Parties

• Twenty-three opposition parties and one Independent MP have written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna seeking Supreme Court intervention. • The parties are challenging the Election Commission’s (EC) conduct during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging systemic bias. • This legal move is driven by concerns that biased electoral rolls could have "far-reaching consequences" for the integrity of the country's democratic election process.

• Twenty-three political parties and an Independent MP have submitted a formal letter to Chief Justice Surya Kant regarding the Election Commission of India's (ECI) SIR process. • The communication urges the judiciary to intervene and scrutinize the ECI's actions, citing specific examples of how the SIR process has negatively impacted citizens across various states. • This collective action represents a broad Opposition push to seek judicial oversight when other democratic channels are perceived to have failed.

Parliamentary inquiry recommends new laws to police behaviour at polling boothsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew laws are needed to police behaviour at polling booths after Australia’s democracy came “under assault” at last year’s federal election – including from third parties such as Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members and rightwing lobby group Advance – the chair of a parliamentary inquiry has said.The proposed new code of conduct for campaigners was among several recommendations in the interim report from the Labor-led committee reviewing the 2025 ballot, which was tabled on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court struck down Watergate-era limits on campaign funds for political parties, ruling that such funding is protected free speech under the First Amendment. • This decision follows a recent conservative court ruling regarding the Voting Rights Act, which allowed Republican-controlled Southern states to redraw congressional districts. • The combined legal victories are expected to provide a significant election-year boost for the GOP, potentially flipping several seats in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida.

Case stems from 2022 lawsuit challenging Federal Election Commission’s enforcement of limits on ‘coordinated party expenditures’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxOne of the last remaining barriers between wealthy donors sending unlimited funds to federal political candidates fell after the US supreme court struck down a lower court ruling that limited spending by political parties in support of their candidates.The case, National Republican Senatorial Committee v Federal Election Commission, stems from a 2022 lawsuit by JD Vance, Republican former congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, challenging the Federal Election Commission’s enforcement of limits on so-called “coordinated party expenditures”. Continue reading...

• The Communist Party of China (CPC) is emphasizing the role of political parties in the Global South as essential drivers for global governance and modernization. • During discussions, the CPC highlighted its commitment to fostering friendly cooperation with parties in developing nations to promote economic growth and public welfare. • Tamara Duisenova, former Kazakh deputy prime minister, noted that the mission of political parties extends beyond elections to building a social consensus on the future.

• A study by the PopuList Project reveals that over 23% of Europeans voted for far-right parties in their most recent national elections, nearly doubling support over the last decade. • These populist parties are currently integrated into ruling coalitions in Italy, Finland, Czechia, and Croatia, while providing support to Sweden's right-wing minority government. • The trend highlights a significant ideological shift across Europe, with far-right parties leading polls in major nations including Germany, France, the UK, Belgium, and Austria.

Analysis by more than 150 political scientists finds proportion who back such parties has increased nearly fivefold since 1995Almost one in four voters in Europe now cast their ballot for far-right parties, research shows, a proportion that has grown nearly fivefold since the mid-1990s and climbed particularly steeply over the past three years.Analysis by more than 150 political scientists in 31 countries found the proportion of Europeans voting for a far-right party in their country’s most recent national elections had risen to more than 23%, from about 10% a decade ago and roughly 5% in 1995. Continue reading...

• South Korean political parties are preparing to file petitions with election authorities to request a do-over of the June 3 local elections. • The Reform Party has become the first official political organization to formally challenge the election results, following various individual complaints. • These legal challenges aim to contest the legitimacy of the outcome before the filing deadline this coming Wednesday.

• The USA secured a victory over Paraguay in a World Cup match, sparking widespread celebrations and high viewership across the country. • Fans engaged with the event through both private home viewings and large-scale public watch parties to mark the win. • All 104 tournament matches are being broadcast live via FOX and FS1, with streaming and on-demand options available through FOX Sports apps.

Victoria police confirm no formal arrests were made during the protests in South Melbourne on Friday nightGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastProtesters have clashed with Pauline Hanson supporters, with one man given a move on notice outside a Melbourne venue hosting a One Nation fundraiser on Friday.Michael Nelson, who was convicted of offensive behavior and fined last week for disrupting a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service, was restrained by officers outside the South Melbourne venue. Continue reading...

• Malaysian political parties are increasingly integrating AI tools and chatbots into their campaign strategies to move beyond traditional "ceramah" (political speeches). • These digital technologies are being utilized to analyze complex voter behavior patterns and craft targeted narratives to influence the electorate. • This shift signifies a modernization of political engagement in Malaysia, allowing parties to optimize their outreach through data-driven insights.

• The New York Knicks are preparing for Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, following a narrow 105-104 victory in Game 2. • The Knicks have extended their postseason winning streak to 13 games, positioning themselves strongly in the series. • Former President Donald Trump, a longtime fan, confirmed on Friday that he will attend the game, marking the first NBA Finals appearance in New York since 1999.

• The provided text offers a comparative overview of various political parties within the European Parliament, detailing their specific ideological alignments and manifestos. • Key examples include Sweden's Moderate Party, which focuses on free-market economics and national security, and Denmark's Moderaterne, which positions itself as a pragmatic, centrist force. • The content also highlights parties formed to combat corruption and restore the rule of law, specifically in the context of overcoming political polarization in Hungary.

Farage’s party brings in £9m largely from crypto billionaires in three months, more than twice that of Labour and Tories• UK politics live – latest updatesReform UK is raising millions more than the other political parties from private donations, bringing in £9m largely from cryptocurrency billionaires in the first three months of the year.Nigel Farage’s party took a £3m donation from the cryptocurrency and aviation investor, Christopher Harborne, who is a British-Thai dual citizen, and £4m from the cryptocurrency entrepreneur Ben Delo, who is relocating to the UK from Hong Kong. Continue reading...

• India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly rejected the involvement of third parties in resolving the ongoing boundary dispute with Nepal. • The statement follows a request from Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who sought intervention from China and the UK to address the long-standing disagreement. • This diplomatic clash underscores India's preference for bilateral negotiations over international mediation to maintain regional stability and sovereignty.

• Satirical "Cockroach" parties, such as the Cockroach Awami Party and Cockroach Awami League, have emerged on Pakistani social media. • These groups are inspired by India's "Cockroach Janta Party" and position themselves as representatives for Gen-Z and "lazy and unemployed" youth. • The trend matters as it uses humor to challenge established political narratives and express frustration with the current socio-economic climate.

• The European People’s Party (EPP) is considering disciplinary sanctions against MEP Branko Grims for attending an event with far-right lawmakers. • Grims defended his actions to Euronews, stating that collaborating with these groups is "the most normal thing" given their shared goals. • The incident highlights a growing ideological alignment between mainstream conservatives and far-right forces, specifically regarding migration policies.

Study, published as latest migration figures are released, shows incorrect perceptions driving immigration debatePeople mistakenly believe net migration is rising in Britain despite figures dropping to their lowest level in years, a leading thinktank has found.New research from British Future, published ahead of latest government figures on migration, has revealed a chasm between reality and public perception of net migration, with a substantial portion of the public believing it has increased, despite figures showing a sharp fall. Continue reading...

• Nine Japanese political parties, including the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and opposition groups, agreed on Thursday to require social media operators to reduce disinformation, misinformation and slander during elections. • The plan would push platforms to halt reward payments to users, respond faster to deletion requests, and label AI-generated content, with lawmakers aiming to pass legislation during the current Diet session. • The move matters because Japan is trying to blunt online interference before unified local elections next spring, while also increasing transparency around how platforms moderate election-related content.

Candidates from across the spectrum report abuse and harassment online and in person in lead-up to local and devolved electionsUK politics live – latest updatesCandidates and political parties have described a climate of abuse in this year’s local and devolved elections including death threats and intimidation while campaigning.Elections are taking place across councils in England and governments in Scotland and Wales on Thursday, with millions expected to vote. Continue reading...

• Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in Tamil Nadu elections, falling 10 short of the 118-seat majority needed to govern alone. • TVK is seeking outside support from Congress (5 seats), CPI (2 seats), CPM (2 seats), and VCK (2 seats) to secure 129 total seats and form a minority government, with potential swearing-in as early as May 7. • The alliance signals a historic rupture in the DMK-Congress alliance that has governed Tamil Nadu for years, as Congress considers backing TVK instead of its long-time partner DMK which won 59 seats.

Pledge ahead of local elections dismissed as ‘not a serious policy’ and ‘profoundly un-British’Coming just days before millions go to the polls, Zia Yusuf’s announcement that a Reform government would ‘prioritise’ the citing of migrant detention centres in areas with Green MPs or councils was certainly eye-catching.“That means areas like right here in Brighton,” Reform’s shadow home secretary said with barely concealed relish in a video in which he paced the beachfront at the constituency which elected Britain’s first Green MP. Continue reading...

Labour called SNP first minister John Swinney ‘shameless’ for claiming credit when it was the result of king’s US visitDonald Trump’s announcement that he will lift punishing US tariffs on scotch whisky has been overshadowed by a row between rival Scottish party leaders over claiming credit for the decision.The whisky industry and business leaders were delighted by the US president’s sudden announcement on his Truth Social network on Thursday that he would end the tariffs to mark the visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla. Continue reading...

Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas won most races ‌in Palestinian municipal elections, election officials said on Sunday, in a vote that for the first time in nearly two decades included a city in the Gaza Strip run by rival Hamas.

YouGov survey shows cross-party consensus – but that many fear abortion access could be reduced New polling has found that whatever their party political leanings, an overwhelming majority of people support the right to access an abortion – although young people, in particular, fear reproductive rights may be reduced.The YouGov polling, commissioned by MSI Reproductive Choices to mark its 50th anniversary, found nine in 10 people support the right to access an abortion. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Health secretary warns of dangers of protest vote as he pitches NHS as key battleground in May electionsVoters in May’s local and devolved elections risk putting the NHS in jeopardy if they vote for populist parties, Wes Streeting has said, as he sought to make the health service a key battleground.“The founding principles of the NHS are at greater threat than at any time since the NHS was founded in 1948,” the health secretary said. Continue reading...

With former ministers and party heavyweights ​b​eing dragged into court, the country is once again confronting the unresolved legacy of political ​g​raft and ​shady backroom deals• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereEaster will not have been a particularly celebratory time for Spain’s two biggest political parties. In a quirk of judicial fate, both the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) and the conservative People’s party (PP) are bracing themselves after two high-profile trials involving former senior figures from each party began in Madrid this week.Though vastly different, both cases have the potential to seriously dent each party’s claims of having zero-tolerance for corruption as voters in Andalucía, Spain’s most populous autonomous community, prepare for next month’s regional election. That will be followed by a general election next year. Continue reading...