France, Germany, others urge EU Commission to protect elections in Europe from foreign interference
Brussels, Belgium Reuters France, Germany and 10 other European Union countries want the European Commission to use its powers under the Digital Services Act to protect the integrity of European elections from foreign interference, a letter signed by the 12 countries showed. In the letter, European affairs ministers from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cyprus, […]
Global index for free and fair elections suffers biggest decline on record in 2023, democracy watchdog says
Stockholm, Sweden Reuters Lower voter turnout and increasingly contested results globally are threatening the credibility of elections, an intergovernmental watchdog warned on Tuesday, as its sub-index for free and fair elections suffered its biggest decline on record in 2023. In its report, the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) said 2023 was […]
Essay: AI and toxic politics
MAL FLETCHER says while democracy is based on transparency, AI systems are opaque and we don’t always know who is building them, or who is misusing them…
Year of elections: How polls around the world are set to reshape global politics
MARK JOHN, SUMANTA SEN and ANAND KATAKAM, of Reuters, report on some of the key issues at play in elections taking place around the world this year…
Burkina Faso extends junta rule by five years
Reuters Burkina Faso’s ruling junta will remain in power for another five years after participants in national talks on Saturday proposed extending the transition back to democracy by 60 months from July, according to the text of an approved new charter. People waving flags in Burkina Faso on 29th September, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/ Yempabou Ouoba […]
Voters in many countries sceptical of democracy, poll shows
Stockholm, Sweden Reuters Voters in many countries are suffering a crisis of faith in their democracies and institutions, a survey by a governance watchdog showed, painting a bleak picture in a year in which more than half of the world’s population holds elections. With the United States, India, Britain and the European Union going to […]
Imamoglu, the Turkish mayor following in Erdogan’s footsteps
Istanbul, Turkey Reuters Newly re-elected Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has emerged as the main challenger to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s reign. But in some ways, he is following in the footsteps of the Turkish leader who ran the city in the 1990s. Aside from having led the country’s biggest city, both have family roots in […]
Myanmar’s next election may not be nationwide, junta chief says
Reuters Military-ruled Myanmar plans to have an election if there is peace and stability in the country but may not be able to hold it nationwide, its top general said, as the junta battles to contain a rebellion on multiple fronts. The military, which has been in power since a coup three years ago, still […]
Thousands of farmers rally in New Delhi to demand higher crop prices
New Delhi, India Reuters Thousands of farmers rode buses and trains from across India to gather on Thursday at a rally in the capital, New Delhi, pressing a demand for higher guaranteed prices for their crops, as they faced down police barricades and tough security. The rally, days before general elections are expected to be […]
US warns of Russian effort to tilt 2024 elections in Europe against Ukraine
Washington DC, US Reuters The United States believes Russia will conduct “information operations” aimed at turning opinion in Europe against Ukraine as countries across the continent go to the polls this year, the head of the State Department’s office for disinformation said on Thursday. Dozens of countries worldwide will elect new leaders in 2024, including […]