Authoritarian upgrade and electoral institutions

Writing for Brookings, Georgetown’s Steven Heydemann notes that Arab authortiarian regimes are upgrading their survivability toolkit with implications for democracy promotion approaches.
Read the rest of this entry »

Palestine goes PR, and the people like it

Two weeks ago, Palestian President Mahmoud Abbas decreed the country’s multi-member plurality districts out of existence. According to poll results released yesterday, a majority support the change to elections under full proportional representation. Opponents call it a smack at Hamas.

Read the rest of this entry »

Democracy Daily Briefing – 7.21.2007

Presidential Candidate and Putin Critic Arrested

The mayor of the Russian city of Arkhangelsk was dragged from his apartment in his underwear in the middle of the night by masked  federal police officers and charged with corruption. He is one of more than a dozen Russian mayors who have been arrested on various sets of charges. These moves are seen by Russia watchers as a strategy by the Kremlin to strengthen the vertical power structure controlled by the Putin’s inner-circle. The mayor remains one of the last positions directly elected by the population that can appeal to a broad single electorate. Last year the Kremlin altered the Russian constitution so that the president appoints regional governors instead of being directly elected. Reportedly, after the 2007 Duma elections the Russian legislature will seek to change the constitution again to make the mayor’s position subject removal by the governor’s whim.

Hamas Installs Its Own Judicial System

This week Hamas announced that it would form a three-member committee to begin  hearing legal cases and  resolving disputes in Gaza. The committee will be made up of a Islamic law scholar, a military lawyer, and a the head of the main prison in Gaza. Hamas leadership indicated that this was a band-aid solution until a more permanent institution could take over. After the violence broke out in the Palestinian territories, President Abbas ordered the Fatah aligned judges and police staff to stop cooperating with Hamas.

Mugabe Lashes Out at the Critical Catholic Church

As Mugabe’s government cracked down on opposition groups this spring, the Zimbabwean Catholic Bishops Conference released a public statement deploring Mugabe for ignoring his Catholic faith when dealing harshly with the opposition groups and governing the country. This week the state-controlled television station ran a story accusing the Archbishop of Zimbabwe of having an affair with a married woman. The Archbishop did not directly address the allegations but his supporters have labeled the reporting as a Mugabe led-smear.

Bid to Move Bolivian Capital Draws Protests

The a recent proposal to unite the functions of the Bolivian government into a single capitol has drawn wide protests. Bolivia, one of only twelve countries to have two capitals, has had the functions of the government divided between La Paz and Sucre. La Paz is the seat of the executive and legislative branches while Sucre is home to the judicial branch. The division originates from a the political unrest and stalemate in the late 1890s. The suggested reform is part of a broader  move to change the constitution and would unite the powers of government in Sucre. Supporters of Evo Morales, the first Bolivian President of indigenous American decent, view this suggestion as a move to weaken the power of President Morales.

India Elects First Woman Present

Pratibha Patil, a 72 year-old woman was elected as President of India by Congress on Saturday. She gained the support of more than two-thirds of congress and became the first woman to hold the mostly ceremonial position. The Indian presidency is traditionally held by a representative of one of India’s “disadvantaged groups.” Although India has had a number of prominent woman in politics, they still face widespread discrimination.

Polls Open in Turkey

After a political showdown a few months ago between the AK party in congress and the President of Turkey and his secular supporting parties lead to gridlock, early elections were called and polls are scheduled to open at 7am in eastern Turkey. This election is structured to be a watershed in Turkish politics as the Islamic AK party is poised to win as the struggle over Turkish identity continues. While the Demokrat party has long held a center part in Turkish politics as the keeper of Ataturk’s secular political approach, a growing segment of the population has sought closer ties to their traditional Muslim heritage and viewed the stringent secular approach of the political system too cumbersome. Additionally, some moderate parties see the constant influence of the Turkish military, which views itself as the guard of secularism and has overthrown elected governments four times, as a obstacle to the consolidation of democratic politics in Turkey.

Morning Round Up – 6.16.07

Palestinian Split Hardens

Hamas has continued to consolidate power in the Gaza Strip. Hamas now controls all of the Gaza Strip and has taken over the security service buildings and the presidential buildings. On Friday Hamas gunmen rounded up remaining Fatah leaders in Gaza. Initial reports indicated that the prisoners may be executed, but Hamas has since announced a “general amnesty” for Fatah fighters in Gaza. They have since been released.

In the West Bank President Abbas demonstrated Fatah’s strength implementing a state of emergency with patrols of Fatah soldiers. Fatah actions against Hamas’ legislative offices and personnel continued, and Fatah’s forces stormed the parliament and government buildings previously under Hamas’ control and fired all Hamas affiliated staff. Reportedly, during the storming of the parliament building the deputy prime minister was almost arrested, but senior Fatah officers at the site stopped the detention.

Both Fatah and Hamas continued to argue over the legitimate form of government. On Thursday President Abbas decreed that parliament be dissolved, but Hamas rejected this order as hasty and asserted that their governing legitimacy is greater than Abbas’ due to the 2005 elections. Abbas as appointed Salam Fayyad as interim Prime Minister, but Hamas has rejected this appointment. Mr. Fayyad has been described as a technocrat and a moderate and previously served as finance minister in the previous “unity” government.

President Abbas has received the most international support so far, including pledges of support from the quartet (US, EU, UN, & Russia), the Arab League, and Israel. The US, Israel, and the EU have pledged to support and bolster President Abbas. Supposedly, Israel is planning to release to Abbas a large portion of the taxes that it collects for Palestine and has refused to distribute since Hamas gained a majority a year and a half ago.

Turkish President Vetos Bill on Popular Election, Referendum Fight Lies Ahead

As expected, President Sezer of refused to sign a bill that passed by the parliament that would require the Turkish president to be directly elected by the public, but Sezer has vetoed a similar bill once. Under Turkish law the president is not permited to veto the same law twice. Sezer must either sign the legislation or announce a referendum for the public to consider the bill. Currently, the president is elected by the parliament.

The date of the referendum has yet to be determined. The Prime Minister Erdogan has called for the referendum to be coupled with national elections scheduled for July 22. Sezer does not agree with this plan and will likely push for the referendum to be held later in the year.

Pakistani Chief Justice Confident Charges Will Be Dismissed

The NYTimes reports that the Chief Justice Chaudhry’s legal team is confident that the charges of nepotism and misconduct will be dismissed. Chaudhry recently won an argument to have the case against him reviewed by the whole Pakistani Supreme Court instead of a smaller panel as Musharraf previously sought. The Chaudhry was ousted from his position by Musharraf on March 9 after Chaudhry allegedly refused to resign when pressured in a meeting with Musharraf and the heads of the state security services.

Chaudhry’s dismissal initiated a series of protests by Pakistan’s lawyers that has slowly grown into a larger opposition movement against Musharraf’s continued increasingly autocratic rule. Some speculate that Chaudhry was removed by Musharraf after a number of court rulings by Chaudhry against the actions of the Musharraf government, leading Musharraf to view the justice as a potential problem as he see seeks reelection this fall. Court challenges are likely to occur as Musharraf is seeking to be reelected while still the head of the army, which is unconstitutional in Pakistan.

A expected date for the courts ruling was not given.

Malawian Court Rules MPs Can Be Expelled

The Supreme Court of Malawi ruled that the speaker of the parliament is able to expel MPs who switch parties once in parliament. This is a blow to the president of Malawi whose supporters in parliament have sought to leave the governing party to join a new party established by the president in an attempt to form a minority government.

This ruling may leave the Malawian parliament crippled as it seeks to begin working on a budget next month. If the speaker expels the members, they must seek a new mandate by being reelected under their new party affiliation. It will probably take at least six months to get the elections scheduled, leaving the opposition parties with control of parliament in the interim. With those members out, the opposition will have the two-thirds necessary to pass difficult legislation including constitutional changes.

Morning Round Up – 6.15.07

Zimbabwe to Implement Internet Monitoring Technology – China Helps

The BBC notes that Mugabe’s government has proposed a new general communications bill that will require internet providers in Zimbabwe to install technology that would enable the monitor e-mail and web-traffic. Furthermore, the legislation will empower the government to monitor phone calls and postal mail.

Many human rights activists in Zimbabwe are concerned that this new law will be used against opposition and human rights groups. While it is probably safe to assume that Mugabe regularly taps the phones of his opponents, the government is gaining access to internet monitoring technology developed by China. While the BBC article (and this article) reports that there are likely ways that internet and e-mail communication may circumvent the government’s monitoring, this is another important example of China’s growing influence and support to other autocratic regimes by providing cheap loans or aid, selling internet technology, or investment into industries in other countries which China deems important for assuring its access to crucial resources.

Turkish President Urges Constitutional Reform Referendum

Turkish President Sezer called for a referendum to decide if the Turkish president should be popularly elected. Currently, the president is elected by the parliament. Turkey recently faced a constitutional crisis as the secular opposition parties boycotted parliament to prevent the quorum necessary to elect the presidential candidate of the AK Party.

The president previously vetoed similar reforms passed by the parliament, but he is unable to veto it a second time. It is not certain when this referendum will take place.

Hamas Consolidates Control of Gaza Strip

After days of military struggle between Hamas and Fatah forces, it appears that Hamas has gained control of the Gaza Strip. Life seems to be returning to normal as the violence has waned as Hamas consolidates power. Hamas has taken control of most of the security posts and intends to control the Rafah crossing into Egypt. This will potential provide Hamas with a more reliable transport route to weapons and material.

Palestinian President Abbas announced the dissolution of the coalition government, but Hamas announced that it would dismiss the president’s “hasty actions” and proceed with governing and would seek to continue to cooperate with Fatah.

Glenn Kessler of the Post sees this rise of Hamas as an example of the failure of Bush’s strategy for the Middle East. So far it seems the US will not seek to become engaged in the crisis and well adjust to the new reality of a Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. It seems the Bush Administration will continue its strategy of bolstering Hamas while attempting to strangle off Hamas. How’s that working so far?