Elections

After the elections in Kosovo, international and local observers have analyzed their development with positive marks. The February 9 election process in Kosovo was inclusive and peaceful, although some technical problems were noted, but they did not affect the smooth conduct of the elections. The elections were observed by over 100 international observers, representatives of embassies and over 20 thousand other observers from non-governmental organizations, media and other levels.

Assessment for Electoral Commissions

“Kosovo voters showed their commitment to democracy by voting peacefully and without tension during the February 9, 2025 elections for the Parliament of Kosovo. The members of the Local Election Commissions should be commended for their collegial and respectful cooperation, overcoming political differences and language barriers, distancing themselves from the divisive pre-election language and hate speech used by political leaders, which was characteristic of this period,” said the head of the delegation of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Petra Bayr.

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BOSTON (WWLP) – The League of Women Voters convenes on Beacon Hill each year to advocate for their priority legislation.

The nonpartisan League has locations across the state, including in Amherst, Berkshire County, and the Northampton area, and members are united by a simple mission to strengthen democracy.

An issue championed by the League is the Safe Communities Act, which would limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

“What the Safe Communities Act seeks to address is this feeling of fear and solidifying our commitment, commitment that many of our local law enforcement agencies have already made,” said Framingham Representative Priscila Sousa.

Despite support from the League, this bill is unlikely to pass, as House and Senate leadership have both publicly expressed disinterest in moving the legislature forward. Voters were also encouraged to support a bill allowing election day registration, meaning you can register to vote and cast your ballot on the same day.

As of now, improperly or unregistered voters can file a provisional ballot.

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Seventy-three women are among 252 candidates registered to run for parliament in Kirkuk province, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) declared on Wednesday.

Speaking to Shafaq News, IHEC spokesperson Ali Abbas revealed that the electoral race in Kirkuk includes five political alliances, nine individual parties, and seven independent candidates. In total, 179 men and 73 women will compete for the province’s 12 seats.

According to IHEC data, Kirkuk has 1,229,740 registered voters. Among them, 897,030 have updated their records, obtained biometric identification cards, and are eligible to cast ballots.

Election researcher and activist Abdulrahman Ali highlighted that this year marks the highest female participation in Kirkuk’s history, noting that three of the province’s seats are reserved for women under Iraq’s quota system, which guarantees at least 25 percent female representation in the national Council of Representatives.

“This positive shift in social and political awareness encourages female candidates to put forward ambitious programs addressing the needs of women, families, and youth,” Ali said.

Nationwide, IHEC reported that only 37 of 130 candidates nominated by political parties are women.

Full article here.

Several motions proposed by women and presented to the Tonga Legislative Assembly were met with resistance and disparaging questioning from the House, during its final sitting for the year.

The Speaker Lord Fakafanua expressed deep disappointment over the "degrading and mocking terms towards women," in the House on 18 September.

The motions, written by participants of the Practice Parliament for Women 2025, were presented for the House to recognize, and for the government's table to consider.

The Practice Parliament for Women 2025, an initiative by the Legislative Assembly aimed at empowering women's voices in Tonga's legislature, saw 30 women from across Tonga engage in official debates last week. The women adopted seven motions, including one that called for introducing temporary special measures (TSM) seats for women in Parliament.

Entrenched attitudes

But when the women's motions were presented to the Legislative Assembly, the responses revealed entrenched attitudes toward women, held by members of a parliament that is mostly comprised of men.

Speaking to the TSM Motion, Vava'u Noble’s Representative No. 2 and Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, Lord Tu’ilakepa, noted that there was an "increasing presence of women in Parliament."

He questioned the Speaker, whether men would also have an opportunity to bring proposals and told the Speaker to consider a "Parliament for men."

He went on to express concern that such initiatives might lead to "the other class" (referring to the gay community) also wanting their own Parliament.

“I fear the other class might attempt to do their own Parliament,” he said.

He also made comments about women's roles, saying women were now taking over CEO positions. 

“I hope my wife will not participate in this but stays in her place as a woman,” Lord Tu'ilakepa said.

Full article here.

ElectHER, a pan-African non-partisan organisation advancing gender-inclusive democracy, has concluded a two-day engagement in Anambra State combining a multi-stakeholder roundtable with an advocacy visit to security agencies, as part of efforts to ensure an inclusive, peaceful and secure governorship election on November 8, 2025.

The stakeholder engagement roundtable, held on Wednesday at the Radisson Onyx Hotel, Awka, brought together representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, civil society, academia, journalists and grassroots leaders.

Discussions centred on voter mobilisation, women’s participation and strategies to deliver credible, inclusive and peaceful polls. The engagement was convened with support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, which partners with civil society to deepen electoral integrity and inclusion.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer, ElectHER, Ibijoke Faborode, noted that Anambra State has a legacy of women’s political visibility, starting from Dame Virginia Etiaba’s tenure as Nigeria’s first female.

Full article here.