Erdogan says March local elections will be his ‘last’
It was the first time that Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003, has spoken about leaving office. The AKP is hoping to regain the mayorship of Istanbul in the elections later this month, having seen it taken by the opposition in 2019.
Iraqis head to polls shunned by activists
Security was tight, with all airports closed from Saturday evening to dawn on Monday across Iraq, where despite the government's declaration of victory over the Islamic State group in late 2017, jihadist sleeper cells continue to mount attacks.
Iraqis head to early vote amid boycott calls, abstention fears
A new single-member constituency system for electing Iraq's 329 lawmakers is supposed to boost independents versus the traditional political blocs that are largely centered on religious, ethnic and clan affiliations. The election is being held a year early in a rare concession to the youth-led protest movement that broke out...
In Iraq vote, big blocs lurk behind ‘independents’
A new electoral law in Iraq will mean that when Iraqis go to the polls on Sunday, they will vote for individuals rather than parties. This is the country’s fifth election since the US toppled the Saddam Hussien regime in 2003.
Iraq’s election: how it works, factions that are likely to dominate
A total of 329 seats are up for grabs in the election, which was moved forward from 2022 as a concession to youth-led pro-democracy protests that erupted in late 2019. But many voters are expected to stay away amid widespread anger over corruption and ineffectual governance. More than 25 million...
Male candidates sweep Qatar’s first legislative polls
Male candidates were elected in all 30 of the seats up for election despite 28 women initially being cleared to run in the polls.
Hundreds of Iraqis rally to mark protests anniversary
On October 1, 2019, widespread rallies erupted across Baghdad and the south of the country against a government seen as corrupt, inept and beholden to Iran. Nearly 600 people were killed during the protests.
Top Iraq cleric urges voting in parliamentary poll
The statement from Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani's office came against the backdrop of potentially high rates of abstention in the October 10 ballot
Germany: Uncertainty looms as rivals scramble to lead next government
Preliminary results showed that the center-left Social Democrats had won the largest share of the vote at 25.7 percent. Chancellor Merkel's center-right CDU-CSU bloc garnered 24.1 percent, its worst showing in its seven-decade history.
German youths seek change after a lifetime of Merkel
Many of her countrymen say her slowly-slowly approach stymied progress on burning issues such as climate protection and the digital race.
France to host international conference ahead of Libya elections
The ratification earlier this month of an electoral law that was clearly tailor-made for Khalifa Haftar, the military strongman who controls eastern Libya, raised tensions three months before the crucial ballot.
Islamists routed by liberal parties in Morocco
The Justice and Development Party which headed the ruling coalition for a decade saw its support collapse from 125 seats in the outgoing assembly to just 12
Japan pledges $1.97 m to UN to help conduct Iraq elections
The money will be used to support and assist capacity-building within the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission for the October polls.
Reschedule Palestinian polls soon, include East Jerusalem, say UN experts
Polls to be held in May and July were postponed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on April 29 amid concerns about the ability to vote in East Jerusalem.
Egypt to support stability in Libya as it prepares to hold elections
President Sisi called Libyan institutions to fulfill their national duty Egypt, Libya discussed how to strengthen cooperation and support the political process in the war-torn country Egypt has reiterated its support for the Libyan government as the latter prepares to hold elections by the end of the year expected...