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Pakistan's President Resigning As Army Chief

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 10h47 GMT on Sep 17
_44120266_musharraf_ap203b.jpg

While the Pakistani Supreme Court is still discussing whether a further extension of the double post as head of state and military chief for General Pervez Musharraf is unconstitutional, Musharraf himself announced his resignation as army chief by 15 November.

Pakistan's Election Commission amended the Presidential Election Rules so that certain restrictions will not apply to Musharraf. Therefore, he could be re-elected as President of Pakistan within the next few weeks.

Read more about the background of the resignation and Pakistan's political situation on BBC's articles Musharraf to 'quit as army chief', Pakistans crisis 'hits army morale' and Court hears Musharraf challenge. Find a discussion of the political situation as well as background information on Al Jazeera, Bloomberg and in the Indian Times.

Find out what the Pakistani President has to say by watching our documentary "Dinner with the President". Join the global debate in our forums: Are dictators ever good?

 

Greek Conservatives Party Wins General Elections

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 10h13 GMT on Sep 17
_44120129_costas_afp203long.jpg

Six months before the end of his governmental term, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis requested the dissolution of the Greek parliament in order to hold early elections. Karamanlis planned to win a clear mandate for necessary reforms.

The preliminary results of the polls showed a narrow majority for Karamanlis' New Democracy party. The result was delivered by a complex new electoral procedure and declared a "clear mandate" for a second term.

Read more about the elections in the International Herald Tribune, on Al Jazeera and BBC News online as well as a full cover of the aftermath of the poll in the Mail & Guardian and the IHT.

Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

Lebanon Faces Compromise

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 9h36 GMT on Sep 13

Yesterday the speaker of Lebanon's Parliament, Nabih Berri, announced that he supports a plan to desolve the political apathy in Lebanon. His proposal includes the appointment of a new head of state by September 25th, overcoming disagreements on a general political level as well as within  the political factions.

Read more about the difficult plans in the International Herald Tribune and discuss in our forums: What would make you start a revolution?

Capital In Question Leads To A Presidential Crisis In Bolivia

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 22h00 GMT on Sep 10

 AP - on BBC News

Almost two years after Evo Morales gained 54 percent of the votes to become President of Bolivia he faces his toughest crisis: For over a century La Paz and Sucre have shared the title of Bolivia's capital. Now this situation is at stake, with proposals to transfer executive and legislative government to Sucre. With raising tensions among protesters, police and military forces as well as limitations in freedom expression, many are concerned about the new un-democratic movement in the young democracy of Bolivia.

Read more about the democratic Bolivian revolution BBC News online, from AP and Jurist.

Join the debate in our forums: What would make you start a revolution? and follow our documentary Looking for a Revolution, which shows how Evo Morales, the first indigenous leader in Bolivia became President.

Lawyers In Pakistan Question Double Post Of President As Unconstitutional

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 22h00 GMT on Sep 9

Today the Pakistani Supreme Court announced that the term as head of state for General Pervez Musharraf would expire on Nov 15th this year. Despite of that the Attorney General of Pakistan will lead an investigation, wether the double-post of Gen. Musharraf as president and military chief is unconstitutional. Read more about the political situation in International Herald Tribune as well as the legal explanation in Jurist.

Find out what the Pakistani President has to say by watching our documentary "Dinner with the President". More sources on that topic are available via Google News and join the debate in our forums: Are dictators ever good?

Presidency Follows Leadership Of Iran's Most Important Clerical Body

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 22h00 GMT on Sep 8

 BBC

The former President of Iran, Hashemi Rafsanjani, was elected as the head of a powerful clerical body, which approves Iran's supreme leader. Rafsanjani is said to be more moderate, than the current Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This election shows clear tendencies for a moderate movement in the Islamic establishment of Iran, experts say.

Read more about it on BBC News online and in the International Herald Tribune. Join the debate in our forums: Is democracy good for everyone?

Not in the arguing mood? Make your vote count in our voting room!

Brazil Dismisses President Of Senate

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 22h00 GMT on Sep 8

 BBC online

After over three months of arguing accusations of corruption, Renan Calheiros, an ally of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was outvoted of his position in the senate. Read more about the scandal on BBC News online.

Join the debate in our forums: Why bother to vote?

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Candidates For Sierra Leone's Presidency Agree On Non-Violence Pact

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 22h00 GMT on Sep 2

 BBC

After warnings of the current President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah to impose a state of emergency, the two candidates and the outgoing president met for talks on the weekend. After the ongoing campaigning was escorted by roits, violent attacks and clashes the current president wants to calm down the escalation of violence in order to secure 'politics, not war.'. Read more about the situation in Mail and Guardian and on BBC News online.

Join the debate in our forum: Can terrorism destroy democracy?

Mexico's President Addresses Urgent Problems

posted by Anna-Maria Müller at 22h00 GMT on Sep 2

One Year after his controversial election, the Mexican President Felipe Calderon reminded the split National Congress to act on behalf of the land's contemporary problems to prepare Mexico for the future. Read more about it on People's Daily Online.

Join the debate in our forum: What is wrong with democracy?

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