The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), an NDI partner, reported that its independent parallel vote tabulation (PVT) confirmed the Election Commission’s determination that a presidential runoff election is required in Ghana.  The National Democratic Party (NPP) candidate received more than 49 percent of the vote but was shy of the majority required, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate received over 47 percent of the vote. The NDC is leading the NPP slightly in the parliamentary election results with a small number of seats going to others.

Colombia's department of Chocó, where 82 percent of the residents are of African descent, was the nation's first administrative division designed to give that group some autonomous decision-making power. But the hoped-for empowerment has been slow to materialize in the face of poverty, corruption, violence and neglect.

Challenges facing the Republic of Georgia were among topics discussed by David Bakradze, chairman of the Georgian Parliament, at a briefing at NDI on Dec. 10. Bakradze announced the establishment of a special parliamentary commission to improve Georgia’s electoral code and talked about questions arising in the wake of the August conflict and political, judicial and media reforms.

Pictured above: David Bakradze, giving remarks during a briefing at NDI.

–

Published on Dec. 11, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kathy Gest, 202-728-5535, or
Amy Dudley, 202-728-5541

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will honor two champions of democracy – Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) – at its Democracy Awards Luncheon on Dec. 15. NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright will host the event. Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international correspondent, will serve as master of ceremonies. The gathering will be held from 12-2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.

This Database of Party Laws was created by Dr. Kenneth Janda of Northwestern University to research “Adopting Party Law,” a paper commissioned by NDI.

Leaders of 41 political parties in Guinea recently signed a code of conduct that sets standards for political party behavior in the lead-up to legislative elections, expected in March 2009. Signatories to the code agreed to promote transparent and peaceful elections with the understanding that violence and intimidation by party members is unacceptable. In addition, the signers agreed to promote women and young leaders on their party’s electoral lists.