Election

Gaston Browne ist auf Kurs, 15 der 17 Sitze im Parlament zu gewinnen, nachdem er Neuwahlen ausgerufen hat. Gaston Browne, der Premierminister von Antigua and Barbuda, steht vor dem Gewinn einer vierten Amtszeit bei den vorgezogenen Parlamentswahlen des Landes, wobei vorläufige Ergebnisse zeigen, dass seine Partei auf Kurs ist, 15 der 17 Sitze im Parlament zu gewinnen. In einer Ansprache an seine Unterstützer am frühen Freitagmorgen sagte Browne: „Sie haben gesprochen, Sie haben deutlich gesprochen. Sie haben zu verstehen gegeben, dass die Antigua and Barbuda Labour party (ABLP) die beste Institution ist, um dieses Land zu führen.“ Weiterlesen...

Exklusiv: Frauen sind bei den Kommunalwahlen und Wahlen zu den Regionalparlamenten in der nächsten Woche laut Aktivisten „massiv unterrepräsentiert“. Frauen werden nächste Woche auf den Stimmzetteln im gesamten Vereinigten Königreich massiv unterrepräsentiert sein, so Aktivisten, wobei Untersuchungen zeigen, dass bei den Kommunal-, Bürgermeister- und Regionalwahlen fast doppelt so viele Männer wie Frauen als Kandidaten antreten. Aktivisten für Demokratie erklären, dass Männer aller politischen Richtungen wahrscheinlich die Kommunalverwaltung dominieren werden, wobei die Ansichten von Frauen zu Themen von der sozialen Fürsorge bis hin zur Müllabfuhr durch die enorme Lücke zwischen der Anzahl männlicher und weiblicher Kandidaten an den Rand gedrängt werden. Weiterlesen...

• Die Lambeth council-Kandidatinnen Saiqa Ali und Sabine Mairey wurden Berichten zufolge wegen social media posts festgenommen • Zwei Frauen, die als Green party-Kandidatinnen bei den Kommunalwahlen antreten, wurden wegen mutmaßlich antisemitischer social media posts festgenommen • Die Frauen, die für Sitze im Lambeth council, south London, kandidieren, wurden am Donnerstagmorgen von der Metropolitan police festgenommen

Robert Hayward sagt voraus, dass Reform der große Gewinner sein wird und sowohl Labour als auch den Conservatives Sitze abnimmt.Guten Morgen. Wir befinden uns nun in der letzten Woche des Wahlkampfs für das schottische Parlament, das walisische Senedd und die englischen Kommunalwahlen. Keir Starmer hatte eigentlich eine große Rede für heute geplant, aber er und andere politische Führer konzentrieren sich heute auf ihre Reaktion auf die Messerattacke in Golders Green und die Bedrohung durch Antisemitismus, der die jüdische Gemeinschaft in Großbritannien ausgesetzt ist – von Jonathan Hall KC, dem unabhängigen Prüfer der Terrorgesetzgebung der Regierung, als „nationaler Sicherheitsnotstand“ bezeichnet. Hier ist unser Bericht von letzter Nacht. Und hier ist unser Live-Blog von Taz Ali.Taz wird den größten Teil der politischen Reaktionen auf diese Geschichte abdecken, weshalb ich das hier nicht behandeln werde. (Und da ein Strafverfahren läuft, sind Kommentare zu dem Angriff unter dem Artikel leider nicht erlaubt.) Lesen Sie weiter...

• Matthew Pennycook sagt, dass das Ende des Systems langsam erfolgen muss, um Beeinträchtigungen des Wohnungsangebots und rechtliche Fallstricke zu vermeiden. • Ein Verbot neuer Leasehold-Immobilien in England und Wales wird voraussichtlich erst nach der nächsten Wahl in Kraft treten, wie der Wohnungsminister erklärte, während er die schrittweisen Versuche der Regierung, das System abzubauen, verteidigte. • Das lang versprochene Ende würde Jahre benötigen, bis es vollständig „aktiviert“ wird, so Matthew Pennycook, obwohl das Verbot von Leaseholds für neue Häuser bereits 2024 verabschiedet wurde und die Regierung beabsichtigt, bald ein entsprechendes Verbot für neue Wohnungen zu verabschieden.

Vier Jahre nach dem Versprechen des Präsidenten sind seine potenziellen Nachfolger darüber gespalten, wie mit den zunehmenden Guerilla-Angriffen umzugehen ist.

‘Critical debate’ about party’s identity and direction looms if it loses control of Senedd next month after 27 years in powerWelsh Labour is the democratic world’s most successful election-winning machine, coming first in Wales in every general election since 1922 and every devolved election since 1999. Come next month’s Senedd election, however, this history-making run is expected to end.Labour’s collapse has left a vacuum, and former Labour voters are going to opposite ends of the political spectrum. Plaid Cymru and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK are neck and neck in the latest poll, although coalition maths make it highly unlikely Reform would be able to form a government. Continue reading...

• Venezuelan security forces restricted opposition parties from entering their campaign headquarters on Monday, raising fresh concerns about democratic conduct ahead of this year's presidential elections. • The blockade prevented opposition candidates and staff from gathering electoral signatures and organizing voter outreach efforts, significantly hampering their campaign infrastructure. • International observers from the Organization of American States expressed alarm over the move, calling it a violation of political freedoms and warning it could undermine the legitimacy of upcoming elections.

Top aide says SNP leader will seek approval to press for independence even if he fails to win majority on 7 MayJohn Swinney will call a vote seeking independence powers on the first day of the next Scottish parliament even if he fails to win an overall majority, his aides have said.The Scottish National Party leader’s senior adviser indicated that if necessary, he would rely on support from the pro-independence Scottish Greens to win that vote in order to demand the UK government gives Holyrood the legal powers to hold a second referendum. Continue reading...

President blames dissident Farc faction for attack on Pan-American Highway that also injured 36 people in south-western region The death toll in a weekend highway bombing in Colombia has risen to 20, with another 36 people injured, amid a surge of violence ahead of presidential elections next month.Buses and vans were left mangled in the blast on Saturday on the Pan-American Highway, in the restive south-western Cauca department. Continue reading...

Rightwing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid announce new party before Knesset vote expected later this yearTwo of Benjamin Netanyahu’s most formidable political rivals say they are joining forces in an attempt to oust the Israeli prime minister’s coalition government in the election expected later this year.The former prime ministers – rightwing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid – issued statements announcing the merger of their parties, Bennett 2026 and Yesh Atid (There is a Future). Continue reading...

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard intensified accusations that former President Barack Obama and top administration officials—including former FBI Director James Comey, DNI James Clapper, and CIA Director John Brennan—conspired to subvert Trump's 2016 election victory. • Gabbard claimed to have unveiled new evidence of a plot to undermine the democratic will of the American people through intelligence community actions. • The allegations signal continued politicization of intelligence agencies and ongoing disputes over 2016 election interference investigations.

Message on private Facebook group for staff said: ‘I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me!’Royal Mail is investigating allegations that a postal worker claimed to have “dumped” Reform UK campaign leaflets in a bin ahead of Thursday’s local elections.A post on a Facebook group for Royal Mail staff said: “My DO had reform party’s D2D today. I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me! Idgaf!” Continue reading...

Incoming PM Péter Magyar accuses Fidesz-linked figures of trying to shield their wealth from accountabilityAlong the banks of the Danube, news that the Viktor Orbán era had come to an end set off an hours-long party. The joy echoed across Hungary as people traded hugs and high-fives. For some, however, the landslide loss set off a frantic scramble.Private jets allegedly laden with the spoils of those whose wealth swelled during Orbán’s 16 years in power have steadily been taking off from Vienna, while other individuals are racing to invest their assets abroad, sources have told the Guardian. Meanwhile, high-level figures close to Orbán have been looking into US visa options, hoping to find work at Maga-linked institutions. Continue reading...

Special session comes after Virginia voted to redraw maps and as Trump pressures Republicans to protect House majorityFlorida begins a special session on Tuesday in what may be the last front of the redistricting war before the 2026 election, with Republicans trying to redraw maps to pick up more seats in Congress.Lawmakers enter the session in Tallahassee cloaked in mystery, with no preview of a proposed map to consider and no clear path for Republicans to increase their representation in what appears to be a hostile year for their party. Continue reading...

Prime minister has shed trusted staffers but can still turn to many genuine friends in and out of governmentGiven that the signs of an embattled premiership are all around – defensive-sounding interviews insisting he will be in post at the next election; a rush of stories about supposed cabinet plotting – now, more than ever, Keir Starmer needs real allies. And here, at least, there is something to feel positive about.If you talk to most Labour MPs, Starmer most likely will not lead Labour into the next election. He may even not remain in No 10 much beyond a set of Scottish, Welsh and local English elections on 7 May, which are expected to be disastrous for his party. Continue reading...

Prime minister says his job is not at risk over Mandelson vetting as allies back him against claims of wrongdoingKeir Starmer has said he will lead Labour into the next general election as his Downing Street allies denied claims of any wrongdoing over the appointment and vetting of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told Sky News’s Trevor Phillips on Sunday show that “no wrongdoing by the prime minister has been proven in relation to Lord Mandelson’s appointment”, adding “the whole situation is regrettable”. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Investigation into campaigning materials for local polls in May challenges tactical voting claims Election leaflets are providing “grotesque” information about how to vote tactically in the May elections, using national polling data, “dodgy” bar charts and doorstep surveys to support claims about parties’ chances of winning.Leaflets distributed by local politicians across England are claiming that either only their party can win, or another party “can’t win here” when “there is no good evidence to show that’s true”, a Full Fact investigation for the Guardian has revealed. Continue reading...

• The New York Giants selected edge rusher Arvell Reese with the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing a key defensive need. • Reese represents the Giants' investment in strengthening their defensive line and pass rush capabilities. • The selection highlights New York's priorities heading into the new NFL season.

Former Liberal party senator, who was elected to state upper house in March, says flights ‘worth every cent’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation’s South Australian leader has paid back Australia’s richest person for private flights he took while campaigning in the state’s recent election.Cory Bernardi confirmed on Saturday that he had reimbursed a “substantial” sum of money to Gina Rinehart’s company S Kidman & Co, to comply with new state laws that prohibit political parties and candidates from receiving electoral donations or gifts from individuals, businesses or unions. Continue reading...

All signs point to a record-low performance for Labour in May in what will be a moment of high jeopardy for Keir StarmerLabour is on track for its worst local election performance, data analysed by the Guardian shows, in a blow that will pile further pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership.Barring a drastic change in fortunes, Labour’s vote-share could fall to historic lows across elections for councils in England and devolved parliaments in Wales and Scotland on 7 May, with big gains for Reform, the Greens and nationalist parties, according to recent polling. Continue reading...

Disclosures come after firm tightened rules on insider trading, including candidates betting on own campaignsBefore he announced his Senate candidacy, a political hopeful in Virginia did something not so unusual in this day and age: he logged on to a prediction market exchange and wagered money that he would run. Then he ran. Then he bet on that too.The candidate and trader was Mark Moran, a former FBoy Island contestant who went viral recently for his campaign launch video. Investigators with Kalshi, the federally regulated prediction market exchange, found he placed two trades on their platform, the first in a market asking which individuals would seek public office in 2026, the second after he formally entered the race. Continue reading...

Experts say Muslims and other minorities have been disproportionately deleted from the electoral roll ahead of the West Bengal elections this weekMillions of people in the Indian state of West Bengal have been stripped of their vote ahead of a critical state election this week, after a controversial electoral revision described by critics as a “bloodless political genocide” and mass disenfranchisement of minorities.In West Bengal, a total of 9.1 million names have been deleted from the register, more than 10% of the electorate. While many were dead or duplicates, about 2.7 million people have challenged their expulsions, but still been removed. Continue reading...

Police bring criminal case over alleged manipulation of party database in Croydon East constituencyFour Labour activists have been charged over allegations that a party database was manipulated to increase a candidate’s chance of selection.The four include Joel Bodmer, 40, who ran as a potential candidate for the Croydon East constituency in south London but later withdrew. He is charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly altering phone records. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Australian Recreation Union says it plans to support candidates and parties that oppose gun control laws brought in after terror attackGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA gun users’ group targeting marginal Labor seats in next year’s New South Wales election plans to campaign for candidates who oppose the government’s firearm laws enacted after the Bondi terror attack.In an email sent to the electorate offices of 15 Labor backbenchers last week, the Australian Recreation Union (ARU) said it had recruited campaign managers across 17 “vulnerable” electorates, including Kogarah, the seat of the premier, Chris Minns, and Swansea, held by the police minister, Yasmin Catley. Continue reading...

Independent candidate and One Nation’s David Farley are viewed as the frontrunners in the four cornered-contest for the 9 May pollGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Liberals and Nationals will preference One Nation ahead of Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer byelection in a potential blow to the independent’s hopes of winning the 9 May race.Milthorpe and One Nation’s David Farley are viewed as the frontrunners in the four cornered-contest, meaning the flow of preferences from the Liberals and Nationals could be crucial in deciding the final outcome in the southern New South Wales seat. Continue reading...

Former president looks likely to take power following eighth election in five yearsBulgarian ex-president Rumen Radev – an EU critic who has called for renewing ties with Russia – on Sunday hailed a “victory of hope” after his formation topped the eighth parliamentary elections in five years.Projections from polling agencies put his Progressive Bulgaria (PB) grouping at 44%, which would give him an absolute majority of at least 129 seats in the 240-seat parliament. Continue reading...