MELBOURNE: The opposition Labor Party's lead over Australia's conservative coalition government narrowed further, while a minor right-wing party gained support, a closely watched opinion poll showed on Monday (Apr 29) ahead of a general election on May 18.The Newspoll was released on the day that early voting was set to begin and Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Bill Shorten were set to hold their first televised debate.Labor's lead fell by a point to 51 per cent to 49 per cent from the previous poll two weeks ago on a two-party preferred basis, where votes are distributed until a winner is declared, the Newspoll in The Australian newspaper showed.Morrison's government had trailed Labor by 54 per cent to 46 per cent in March, before calling the election.While the race has tightened, Labor is still expected to gain between six and 10 seats to give it the government, the poll showed.But deals with minor parties could improve the coalition's prospects in preference-vote … [Read more...] about Australia’s opposition Labor lead over government slips ahead of election: Poll
Election
News In Spain’s Election, Socialist Party Strengthens Hold on Parliament
MADRID — Spain’s ruling Socialist Party strengthened its hold on the government Sunday in the country’s third national election since 2015, with nearly complete results showing growing political polarization and party fragmentation. The elections came after an abrupt change of government in June, when Pedro Sánchez and his Socialist Party used a corruption scandal to oust Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party in a parliamentary vote. Late Sunday, Sánchez, the prime minister, declared victory again, even though his party fell short of an absolute majority in Parliament and he will need to find coalition partners to form a government. The Socialists won 123 of the 350 seats in Parliament, with 99.9 percent of the votes counted. An anti-immigration and ultranationalist party, Vox, won its first seats in Parliament, a major shift in a country that long appeared to be immune to the spread of far-right movements across Europe, in part … [Read more...] about News In Spain’s Election, Socialist Party Strengthens Hold on Parliament
Sandakan by-election: Vivian Wong wants to deliver late father’s promises
SANDAKAN: DAP candidate for Sandakan Parliamentary by-election Vivian Wong Shir Yee wants to deliver the promises made to the constituents by her father, the late Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, that have yet to be fulfilled. Wong, 30, said many ideas and aspirations have not been fulfilled by her late father, the incumbent Sandakan MP, who died of heart attack. “As a child who follows my father political struggles and worked for him during his tenure as a people’s representative and Sabah Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister, I really want to deliver the promises made to the people that have not been fulfilled by my father. “I adhere to the principle of my late father to finish what one has started,” she said during a talk at the Taman Mesra People’s Housing Programme (PPR) here last night. The youngest of four siblings said her father’s spirit and determination had been an important impetus to him in his political struggles, especially … [Read more...] about Sandakan by-election: Vivian Wong wants to deliver late father’s promises
Challenges facing Indonesian President Joko Widodo if re-elected
Indonesian President Joko Widodo looks set to be re-elected if unofficial quick counts released after the April 17 polls prove accurate, as they have at previous elections. Indonesia Correspondent Linda Yulisman outlines five key challenges that await Mr Joko in his second five-year term.The first challenge for the newly elected President would be to pick ministers to fill his new Cabinet. This will likely happen in October after his inauguration. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Learn more about ST PREMIUM. Enjoy unlimited access to ST's best work Exclusive stories and features on multiple devicesIn-depth analyses and opinion piecesePaper and award-winning multimedia content Subscribe Now … [Read more...] about Challenges facing Indonesian President Joko Widodo if re-elected
Orange card could change election outcome
WITH LAST month’s election stalemate stalling all attempts to form a coalition government, political analysts have warned that “orange cards” issued by the Election Commission (EC) could easily tip the balance in favour of one bloc or another. The EC, which in the past has slapped electoral offenders with red or yellow cards, issued its first orange card last week. Pheu Thai candidate Surapon Kietchaiyakorn stands accused of buying votes in Chiang Mai province’s Constituency 8. The orange card revokes his electoral rights for one year and triggers a fresh election in the riding, which he is not allowed to contest. He has asked that the EC decision be reviewed. If the EC issued sufficient orange cards to MPs who face complaints, it could affect the fortunes of both anti-junta and pro-junta blocs vying to form a coalition government, said Stithorn Thananithichot, a political scientist at King Prajadhipok’s Institute. The more orange cards … [Read more...] about Orange card could change election outcome