A special court in Afghanistan has overturned a quarter of last year’s parliamentary election results in a vote fraud investigation, possibly creating a constitutional crisis. The tribunal threw out results for 62 of the 249 seats in the Afghan parliament on Thursday, with the possibility that more results could be overturned when it reconvenes on […]
Afghan Court Reverses Parliamentary Election Results in Vote Fraud Probe
Police Disperse Protesters in Senegal With Tear Gas For A Second Day
Senegalese police have fired tear gas on marchers in Dakar protesting proposed changes to election laws that opponents say would make it easier for the president to be re-elected. Witnesses say the demonstrators were throwing stones at the parliament building when the altercation began Thursday. VOA’s correspondent in Dakar said Wednesday protestors destroyed a bus […]
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote
Kuwait’s prime minister has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, which stemmed from allegations he favored relations with Iran over those with other nations in the region. Lawmakers defeated the motion Thursday, with 25 members voting in support of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Sabah and 18 others backing the no-confidence measure. It is […]
Police Disperse Protesters in Senegal With Tear Gas
Police in Senegal have used tear gas to disperse protesters demonstrating against a draft election law that opponents say would make it easier for the president to be re-elected. VOA’s correspondent in Dakar says protesters Wednesday destroyed a bus near the Place de Independence, a large square in the capital. He says riot police broke […]
US Disappointed That Russia Bars Political Party
The United States said Wednesday it was disappointed by Russia’s decision to bar an opposition political party from participating in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement that the U.S. also was “troubled” by reports of pressure by authorities against supporters of the Party of People’s Freedom, or […]
Coalition Government Sworn-in in Finland
The six-party coalition government of Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen has been sworn in two months after national elections. Earlier Wednesday, the parliament overwhelmingly elected the conservative party leader as the new prime minister. Mr. Katainen was finance minister in the outgoing center-right coalition government. Mr. Katainen, whose party won the April elections, has formed […]
Egypt’s Brotherhood and 17 Parties Establish Election Platform
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has joined with 17 political parties to establish what they call a pro-democracy platform for parliamentary elections scheduled for September. In a statement, the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the other factions say they approved the document Tuesday. The coalition pledges to push for equality and democratic freedoms. The Islamist Muslim […]
Japan’s Ruling Party Extends Parliament
Japan’s ruling party on Wednesday pushed through a proposal to extend the current parliamentary session until the end of August, giving members time to pass key legislation before the expected resignation of Prime Minister Naoto Kan. Mr. Kan has still not set a date for his departure, which he announced at a party meeting early […]
Turkey Strips Kurdish Politician of Parliament Seat
Turkey’s electoral commission has ruled a newly elected Kurdish politician cannot take his seat in parliament because of a prior terrorism-related conviction. The High Electoral Board ruled late Tuesday that Hatip Dicle is not eligible for Turkey’s new parliament, after winning a seat in the June 12 election. Days before the vote, an appeals court […]
Japan’s Ruling Party Seeks 70-Day Extension of Parliament
Leaders of Japan’s ruling party say they will seek to extend the current parliamentary session until the end of August, giving themselves time to pass key legislation before the expected resignation of Prime Minister Naoto Kan. Mr. Kan has still not set a date for his departure, which he announced at a party meeting early […]