Elections

Canada PM Carney to Call April 28 Snap Election

New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call a snap election for April 28, triggering an intense campaign dominated by how to react to President Donald Trump's trade war and demands to turn the close US ally into a 51st state. Carney, who replaced prime minister Justin Trudeau just last week, is set to announce the election ...

Municipal Elections: The Cornerstone of Decentralization

Many fail to fully grasp the role and importance of municipal elections, which are largely regarded as little more than a routine event or a contest among families and relatives. Political parties further fuel these rivalries, especially in larger towns and villages, where they treat the poll and the local leaders as instruments to advance their ...

Canada's Liberal Party Elects New Prime Minister

Canada's Liberal Party overwhelmingly elected Mark Carney as the country's next prime minister Sunday, as the former central banker warned of "dark days" brought on by the United States under President Donald Trump. Carney lost no time taking a defiant stance against a US president he accused of "attacking Canadian workers, ...

Beirut Municipality and the Struggle for Survival

Next May, Beirut is set to face its fifth municipal election since the war—assuming the elections take place. All signs indicate that they will, given the firm insistence of the President and the government. After the Beirut Municipal elections in 1998 and 2004, which were made possible with the support of late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri ...

Ivory Coast’s Economy Thrives Ahead of Presidential Deadline

The presidential election set to take place next October should decisively test the ability of Ivorian democracy – representing a population of 32 million – to overcome the lingering shadows of the 2010-2011 post-electoral crisis and lay the groundwork for a society reconciled with its history. The current regime’s strong economic record, ...

Future Movement Eyeing Municipal and General Polls with or Without Saad Hariri

The Future Movement, which had suspended its participation in Lebanon’s political life three years ago, will be taking part in the upcoming municipal elections slated for May and the general elections next year, according to a party official. However, the movement’s leader, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, may not be running for a seat in ...

Intersecting Factors Obstruct Presidential Election Again: From Ceasefire to Iran’s Plan

Although the Lebanese presidential election is – or should be – a purely internal matter, observers of the issue agree that it has become organically linked to changes in the region. These include everything from Israel’s war on Hezbollah and its repercussions to the peaceful coup in Syria. While it is true that Iran – through its arm in ...

Syria: Al-Joulani Announces Elections in Four Years

The new leader of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, announced in an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya on Sunday that organizing elections in Syria could take up to four years, as it would require a complete population census. He also stated that drafting a new constitution could take three years. Rejecting criticism ...

Germany's Scholz Loses Confidence Vote, Triggering Early Elections

Germany's centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote on Monday after weeks of turmoil, setting Europe's biggest economy on the path to early elections on February 23. The Bundestag vote, which Scholz had expected to lose, allows President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the legislature and formally order an election. The ...

Romania's Top Court Scraps Presidential Election

Romania's constitutional court announced on Friday that it had annulled the presidential election following allegations of Russian interference, effectively cancelling the second-round run-off that had been due to take place this weekend. Romanian authorities had cried foul after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round of ...

Scholz Says Open to Discussions on Election Date

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, mired in crisis after his three-party coalition collapsed this week, said Friday he is open to talks on whether to move forward snap elections. The embattled chancellor has signalled new polls by March, half a year earlier than scheduled, but all opposition parties have urgently demanded they be held as early as ...

USA: President-Elect Trump at 301 Electoral Votes, Harris at 226

The final state calls are coming in for the US presidential election, with President-elect Donald Trump at 301 electoral votes, well past the 270 needed for victory, and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris at 226, US networks said. Nevada was the latest to be called Friday, with six electoral votes going to Trump, yet another flip of a swing ...