Electoral

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament has commenced with the potential introduction of the controversial Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, known as the "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) Bill. • The proposal aims to synchronize elections, addressing concerns that frequent polling cycles lead to development programs being put on hold due to government restrictions during election periods. • Critics and observers highlight that current election windows typically last 35-40 days, though Lok Sabha polls are extended across multiple phases that could be compressed under the new system.

• President Donald Trump delivered a presidential address on Thursday, July 16, 2026, which critics argue was designed to destabilize the U.S. electoral system. • The address leveraged the authority of the presidency and U.S. intelligence agencies to cast doubt on the integrity of American elections. • This action is seen as a strategic effort to undermine public confidence in the voting process ahead of the November midterm elections.

US president accused China of meddling in his 2020 election defeat and said system was ‘catastrophically’ unfair. Plus Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey hits the big screenGood morning. Donald Trump accused China of interfering with the 2020 election in a primetime televised address that laid bare his continuing obsession with his defeat to Joe Biden, but which opponents warned was a smokescreen for him to meddle in the forthcoming congressional midterms. Trump’s claims are unverified.In a 25-minute speech, the US president cast extraordinary doubts on the integrity of the US electoral process, saying it was “catastrophically” short of standards of fairness and trust, while vulnerable to trespassing by foreign powers. Democrats warned that Trump was trying to sow confusion, spread misinformation and lay the groundwork to challenge the results of the midterm elections.What was the aim of Trump’s address? In this analysis piece, Sam Levine explains how the president is using his office and US intelligence agencies to try to undermine confidence in elections. Instead of offering smoking-gun evidence, the release of new papers seemed to be a return to a classic Trump strategy of flooding the zone with information in an attempt to muddy the waters.What did US networks do about broadcasting Trump’s allegations? The US’s largest television stations split on whether to air Trump’s White House address, which was filled with unproven accusations. While CNN, ABC and NBC chose not to air the speech live, CBS, Fox News and MS Now (formerly MSNBC) aired at least large portions of the speech live.What did Rubio say? “They can call themselves anti-capitalist or anti-imperialist, communist, anarchist or Marxist. It’s always the same. It is a poisonous resentment cloaked in the language of equality and justice liberation – an overwhelming need to tear down, to wreck, what is beautiful and what is right on behalf of people who are only filled with ugliness,” he said. He called leftists “an encroaching darkness” and “the enemies of civilization”. Continue reading...

• The article examines whether the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can transition from electoral success to effective governance, drawing on the political history of the region. • It contrasts the legacy of the previous administration, which is credited with strong GDP growth, expanded electricity access, and digital governance, against criticisms of weakened press freedom and institutional independence. • The analysis highlights the tension between prioritizing economic stability and infrastructure development versus maintaining political pluralism and democratic norms.

• Approximately 88 Labour MPs, representing over one-fifth of the party's House of Commons presence, are calling for the establishment of a body to investigate electoral reform. • The movement seeks to challenge Britain's "first past the post" voting system, with high-profile support from potential leadership contender Andy Burnham. • This push for reform highlights internal party pressure to move toward a more proportional representation system to ensure fairer election outcomes.

Parliamentary authorities are already looking into a £5m donation to the Reform Uk leader from the crypto billionaire Christopher HarborneGood morning. One of the reasons why Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, is relatively popular is because he presents as genial and good-natured. A rather different Farage was on display last night, after he angrily berated a Sky News cameraman who doorstepped him as he arrived back in the UK off a flight from the US. Farage also accused Sky News of harassing his family, which Sky denies. Perhaps Farage had a grim journey next to a noisy passenger in economy, but it is hard not to conclude that the outburst has more to do with Farage fearing that the ongoing controversy about his failure to declare gifts and support he received in the period shortly before he became an MP in 2024 could fatally damage his chances of becoming PM.The Labour party has posted the clip. Continue reading...

Leader of France’s far-right National Rally and a contender for the presidency set to hear appeal decision on TuesdayMarine Le Pen, France’s far-right figurehead and a leading contender for its presidency, will learn on Tuesday whether she can run in next year’s election when a Paris appeals court rules on her attempt to overturn a ban on holding elected office.The ruling will determine whether the far-right National Rally (RN) will be led by Le Pen, 57, or her young protege, Jordan Bardella, 30 in next year’s general elections. Continue reading...