Elections

Weekend in Democracy: Election Takeaways from Ukraine, Brazil, Tunisia, and Uruguay

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This weekend was an active one for voters around the world– citizens across Ukraine, Brazil, Tunisia, and Uruguay went to the polls on Sunday, and now have newly elected governments.  These elections drew keen interest from international observers, and as we face down crisis and uncertainty around the world, are certain to have global implications.  Here’s what you need to know from the weekend’s democratic exercises:

Ukrainian President Poroshenko with Secretary of State John Kerry this June

Ukrainian President Poroshenko with Secretary of State John Kerry this June.  Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of State

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One Country, Two Systems: Democracy and Unrest in Hong Kong

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By Charles Rice and Jing Jin

On August 31, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee announced that any candidate participating in the 2017 elections for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive position will require support from at least 50 percent of a “broadly representative” nominating committee. Presumably, the committee be composed of Pro-Beijing interests, and will wield de facto power to select Hong Kong’s new Chief Executive. The announcement has spurred a new round of civil unrest across Hong Kong, and comes at the end of a summer which saw hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy protesters take to the streets.

HK Skyline

Hong Kong faces stark questions regarding the place of Democracy in its future

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