cafebabel.com

Croatia EU vote: Swiss, Italian, Slovenian, Czech media react

('euro topics',) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:13:56 -0000

A clear majority of Croatians voted in favour of EU accession in a referendum on 22 January. However, if they want to join the EU it's above all for economic reasons, European commentators write and prophesy that the EU's eastern enlargement is over for the time being

Why I like Putin for president: young Russians speak

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:57:35 -0000

Russia will be going to the polls on 4 March 2012. Approval ratings indicate that Vladimir Putin is highly likely to be voted in for a third term as president. The current prime minister’s politics and image makes human rights activists and western politicians shudder. So what is it about him that makes the Russian tick?

Baking a state for Palestine at the United Nations kitchen

('hkeet',) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:22:08 -0000

64 years ago, the UN granted the Palestinians a state on 43% of the former mandate Palestinian territory. This state never came into being. The bid for this and UN membership will likely take place on 24 September. A divided EU once again shows its reluctance to form a common foreign policy with the member states’ 'for', 'against' and 'wait-and-see' positions

Between Italy and Slovenia, Europe referendum conundrums in 2011

('europaeus',) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:30:31 -0000

In the past a lack of information and lukewarm participation have turned a potentially powerful tool of public reform into a strenuous but futile exercise. The unexpected results of the referendum held in Italy on 12 and 13 June bring one of the oldest form of direct democracy to the fore

Dutch, British, Spanish and Swiss reactions on Irish elections

('euro topics',) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:20:30 -0000

The conservative party fine gael won Irish parliamentary elections on 25 February and will form a coalition with the labour party. The outgoing fianna fáil (FF) lost over two-thirds of its mandate. Future prime minister Enda Kenny wants to renegotiate the EU bailout package and see the country facing profound change; the 31st Dáil meets on 9 March

Irish elections: expats can't vote on 25 February 2011

('Denis Fitzgerald',) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:07:23 -0000

The Dail is dissolved! Irish citizens will be electing a new government to oversee recovery from the worst economic crisis in the state's history. However, many of them forced to leave by the four-year-old fianna fáil-green government's malfeasance will be denied a ballot

Greece 2010 mayoral poll: first social(ist) media elections

('Georgios Kokkolis',) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:48:39 -0000

New Athens and Thessaloniki mayors George Kaminis and Yiannis Boutaris managed the impossible on 14 November. This socialist victory sends five main messages - including the fact that 'people dont give a monkeys about the politicians'. Extract from the cafebabel.com blog in Athens

Belgium elections: rise of radical Flemish nationalist party, N-VA

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:51:47 -0000

13 June 2010 marks just under twenty years since Belgians went to the polls for an early election. Belgians have voted six times in the last seven years: surrealism? Maybe. The last years resemble one long-winded election campaign, during which not one party made the smallest concession

Job Cohen: is this who The Netherlands needs as leader?

('Christian Derlagen',) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0000

The moderate and highly popular Amsterdam mayor has revived the labour party, leading in polls before the 9 June elections. Will he be the wonder doctor for Dutch citizens´ worried minds and restore the country´s image in the world? Portrait of a future statesman

London: protest singing for the UK elections

('Olly the Octopus',) — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:06:56 -0000

Anarchy in the UK? More like apathy; 60 and 61% of voter apathy was respectively registered in the 2001 and 2005 elections. What will happen on 6 May? A London-based protest singer on the role of music in 'raging against the machine'

Truth? There's no-one to vote for in 6 May UK elections

('james whyte',) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:13:58 -0000

For the first time in decades, the very real possibility of a hung parliament allows the political landscape to be shaken up in the UK's general election on 6 May. But the opposition leader David Cameron, who launches his election campaign on 13 April, appears windswept, PM Gordon Brown imperious and Nick Clegg just wants to be recognised

Fathoming the power of right-wing populist Geert Wilders in Europe

('euro topics',) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:31:36 -0000

If the freedom party leader is successful in the June parliamentary elections, Dutch politics will be destabilised and Europe will be forced to deal seriously with the man once nicknamed 'Mozart', write the Dutch, Swiss, Spanish and Slovakian press

In a country of 400, 000 muslims, the Swiss vote to ban minarets

('euro topics',) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:40:42 -0000

On 29 November, the people of Switzerland voted to ban the construction of new minarets. The referendum initiated by the Swiss people's party and the conservative federal democratic union has dealt a severe blow to religious peace in the country, write the Estonian, Swiss, Portuguese and Austrian press

Tories, Klaus and Kaczyński: EU 'three kings' vs Lisbon treaty

('euro topics',) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:55:20 -0000

The eurosceptic Pole Lech Kaczyński plans to sign the EU reform document in the next few days, Czech president Václav Klaus refuses and British conservative leader David Cameron again promises his country a referendum if he is elected prime minister in 2010 and the treaty has still not taken effect. The Irish, Czech, German and Hungarian press react

67% in Ireland say 'yes' to the Lisbon treaty

("Daniel O'Leary",) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:15:44 -0000

On 2 October, the Irish public allowed changes to the constitution to ratify the Lisbon treaty. The 'resounding' and 'convincing' vote dispels fears that the referendum would pass by a slim margin and demonstrate a lack of Irish faith in the democratic process, and in the EU

Lisbon vote no: a second referendum? How democratic

("Daniel O'Leary",) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:16:40 -0000

It’s ironic that the Irish 'No' to Lisbon in June 2008 was taken as a blow to Europe and a step away from democracy, when the treaty would take away our right to vote at all. Focus on media bias and the illusion of choice

Lisbon treaty: I'm voting yes for jobs and climate change

('bartstoran',) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:11:05 -0000

Democracy, cross-border crime and climate change are issues that resonate with young Irish people, a 'yes' campaigner says, which is why people should vote for the EU reform Lisbon treaty in a referendum on 2 October

Lisbon treaty: Ireland shouldn't feel obliged to vote yes

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:22:57 -0000

Remember that other time that Irish voters were told they had returned the wrong result in Nice in 2001? Citizens shouldn't feel they 'owe' anyone on 2 October

Lisbon treaty: Irish expats lose their vote abroad

('Angela Steen',) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:14:05 -0000

The only Irish citizens who are able to vote abroad are diplomats or army personnel. For others, it’s a question of finding the time, money or strength to take a Ryanair flight back home for the second referendum on 2 October, which almost all 27 EU members have ratified

Peddling for votes; cycle across Ireland for Lisbon treaty

("naomi o'leary",) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0000

A group of cyclists from around Europe are embarking on a tour of the Irish countryside to demonstrate for a higher voter turnout ahead of the 2 October Lisbon referendum. Organiser Grace Cox enthuses about the ‘yes’ movement that’s gathering speed - and even Ryanair are getting on board

One day at the European parliament in Strasbourg

('Soili Semkina',) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:41:37 -0000

For one week in each month the European parliament travels to Strasbourg to make decisions. The EP microcosmos runs in full speed in its Louise Weiss building. But how does it all really work?

European elections night: I was watching TV

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:55:58 -0000

The night that most centre-left governments took their batterings, you might have caught a show about an unemployed mother-of-two in Spain or the final of 'The Apprentice' in the UK. Glance at the programmes for which viewers gave up the EU election coverage ghost on the evening of 7 June; results came out at 8pm, signalling a lower voter turnout than 2004

EU elections on 7 June in Belgium to contend with crisis and regional elections

('Geoffrey Grandjean',) — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:54:59 -0000

On 7 June there will be two kinds of elections in Belgium: European and regional elections. In December 2008, prime minister Yves Leterme’s resignation ended the political crisis in Belgium. So what's really at stake in this context? Can a European issue emerge among the omnipresent discussions on its future?

A simple guide to the European elections

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Seven out of ten young people didn’t vote in the 2004 European elections. Was this lack of interest due to a lack of understanding? It seems that a little clarification is needed, so here is something to whet your political appetite, two months out from polling day

Voting aged 16: are the Austrians Europe's most mature?

('Aatish Pattni',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The Austrians will be the youngest voters in Europe during the upcoming European elections in June 2009. 'At 16 they’re grown up enough,' says a resolute Andrea Kdolsky, the Austrian MP in charge of health, family and youth. Making young people take responsibility for others may seem a bit off the wall for some, or is it more a tactical response in the face of an ageing population?

Obama election images: once upon a campaign in Atlanta

('fabien campoverde',) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:17:42 -0000

From Georgia to Paris: one of three official photographers at the democrat rally on 4 November 2008, shares his last moments of election history. Barack Obama is inaugurated president of the US on 20 January

US election reactions: ‘sleeping a little better’ after the Obama win

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:23:59 -0000

From London to New York on 4 November, a selection of correspondents trace the historic night when Barack Obama became the first black president of the United States

Georgia: stepping on 'dictators'

('Temo Bardzimashvili',) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Images from the Georgian capital as its people prepare to vote in a snap presidential election, to be held 5 January

Alexander Milinkievich: 'voting in Belarus oft means ending up jobless'

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The leader of the group of opposition parties in Belarus and Sakharov Prize winner on the need for close collaboration between his country and the EU

Belarus and their rigged election

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 12:00:00 -0000

'Neither free, nor fair'. For the observers sent to the Belarus elections by the organisation for security and cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 19 March, Alexander Lukashenko's victory is as comfortable as it is suspicious