site.news_by_theme Elections
Palestinians brace for new rightwing Israeli govt
The Palestinians are bracing for a new right-wing government that Israel's election is expected to produce, hoping that international and domestic moves will strengthen their position.
19 January 2013
German poll kicks off do-or-die year for Merkel alliance
German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces her first test at the polls in a general election year Sunday with a state vote that could prove even more decisive for her flailing coalition partners.
18 January 2013
Czechs vote to replace eurosceptic president Klaus
Austerity-weary Czechs vote Friday and Saturday in the country's first-ever direct presidential election.
12 January 2013
Czechs to vote in first direct presidential election
Czechs vote Friday and Saturday in their country's first direct presidential election, with recession, austerity and graft weighing heavily on the nation as it turns the page on a decade under ardent eurosceptic Vaclav Klaus.
09 January 2013
Venezuela assembly meets amid Chavez health crisis
Venezuela's National Assembly meets Saturday to elect its leadership in a session that also is expected to thrash out the country's political future as President Hugo Chavez battles cancer in Cuba.
06 January 2013
Vatican backs Monti, the anti-Berlusconi
The Vatican has thrown its weight behind outgoing prime minister Mario Monti, ditching the scandal-hit Silvio Berlusconi in favour of a practising Catholic they hope may lead Italy after February's general election.
31 December 2012
Netanyahu launches re-election bid centred on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday put Iran at the top of on his re-election campaign, pledging that halting Tehran's nuclear programme would be his first priority as premier.
27 December 2012
Surge in Pakistan violence raises fears for elections
A surge of violence in northwest Pakistan culminating in the assassination of a senior provincial minister has raised fears of a renewed Taliban campaign that could threaten national elections.
24 December 2012
Italy election campaign kicks off as Monti quits
Italy's election campaign kicked off in earnest on Saturday after Prime Minister Mario Monti's resignation opened the way for a contest dominated by a raging debate over austerity in the recession-hit country.
24 December 2012
S. Korea president-elect says security priority with North
South Korean president-elect Park Geun-Hye vowed Thursday to put national security first while pursuing greater engagement with a belligerent North Korea.
20 December 2012
South Koreans vote in presidential election
South Koreans cast their votes Wednesday in a tight and potentially historic presidential election that could result in Asia's fourth-largest economy selecting its first female leader.
19 December 2012
Japan election candidates make final pitches
Hundreds of candidates vying for a seat in Japan's parliament made their final pitches on Saturday in an election expected to see the return of the country's old guard.
15 December 2012
Clinton holds the key to 2016 White House race
Will she, won't she, will she, won't she, will she join the dance? To borrow from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," that's the question on everyone's lips about Hillary Clinton and the 2016 White House race.
15 December 2012
Candidate, 94, uses funeral fund for Japan election
A 94-year-old man who cashed in his funeral savings to use as an election deposit was out canvassing for votes Friday, just two days ahead of Japan's general election.
15 December 2012
Petrol bombs thrown during Bangladesh protest
Hundreds of protesters in Bangladesh threw petrol bombs at police on Tuesday as opposition parties enforced a nationwide strike demanding elections under a neutral caretaker government.
12 December 2012
Ghana opposition claims fraud in tight presidential vote
Ghana's main opposition party on Sunday alleged fraud in the country's tight presidential election, claiming it had evidence that its candidate had won the vote even before official results were declared.
11 December 2012
German opposition launches bid to topple Merkel
Germany's opposition Social Democrats will on Sunday launch their campaign to unseat Chancellor Angela Merkel next year, throwing their backing behind her former finance minister to challenge her.
08 December 2012
Italy's new centre-left leader Bersani faces test: press
Democratic Party chief Pier Luigi Bersani won primaries on Sunday to lead Italy's centre-left but now faces the challenge of uniting different currents in his party.
05 December 2012
Software mogul slams S. Korean presidential politics
South Korean software mogul Ahn Cheol-Soo formally ended his popular independent presidential campaign Monday with a withering criticism of the country's entrenched left-right political divide.
05 December 2012
Kuwait opposition to stage post-poll demo
The Kuwaiti opposition is to stage a demonstration at the weekend to protest against the new parliament which was elected amid a huge boycott.
05 December 2012