tag

Chileans are voting in a presidential election Sunday that's pitting the governing leftist coalition against an array of right-wing candidates and will also redefine the country's legislature. There are eight candidates in the race and none are expected to get the 50% plus one vote needed to win the election outright, likely triggering a run-off between the top two candidates on December 14.Chilean law bans opinion polls 15 days before elections but the last numbers showed Jeannette Jara, the governing coalition candidate from the Communist Party, in the lead, with far-right Jose Antonio Kast, from the Republican Party, in second.Experienced moderate-right politician Evelyn Matthei, a former mayor and senator, led early polls but dipped in recent months and has been trading third place with libertarian firebrand Johannes Kaiser from the National Libertarian Party.Polling stations around Santiago, mostly at schools, filled with orderly lines of voters in the morning hours.First-time voter Samanta Paredes, 30, in Santiago's historic downtown, said she hoped voting would proceed calmly and create a middle-road path for Chile."I hope a more centered person wins, that the extremes don't win, because they're never good for anyone," she said.Law graduate German Rojas, 33, also said he hoped the election could create a spirit of unity, rather than polarisation."I'm not clear if one option or another has a better chance. But I hope that whoever wins has the capacity that Chile needs."Polls are expected to close at 6pm, but will remain open if there are still voting lines. Initial results are expected quickly with a full count within hours.Crime and immigration have dominated the electoral agenda, a far cry from the wave of left-wing optimism and hopes of drafting a new constitution that brought current President Gabriel Boric, who isn't allowed to run for reelection, to power.Even as they left their local polling stations on Sunday, candidates nodded to pledges to fight crime."People who would like to go out to see friends or go to the movies don't dare to because of crime. We have too much to do," Matthei told reporters.Another shift from the previous election is a mandatory vote for the 15.7mn registered voters. The previous election saw an abstention rate of 53% in the first-round vote and the large amount of apathetic or undecided residents set to cast ballots adds a wild card to the race."It's an unprecedented scenario we haven't lived through and it's playing out in a presidential election," said Guillermo Holzmann, a political analyst from the University of Valparaiso, who added the vote would be very difficult to predict, adding that polls in Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador failed to predict recent results."(New voters) don't think in terms of left, right or center, they think in terms of what changes are needed and what will benefit them," he said.Most of Congress is also up for grabs, with the entirety of the 155-member lower house and 23 of the country's 50 Senate seats in contention.The governing leftist coalition currently has a minority in both chambers and right-wing majorities in both could set the stage for Congress and the presidency to be controlled by the right for the first time since the end of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship in 1990.

The Security Council extended the United Nations Support Mission in Libya's mandate for one year until October 31, 2026. Since August, the mission has been developing a 12- to 18-month roadmap to organize presidential and parliamentary elections. However, it missed the first milestone, which was scheduled for completion in October.According to the roadmap, the initial two months were dedicated to restructuring the high national elections commission in Libya, securing agreement between the House of Representatives and the State Council on electoral laws, and initiating the formation of a unified government.

Biya, 92, seeks eighth term in officeTchiroma says 'our victory is clear'Official results expected by October 26Cameroon opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma declared victory late on Monday in the country's October 12 presidential election, urging President Paul Biya to accept defeat and "honour the truth of the ballot box"."Our victory is clear. It must be respected," Tchiroma said in a speech on his Facebook page from his hometown of Garoua in the north of the Central African state. "The people have chosen. And this choice must be respected."Tchiroma, a former government spokesperson and employment minister in his late seventies, broke ranks with Biya earlier this year and mounted a campaign that drew large crowds and endorsements from a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.Without naming Tchiroma, Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) on Tuesday condemned the self-declared victory as a "grotesque hoax," adding that only the Constitutional Council is enabled to proclaim results.It is "an inadmissible act in a state governed by the rule of law," CPDM spokesperson Jacques Fame Ndongo said in a statement.The Minister of Territorial Administration also criticized Tchiroma in a separate statement and promised to maintain public order and ensure the protection of people and their property during the electoral period.Biya, 92, the world's oldest serving head of state, is seeking an eighth term after 43 years in power. Analysts had expected his control over state institutions and a fragmented opposition to give him an edge in the election, despite growing public discontent over economic stagnation and insecurity.Tchiroma praised voters for defying intimidation and staying at polling stations late into the night to protect their ballots."I also thank candidates who have already sent me their congratulations and recognised the will of the people," Tchiroma said."We have placed the regime before its responsibilities: either it shows greatness by accepting the truth of the ballot box, or it chooses to plunge the country into turmoil that will leave an indelible scar in the heart of our nation," he warned.Cameroon's electoral law allows results to be published and posted at polling stations, but final tallies must be validated by the Constitutional Council, which has until October 26 to announce the outcome.Tchiroma said he would soon release a region-by-region breakdown of vote tallies compiled from publicly posted results."This victory is not that of one man, nor of one party. It is the victory of a people," he said.He also called on the military, security forces and government administrators to remain loyal to the "republic, not the regime".Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji warned over the weekend that any unilateral publication of results would be considered "high treason."Cameroon's single-round electoral system awards the presidency to the candidate with the most votes. More than 8 million people were registered to vote in the election.

Cameroonians voted Sunday in an election expected to return 92-year-old Paul Biya, the world's oldest serving head of state, to office after 43 years in power.AFP journalists saw voters crowding outside polling stations during the day in the capital Yaounde before they closed in the early evening, with an electoral official declaring the ballot had gone "calmly".Biya faced 11 opponents, including former employment minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 79, who generated unexpected enthusiasm among voters in the central African nation, where half the population is under 20.**media[367951]**Most of the eight million Cameroonians who were eligible to vote in the one-round election had only known one ruler in their lifetime.Biya has been in power since 1982 and has won every election in the past 20 years with more than 70 percent of the vote."Nothing is certain. Let's wait until we know the name of the elected official," Biya told reporters after he cast his ballot in the Bastos neighbourhood, near the presidential palace.**media[367953]**Cameroonian political scientist Stephane Akoa told AFP: "We shouldn't be naive. We know full well the ruling system has ample means at its disposal to get results in its favour."But he said that the campaign in recent days had been "much livelier" than was usually the case at that stage and "this poll is therefore more likely to throw up surprises."AFP reporters saw polling stations close at 1700 GMT. "Voting passed off calmly," an official from the national electoral authority, Jean-Alain Andzongo, told AFP at a voting station in the capital.**media[367949]**Biya kept his customary low profile during the campaign, appearing in public on Tuesday for the first time since May.He held a rally in Maroua in the strategic Far North region, which has 1.2 million eligible voters and makes up the second largest voting bloc in the country.For years, it was considered a Biya stronghold but several former allies from the area were this time running against him.The 11 rival candidates made numerous public appearances, each promising a new dawn for Cameroon.**media[367948]**In stark contrast to Biya, whose appearance attracted a sparse crowd of just a few hundred people, Bakary was welcomed in the streets of his home region by thousands of supporters waving placards that hailed "Tchiroma the Saviour".Bakary -- who resigned from the government in June to join the opposition after 20 years at Biya's side -- is the leading challenger after top opponent Maurice Kamto was barred from the race by the Constitutional Council.Rights groups including Human Rights Watch said that move undermined the credibility of the electoral process.Biya is only the second president Cameroon has had since independence from France in 1960.**media[367952]**Despite an abundance of natural and agricultural resources, around 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, according to World Bank figures for 2024, and unemployment stands at 35 percent in the major cities.Cameroonians complain about the high cost of living, a lack of clean drinking water, healthcare and quality education.Young people hunger for change, analyst Akoa said, but not yet to the point where they will take the risk of protesting en masse as in other countries in Africa and Asia over recent weeks."Many young people intend to vote," Akoa said. "There is a positive sign of change but perhaps not strong enough to bring young people out onto the streets, as we saw in Madagascar, Tunisia and elsewhere."The government authorised 55,000 local and international observers to monitor the vote, including representatives of the African Union.The Constitutional Council has until October 26 to announce the final results.But several internet platforms said they would compile results independently, drawing criticism from the government, which said they were attempting to manipulate public opinion.

Cameroon goes to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, amid widespread expectations that incumbent President Paul Biya will secure another term, extending his rule that has spanned more than four decades. At 92 years old, Biya is the world's oldest head of state. He has governed the Central African nation since 1982, maintaining power through successive elections in which he has consistently defeated his challengers. According to the country's Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), more than eight million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across the country in a single-day vote, with official results expected within about 15 days. The election is being held amid mounting calls from opposition parties and civil society groups to end Biya's decades-long tenure and to bring about political and economic reform in a country facing economic stagnation, as well as social and security tensions in some regions. In 2008, Biya oversaw the removal of presidential term limits, allowing him to run for re-election indefinitely — a move that consolidated his grip on power despite growing domestic and international appeals for a peaceful transfer of authority. ELECAM confirmed that twelve candidates are contesting the presidency. Among Biya's main rivals is Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, a former government spokesperson who has attracted large crowds during his campaign, calling for change and receiving backing from several opposition parties and civic groups seeking to present a united front. The government has pledged that the election will be conducted in a secure and transparent manner, amid heightened international scrutiny and calls for fairness in the process. Opposition figures, however, remain hopeful of a breakthrough that could reshape the country's political landscape and signal the beginning of a new chapter for Cameroon.

Chairman of Syria's Higher Committee for Elections Dr. Mohammed Taha Al Ahmad affirmed that the voting process for the People's Assembly elections is proceeding smoothly and in full accordance with the governing laws and regulations. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Ahmad said that fifty polling stations have been set up across various Syrian governorates, all of which have witnessed a high voter turnout since the early morning hours. He noted that the electoral college members, numbering about 6,000 voters, represent administrative units, professional unions, and popular organizations from across the country. Dr. Al Ahmad emphasized that voting is being conducted in private booths to ensure voter confidentiality, adding that media outlets have been allowed access to cover the process. He noted that an appeals' committee has been formed to oversee and safeguard the integrity of the vote and to address any objections raised during the electoral process. He added that ballot counting will begin immediately after all members of the electoral bodies have cast their votes, provided that voter turnout reaches at least 80%. The final results will be announced once the judicial committees in the electoral districts complete their review. Earlier in the day, voting began across several Syrian governorates to elect members of the People's Assembly. Members of the electoral bodies cast their ballots to choose their representatives in the new assembly, under the supervision of the Higher Judicial Committee for Elections and in the presence of the candidates' representatives.

Polling stations opened across most Syrian governorates on Sunday as voters cast their ballots in the country's first parliamentary elections since the overthrow of the former regime, marking a significant milestone in Syria's ongoing political transition. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), members of accredited regional electoral bodies are voting to elect two-thirds of the 210-seat People's Assembly — equivalent to 140 members — through subcommittees and electoral colleges, while President Ahmad Al Sharaa will appoint the remaining third. Nominations for Assembly membership closed on September 28 across 50 electoral districts nationwide, with a total of 1,578 candidates, including approximately 14% women. The People's Assembly will serve a 30-month term, renewable within a four-year transitional period, with the possibility of a one-year extension if required to ensure the continuity of legislative work during this critical stage. Under the current framework, the Assembly is responsible for proposing, approving, and amending laws, ratifying international treaties, endorsing the state budget, and granting general amnesty when necessary. It will also play a foundational role in drafting a permanent constitution, to be submitted to a national referendum once adequate security and stability are achieved. Following its adoption, parliamentary, local, and presidential elections will be held under the new constitutional framework to establish permanent governance structures. These elections come three months after President Al Sharaa issued a decree establishing the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections, tasked with overseeing the process and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. Sunday's vote is a key step toward rebuilding Syria's legislative institutions and laying the groundwork for long-term political stability following years of conflict.

Syria will hold on Sunday its first parliamentary elections since the overthrow of the former regime of ousted President Bashar Al Assad, in a historic milestone marking the country's transitional phase toward rebuilding its legislative institutions. Nawar Najmeh, spokesperson for the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections, said in remarks carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that voting will take place in designated electoral centers across most governorates. He noted that elections had been postponed in certain areas of Raqqa and Hasakah governorates, while some seats in As-Suwayda would remain vacant until conditions allow voting to be held safely. Najmeh explained that accredited members of the regional electoral bodies will cast their votes to elect two-thirds of the 210-seat People's Assembly — equivalent to 140 members — through subcommittees and electoral colleges, while the remaining one-third will be appointed by President Ahmad Al Sharaa. He added that nominations for membership in the Assembly closed on September 28 across 50 electoral districts nationwide, with a total of 1,578 candidates — approximately 14% of them women. Najmeh noted that qualified professionals with diverse specializations constitute around 70% of the candidates, while the remaining 30% represent community figures and dignitaries, reflecting efforts to achieve a balance between experience and social representation within the new legislative structure. According to the Higher Committee, the People's Assembly will serve a 30-month term, renewable within a four-year transitional period, with the possibility of a one-year extension if required to ensure continuity of legislative functions during this sensitive stage. The Assembly is tasked with proposing, approving, amending, or repealing laws; ratifying international treaties; approving the state's general budget; and granting general amnesty when necessary. It also plays a foundational role in drafting a permanent constitution, which will be put to a nationwide referendum once sufficient security and stability are achieved. Following its adoption, parliamentary, local, and presidential elections will be held under the new constitutional framework to restore permanent governance structures. The elections come three months after President Al Sharaa issued a decree establishing the Higher Committee for Parliamentary Elections to oversee the electoral process and ensure compliance with approved legal and regulatory standards. The vote is a crucial step toward reestablishing Syria's legislative institutions after years of conflict.