. If the party does secure the super majority, it will not need the support of any other party to approve the new constitution. But why does Turkey need a new constitution? And can the governing party obtain the majority required to allow it to unilaterally write it? Inside Story discusses.

Spain's Zapatero Faces Calls to Resign as Socialists Hammered in Local Elections

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Spain's ruling socialist party were reeling from an unprecedented battering in local elections Sunday as voters punished Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero for his handling of the economic crisis.

The centre-right Popular Party (PP) won a resounding victory across the board in the regional and municipal elections, securing a ten per cent lead over their rivals, in a result seen as a precursor for general elections scheduled early next year.

Spain's Socialists lost control of traditional strongholds including the cities of Barcelona and Seville while the PP took Castilla-La Mancha, which had been governed by the socialists since the first democratic elections in 1979, four years after the death of dictator Gen Francisco Franco.

Pressure mounted for Prime Minister Zapatero to resign and call an early general election. But the socialist leader, who swept to power in 2004 and who has said he will not seek a third term, vowed to carry on reforms until the vote next March.

Conceding defeat, the prime minister blamed discontent on three years of economic crisis which has left Spain with a stagnant economy and 21 per cent unemployment, more than twice the EU average.

"We have suffered a broad setback compared to four years ago," he told a news conference after the first results came through, Sunday night. » | Fiona Govan, Madrid | Monday, May 23, 2011

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, President of Spain »

WIKI: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain »

Spain Protesters Challenge Government Ban
Spain's government have ruled that mass protests are illegal on the eve of elections. But many people remain on the streets of a number of cities refusing to leave. Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips reports.

Tories Won’t Make Radical Change with Majority, Harper Vows
THE GLOBE & MAIL: Stephen Harper said he’s taking a no-surprises approach to majority government rather than contemplating any radical shifts in policy now that he has control of the Commons.

The Conservatives won a solid majority on May 2, winning 167 ridings, which gives Mr. Harper a healthy margin over the required 155 seats needed for a majority.

The Prime Minister said he believes Canadians expect the Tories to hew to the platform they campaigned on – and to continue governing the way they did during a half decade of minority government.

“We got that mandate because of the way we have governed, because of our record,” he said during a press conference in Calgary.

“Canadians expect us to continue to move forward in the same way, to be true to the platform we’ve run on and be true to the kind of values and policies we’ve laid out before them,” the Prime Minister said.

Opposition parties including the Liberals had warned Mr. Harper would tack to the right upon election and his rivals had tried to spook voters with the warning he’s slash health care.

The re-elected Prime Minister, however, said he’s not going to spring things on Canadians – shying away from the idea of allowing a bigger tier of private health care to develop in Canada.

“One thing I’ve learned in this business is that surprises are generally not well received by the public and so we intend to move forward with what Canadians understand about us and I think what they’re more and more comfortable with.” » | Steven Chase | Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Verbunden »

Finland's election: Race to the Finnish
THE ECONOMIST: FINNISH elections do not usually excite much attention abroad, still less apprehension. A long border with Russia gives Finland strategic significance, but it is a small place with a reputation as a stolid member of both the European Union and the euro zone. Most election campaigns feature a dozen or more parties. The one that wins the most votes invites two or three others to form a coalition—and nobody loses much sleep. But the election on April 17th may break the mould because of the astonishing rise of a populist Eurosceptic party, the True Finns, led by Timo Soini.

Many Finns are bored by their familiar politicians. A recent survey found that one-third of voters could not name the four parties in today’s coalition. By contrast, Mr Soini’s soundbites about helping impoverished Finns instead of bailing out profligate Greeks or handing cash to immigrants have struck a chord. The True Finns took just 4.1% of votes in the 2007 election, but they are now almost level in the polls with the three bigger parties (see chart). It is anybody’s guess which party will emerge as the biggest on polling day, and thus probably supply the next prime minister. » | Thursday, April 14, 2011

Muslim Brotherhood Withdraws from Egyptian Elections
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Muslim Brotherhood and a secular party both withdrew on Wednesday from Egypt's election after a crushing first-round defeat by the president's ruling party in a poll marred by alleged fraud and violence.

The move left barely any opposition contesting the second round of the parliamentary poll and dealt another blow to the credibility of the vote after Egypt came in for heavy criticism from its US ally and human rights groups.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which won 20 per cent of seats at the last election in 2005 but failed to secure a single one in last Sunday's ballot, said it will boycott a run-off on December 5.

An official announcement was expected later in the day. >>> | Thursday, December 02, 2010

Younge America: The Old Farts' Club
THE GUARDIAN: On the eve of the US midterm elections, Gary Younge attends a breakfast and bull meeting in rural Nevada, where local conservatives discuss jobs, judges and the pros and cons of armed insurrection

Watch Guardian video here | Presented by Gary Younge and produced by Laurence Topham | Monday, November 01, 2010

Les étudiants démocrates entre apathie et désillusion
LE FIGARO: REPORTAGE - À l'université de Columbia (New York), qui compte Barack Obama parmi ses anciens élèves, les élections ne mobilisent que très peu les étudiants.

Sur les campus new-yorkais, engager la conversation sur les élections de mi-mandat est un exercice peu gratifiant : le sujet provoque le plus souvent grimaces et bâillements. Deux ans après le raz-de-marée des jeunes pour Barack Obama - ils étaient deux fois plus nombreux à avoir voté pour lui que pour John McCain -, la mobilisation s'est largement dissipée. Kaley Hanenkrat en sait quelque chose. La présidente du club démocrate de l'université de Columbia essaie depuis des semaines de sortir ses pairs de leur léthargie préélectorale. Barack Obama, lui, parcourt les universités du pays pour tenter de retrouver l'élan de 2008, mais la magie n'est plus la même et, de toutes façons, les élections de mi-mandat ennuient profondément les jeunes. En 2006, seuls 25 % des 18-29 ans avaient voté. Demain, 27 % ont l'intention d'aller aux urnes, d'après un sondage de l'université de Harvard. >>> Par Adèle Smith | Lundi 01 Novembre 2010

Far-right Success in Swedish Elections
CNN: The far-right party took 20 seats in the Swedish parliament after a nail-biter of an election.

Australia Faces Hung Parliament as Julia Gillard's Labor Party Suffers Losses
THE OBSERVER: Labor lead shrinks thanks to strong opposition campaign, climate change concerns – and anger at treachery over Kevin Rudd

Labor leader Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson leave the stage after an election night event in Melbourne. Photograph: The Observer
Australia looked to be heading for a hung parliament on Saturday night after one of the closest elections in decades.

After five weeks of bitter, negative campaigning, neither Labor, the current government, nor the conservative opposition Liberal party looked like they would be able to form a government in their own right. It appeared that both parties would have to rely on others in the lower house of parliament.

Labor can expect the support of the first-ever Green member, and probably also a former Green turned independent, who seemed likely to win a seat.

The Liberal party would have to rely on three other independents, two of whom have had links to the conservative National party, which is part of the opposition coalition. It may be days before the final outcome is known.

Whoever forms a government, it is clear that the big winners are the Greens. In addition to their seat in the lower house, they will control the balance of power in the upper house, the senate. They look set to win 12% of the vote nationally, 50% more than last time. They could also double their seats in the combined houses of parliament.

For Labor, the outcome is a disappointment. Yesterday, the party's leader, Julia Gillard, addressed the faithful – in what she had hoped would be a victory speech – with the words of Bill Clinton, saying: "The people have spoken, but it's going to take a little while to determine what they've said." Gillard said she would continue to lead the government until the result was clear. In an apparent appeal to the independents, she laid out her "good track record" of working with them in the house and senate. >>> Alison Rourke in Sydney | Saturday, August 21, 2010

Australia – Election 2010: Tony Abbott Definitely Against Gay Marriage
THE DIRT: No time was wasted as the radio duo pressed Abbott over his views on gay marriage.

Just like Prime Minister Julia Gillard, marriage in his view is always between a man and a woman. (+ audio of Tony Abbot on gay marriage) >>> Posted by Jason | Monday, August 02, 2010

Julia Gillard 'Heading for Defeat' in Australian Election
THE TELEGRAPH: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is heading for a shock defeat at elections on August 21 according to a new opinion poll.

Miss Gillard, who became prime minister five weeks ago, has had her election campaign hampered by government in-fighting and damaging cabinet leaks.

Defeat for Miss Gillard, though still considered unlikely by most other opinion polls and political experts, would sink her plans to place a 30 per cent tax on iron ore and coal mines, to introduce carbon-trading and to build a $33 billion broadband network.

Miss Gillard took the leadership of Australia from unpopular premier Kevin Rudd, who was dumped by his own Labor MPs.

But their gamble on the country's first woman prime minister leading them back to government is looking riskier by the day. >>> | Saturday, July 31, 2010

Key Issues for Australian Voters

Pitching to Voters in Australia: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott hit the campaign trail


Related video >>>