· March, 2008

Stories about Elections from March, 2008

Taiwan: Voices after Presidential Election

  31 March 2008

March 22 is Taiwan's presidential election held once every four years. The victory is belonging to KMT's Ma Ying-jeou, who got 60 percent of votes and 2 million votes than the other candidate, Frank Hsieh from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). KMT lost the political power since DPP became the ruling party eight years ago. Now they are back and complete the second-round trasition of political power. After the election, in addition to the election result reported by Taiwan and international press, bloggers in Taiwan have many comments on democracy development, hot and criticism for two parties, and relationship between Taiwan and China.

Zimbabwe: The story of Zimbabwe in photos

  31 March 2008

Zimbabwe elections in pictures: “The Netherlands Institute of Southern Africa (NiZA) kindly gave us a grant to capture the Zimbabwe election in pictures. Using that grant a team of 3 journalists (two in Zimbabwe and one in South Africa) have been bringing you all the drama and action of the...

Zimbabwe: First six seats announced

  31 March 2008

First six seats to be announced officially in Zimbabwe elections: “Chegutu West MDC MT 6772 / ZPF 3713 / MDC AM 750 /, Chipinge Central ZPF 6377 / MDC MT 5862 /, Goromonzi West ZPF 6193 / MDC MT 5931 /”

Zimbabwe: What is MDC waiting for?

  31 March 2008

Bev Clark writes about elections in Zimbabwe:”But what now? What is the MDC waiting for . . . the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s “official” results which everyone is suspicious of? It seems odd to temper a wonderfully audacious move (claiming victory) with the predictable path of comparing results.”

Georgia: Opposition Ends Hunger Strike

  30 March 2008

TOL Georgia comments on news that the opposition has called off its hunger strike after a second intervention from the Georgian patriarch. With no concessions forthcoming from the government, the blog wonders where the current political situation in Georgia leaves the opposition ahead of the May parliamentary vote.

Zimbabwe: Harare is tense after Tsvangirai claims victory

  30 March 2008

Following the presidential and parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe yesterday, bloggers are reporting that the situation in Harare is tense, in Bulawayo MDC supporters are celebrating (MDC candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, has claimed victory) and all over the country there are rumours that Robert Mugabe has left the country for Mozambique.

Armenia: Opposition Protests Continue

  30 March 2008

Despite amendments to the law on public marches, rallies and demonstrations following the recently lifted state of emergency, the opposition continues to hold meetings on the streets of the Armenian capital. In order to circumvent the restrictions, the gatherings are held under the guise of playing chess, reading books or even eating fast food in public.

Brazil: Blogs banned from the 2008 elections

  30 March 2008

Brazil is warming up for local elections later this year, but the Supreme Electoral Court has just passed regulations that have raised eye-brows throughout the blogosphere: only candidates' purpose-built web pages will be allowed. Blogs and 'social web' facilities have not been subjected to a more comprehensive legislation and as a result these are now left in limbo. Will the netizen be silenced?

Angola: The fight is worthwhile

  27 March 2008

“Today I chatted for two hours with Anthony Alberto Neto, president of the Angolan Democratic Party (PDA). At a time when more and more Angolans in the diaspora (including me) will wonder whether it is worth continuing to fight, if it is worth believing in Angola, I found a man...

Zimbabwe: Using Google Maps to show election rigging

  27 March 2008

Sokwanele uses Google Map to show election rigging in Zimbabwe: “The interactive map aims to give a visual impression of the scale and many ways in which the Zimbabwean government has breached the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.”

Nigeria: Website for Obama

  27 March 2008

David Ajao's comments about the launching of a website for Obama in Nigeria: I regularly glance through the leading Nigerian Internet-based discussion forum Nairaland, to keep an eye on the current trends in Nigeria. Knowing the typical lack of a sense of priority of some Nigerian leaders, I wasn’t very...

Brazil: When the justice doesn't get the Internet

  27 March 2008

Idelber [pt] is finding a new resolution by the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court hard to believe. It rules that any campaign for the 2008 local elections will only be allowed from July 6, even in the Internet. The blogger asks: “If someone decides to campaign for their candidate in his...

Taiwan: English Bloggers on Presidential Election

  26 March 2008

David on Formosa collected English bloggers’ thoughts on Taiwan's Presidential Election that just finished on March 22. “Frank Hsieh has announced that he will resign as DPP chairman. Expect some major personnel changes in the DPP in the next few months. The next key things to watch for are whether...

Haiti: The Terror of Globalisation?

  26 March 2008

“All the fake, elegant-suited blather about bringing democracy and prosperity to Haiti has boiled down to murderous military occupation…while starving people survive by eating cakes made of dirt”: Toni Solo writes a detailed editorial of the situation at HaitiAnalysis.com.