ElectionGuide
IFES

Myanmar (May 08, 2008)
Military rulers announced Tuesday that the constitutional referendum in Myanmar will proceed as planned on Saturday, despite the deadly cyclone that ravaged the southern region of the country last weekend. The referendum will be the first election held in over two decades in Myanmar. The government announced the referendum will still take place in all but the 47 townships hardest hit by the cyclone, and these will vote two weeks later. Pro-democracy opposition groups have stated it is unacceptable to hold a referendum under these circumstances. The draft constitution is the result of a 14-year National Convention and was released one month before the scheduled referendum. The 194-page document is written in Burmese and English; however, many citizens are ethnic minorities who do not speak either language. The referendum comes just 8 months after nationwide pro-democracy protests in September were stopped with military force, and days after the cyclone left widespread destruction and, according to some reports, up to 100,000 people dead. Aid from the military rulers has been slow to reach the victims and international aid groups are having trouble receiving permission and access to the country.

Russia (May 08, 2008)
Former President Vladimir PUTIN was confirmed as prime minister of Russia on Thursday. The State Duma, where PUTIN’s United Russia Party holds 315 of 450 seats, approved PUTIN with a 392-56 vote. In one of his first acts as president, MEDVEDEV formally nominated PUTIN Wednesday. PUTIN’s confirmation was anticipated due to the long-time alliance and friendship between PUTIN and President Dmitry MEDVEDEV. Barred by constitutional term limits from running for president in the March 2008 vote, PUTIN announced Dmitry MEDVEDEV as his favored successor in December 2007 and he won the presidency with 71% of the vote in March 2008. PUTIN addressed MPs this morning and laid out the new government’s priorities, highlighting a commitment to solving economic problems such as Russia’s rising inflation rate. It is expected that PUTIN will remain a dominant force in Russian politics and could run again for president in 2012.

Serbia (Apr 29, 2008)
On April 29, pro-Western President Boris TADIC signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU in Luxembourg. The SAA is an agreement that moves states closer to EU membership, but in Serbia its implementation is contingent on Serbia’s compliance with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Prior to ratification, EU members must first unanimously agree that Serbia has sufficiently complied with the ICTY. The party of Serbia’s Prime Minister Vojslav KOSTUNICA has voiced opposition to this agreement and vowed the parliament would not ratify this document. Tensions have been high in the Serbian government after many EU nations recognized Kosovo’s independence, which Serbia refuses to do. This signature is seen as a concession by the EU ahead of the May 11 parliamentary elections in Serbia where pro-Western TADIC’s party will face tough competition with nationalist parties. On March 13, President Boris TADIC dissolved the National Assembly and called early elections for May 11, 2008. Despite UN objections, the Serbian government plans to hold parliamentary and municipal elections in the Serbian regions in Kosovo.

Nauru (Apr 29, 2008)
Results of the April 26 election in Nauru show President Marcus STEPHEN’s party secured a 12-6 majority in parliament. President STEPHEN declared a state of emergency and called snap elections in early April after a five-month voting deadlock between the government party and the opposition party in parliament. The voting split between the two parties was stuck at 9-9 for five months and as a result budget bills and investment projects were at a standstill. President STEPHEN says he is optimistic that with the deadlock broken, parliament can resume passing crucial bills. Nauru, a small Pacific island, has just 12,500 inhabitants and is an exporter of phosphates.

Zimbabwe (Apr 24, 2008)
A recount of votes is currently underway in Zimbabwe, following the controversy over presidential and parliamentary elections held on March 29. Preliminary results for the parliamentary vote were available soon after the vote and indicated a win by the opposition party, but Presidential results have not been reported, and allegations of fraud and violence have plagued incumbent Robert MUGABE and his government since the election.  Citizen groups monitoring the elections have been reporting that opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won about 50% of the vote. Now, with a recount underway, there are reports of widespread post-election violence against opposition supporters, and against civilians in areas which voted heavily for the opposition by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe National Army and ZANU-PF youths. International pressure to declare and accept the real results is increasing, and this week British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed an arms embargo, an idea backed by Australia and the US.