JAKARTA (BLOOMBERG) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo is on course to win a second term as he led his challenger by about 12 percentage points midway through an official tally of votes, confirming earlier results from about a dozen private pollsters. Mr Joko, also known as Jokowi, secured 56.2 per cent of the votes, compared to 43.8 per cent polled by his challenger Prabowo Subianto, with 50 per cent of the ballots tallied, the General Elections Commission said, citing an online count of votes cast in the April 17 election. The authority has until May 22 to complete the counting of the ballot papers. The validation of the tally from private pollsters may be a blow to former Suharto-era general Prabowo, as he has disputed the unofficial counts to claim a win. While Mr Joko has urged people to be patient and wait for the election commission to complete the counting of ballots, Mr Prabowo has claimed "massive fraud" in the election, a charge the government termed as "unfounded" and … [Read more...] about Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo leads presidential vote, official count shows
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Indonesia’s President Joko leads presidential vote, official count shows
JAKARTA (BLOOMBERG) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo is on course to win a second term as he led his challenger by about 12 percentage points midway through an official tally of votes, confirming earlier results from about a dozen private pollsters. Mr Joko, also known as Jokowi, secured 56.2 per cent of the votes, compared to 43.8 per cent polled by his challenger Prabowo Subianto, with 50 per cent of the ballots tallied, the General Elections Commission said, citing an online count of votes cast in the April 17 election. The authority has until May 22 to complete the counting of the ballot papers. The validation of the tally from private pollsters may be a blow to former Suharto-era general Prabowo, as he has disputed the unofficial counts to claim a win. While Mr Joko has urged people to be patient and wait for the election commission to complete the counting of ballots, Mr Prabowo has claimed "massive fraud" in the election, a charge the government termed as "unfounded" and … [Read more...] about Indonesia’s President Joko leads presidential vote, official count shows
Bollywood stars, rich Indians vote in fourth phase of giant election
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Some of India's richest families, Bollywood stars and others voted early on Monday (Apr 29) in Mumbai and elsewhere in the country as the fourth phase of a massive, staggered general election got underway.More than 127 million people are eligible to vote in this round of the seven-phase election held across 71 seats in nine states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coalition won more than 75 per cent of the seats in the previous election in 2014.Many of the constituencies are in Uttar Pradesh state in the north and western India's Maharashtra, where the financial capital Mumbai is located. Uttar Pradesh elects the most MPs, with Maharashtra next, and both states are ruled by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).However, political analysts say the BJP may struggle to repeat its strong showing this time due mainly to a jobs shortage and weak farm prices, issues upon which the main opposition Congress party has seized."Jobs should be the priority for … [Read more...] about Bollywood stars, rich Indians vote in fourth phase of giant election
DFA needs help with absentee voting
DFA needs help with absentee voting Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star) - April 29, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — Foreign service workers are getting little help amid delays in the release of the budget for the overseas absentee voting (OAV), Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said last Saturday. “I know the sacrifices you are making so overseas Filipinos can vote and how little help you are getting. One of you advanced $10,000 to make sure ballots are delivered,” Locsin told Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel in a post on Twitter. “I am so proud of you and so ashamed of the little help. My gratitude is boundless,” he added. Earlier, a number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) said they had yet to receive their ballots two weeks after the start of the OAV last April 13. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said this was caused by the delay in the purchase of … [Read more...] about DFA needs help with absentee voting
No laws broken yet on Brexit, but impasse may require another vote
The law concerning the UK leaving the EU is governed by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, under its provisions the date of Britain’s exit from the EU has been extended. Leaving the EU is a matter of great legal complexity, especially concerning the Irish border. There are various legal and political agreements which maintain an open border and there is no desire in Northern Ireland for a situation which could lead to a return to the tensions of the past. A solution to the impasse may well be a People’s Vote where the implications of leaving the EU are clearly spelled out. Ian Martin … [Read more...] about No laws broken yet on Brexit, but impasse may require another vote