Stories

Citizen-Candidate Dialogues in Mexico Seek to Increase Government Responsiveness

In some of Mexico’s states most affected by violence, voters are getting a rare chance to put questions about citizen security to candidates seeking their support in the country’s July 1 congressional elections.

In a country that has been plagued by organized crime and violence, safety issues continue to be a top priority for voters. A poll from September 2011 found that 55 percent of Mexicans want the government to put a high priority on strengthening public security.

Teresa de Jesús Chocoyo definitely stood out in the crowd when she was sworn in recently as one of 22 departmental governors in Guatemala, where non-indigenous men dominate politics. A petite indigenous woman in colorful, traditional Mayan dress, her long black hair pulled back in a braid, she was the only indigenous woman governor, one of only three women and three indigenous governors.

Women of all ages, regions and walks of life took to the streets last year during the uprising that led to the ouster of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. They participated as candidates and campaigners during the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) elections that followed, encouraged by the country’s new electoral law that required a “zipper system” that alternated men and women on candidate lists. As the political transition continues, Tunisian women are playing active roles in civil society and political parties.

When Liberians went to the polls to elect a president last fall, 1,801 citizen observers fanned out across the country to observe voting, counting, tallying and recording of results. They were part of the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), a coalition of more than 30 civil society organizations that observed all aspects of the election process, which it found to be “free, fair and transparent.”

Urging greater international investment in Kyrgyzstan, Djoomart Otorbaev, deputy prime minister for economics and investment, asked the international community to “loudly recognize” Kyrgyzstan’s economic and political reforms. Speaking at NDI, he called the reform process “inevitable.”

Citizens living outside of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), get little attention from the country’s central government and have poor access to public services like health care, electricity and education. The federal government makes all decisions and there has been little progress in efforts to give local governments power over such services, a process known as decentralization. In addition, there have been no municipal elections in almost 20 years, so local officials are appointed by the central government.

Albright, Shultz Honored with Democracy Service Medal

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is honoring former Secretaries of State George P. Shultz and Madeleine K. Albright with the Democracy Service Medal at a June 4 gala dinner in Los Angeles. The medal, which reads "For Service in the Cause of Democracy," was first presented to Polish President Lech Walesa and AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland in 1999. The medals will be presented by NED Chairman Richard A. Gephardt, former Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

When the Liberian legislature convened in January, about 60 percent of its members were new, as were most of their staff members. As the new lawmakers got their bearings and learned their way around the Capitol, their staffers were learning the best ways to support their bosses through a first-of-its-kind week of training sessions for legislative staff.

Libyan voters went to the polls in Benghazi May 19 to elect members of the city’s local council. It was the first election held there in more than four decades. Though NDI did not field an international observation mission, Megan Doherty, NDI resident senior program officer in Libya, was accredited to observe the vote. Here she shares her informal observations of the voting process.

As the political transition proceeds in Libya, leaders continue to struggle to meet public expectations on key issues such as security, political reform and standard of living, according to a new public opinion study by NDI.

Citizen-Candidate Dialogues in Mexico Seek to Increase Government Responsiveness

Indigenous Woman Becomes Governor in Guatemala

Tunisian Women Worry Gains Made During Revolution May Be Slipping

Liberian Election Observers Plan for Future with Help of Regional Coalition

International Community Should “Loudly Recognize” Reforms in Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Prime Minister Says

In Central African Republic, Civic Groups Seek to Improve Public Services

Albright, Shultz Honored with Democracy Service Medal

In Liberia, Training Staff for Stronger Lawmakers

Notes from Benghazi: Local Elections

With Elections in Sight, Libyans Concerned about Security, Country's Direction

Pages

CONNECT