With its eye on membership in the European Union, Macedonia held peaceful local and presidential elections this spring without the violence that marred previous polls. The success of the election process was attributable, in part, to a Code of Conduct campaign that rallied political party leaders, candidates and voters alike to show that Macedonia can hold elections consistent with international standards.

Members of NDI's 2009 international election observation mission in Afghanistan presented their preliminary findings at a panel hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The Sept.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) today expressed deep concern over the high levels of fraud complaints filed with Afghan election authorities. (Read the full statement in English | Dari | Pashto)

For Afghanistan’s recent presidential and provincial council elections, NDI fielded a delegation of more than 100 international and Afghan observers stationed in every region of the country and Kabul, the capital city.  

Published on September 1, 2009

• “Why haven't the leaders of riots and those who everyone knows touched off the plots been arrested?”
  Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the Guardian Council, in a sermon during Friday prayers

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented his final list of cabinet nominees to the nation late on Aug. 19. The president must present his cabinet within two weeks of his inauguration and presidents have traditionally waited the full two weeks, preventing extended parliamentary discussion of candidates before their confirmation.