Tunisia: Low turnout as Ennahda party claims victory
http://www.dw.com/en/tunisia-low-turnout-as-ennahda-party-claims-victory/a-43678089
Initial forecasts from Tunisia's municipal elections — the first since the 2011 Arab Spring uprising and held Sunday after being delayed four times due to logistical, administrative and political issues — put the Islamist Ennahdha movement ahead with 27.5 percent of the vote.
The secular Nidaa Tounes party of President Beji Caid Essebsi reportedly came in second at 22.5 percent, according to a poll by marketing research company Sigma Conseil.
"These polls send a strong message that the Tunisian democracy is alive," said Ennahdha's leader Rached Ghannouchi, whose party governs jointly with Nidaa Tounes at the national level.
Turnout, however, was at only 33.7 percent of the 5.3 million eligible voters, according to Tunisia's ISIE electoral commission. Young voters in Tunis were notably absent at polling stations. Pre-Sunday polling among security forces resulted in a participation rate of only 12 percent.
國際時事政治選舉集中理性討論區（三）
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Lebanon: Tepid turnout marks first election since 2009
http://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-tepid-turnout-marks-first-election-since-2009/a-43678104
Following a day of voting on Sunday, the Lebanese government has said only 49.2 percent of voters took part in the long-delayed election for the country's 128-seat parliament.
Observers have reported a higher turnout in some areas of Lebanon that are known as the strongholds of the Iran-allied Shiite Hezbollah movement. Unofficial polls suggested Hezbollah-aligned lawmakers would make up a simple majority.
The election marks the first vote under the new proportional system, which replaced the structure where the winning party would carry all the seats in a particular district.
http://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-tepid-turnout-marks-first-election-since-2009/a-43678104
Following a day of voting on Sunday, the Lebanese government has said only 49.2 percent of voters took part in the long-delayed election for the country's 128-seat parliament.
Observers have reported a higher turnout in some areas of Lebanon that are known as the strongholds of the Iran-allied Shiite Hezbollah movement. Unofficial polls suggested Hezbollah-aligned lawmakers would make up a simple majority.
The election marks the first vote under the new proportional system, which replaced the structure where the winning party would carry all the seats in a particular district.
之前唔係吹到納吉拎返3分之2議席咩？
Trump CIA pick sought to withdraw over torture concerns
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/06/trump-cia-nominee-gina-haspel-withdraw-torture-washington-post
Gina Haspel, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, offered to withdraw her nomination, two senior administration officials said on Sunday, amid concerns that a debate over a harsh interrogation program would tarnish her reputation and that of the CIA.
On Friday, as White House officials prepared Haspel for a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, aides sought additional details about her involvement in the CIA’s now-defunct program of detaining and brutally interrogating terror suspects after 9/11, a program that involved techniques widely condemned as torture.
That was when Haspel offered to withdraw, the officials said. They said the acting director of the CIA was reassured that her nomination was still on track. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity. The news was first reported by the Washington Post.
After Haspel’s offer to withdraw, White House aides worked to reassure her that she had the president’s support. As with other nominations, this one hit a roadblock but is back on track, said a third administration official.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/06/trump-cia-nominee-gina-haspel-withdraw-torture-washington-post
Gina Haspel, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, offered to withdraw her nomination, two senior administration officials said on Sunday, amid concerns that a debate over a harsh interrogation program would tarnish her reputation and that of the CIA.
On Friday, as White House officials prepared Haspel for a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, aides sought additional details about her involvement in the CIA’s now-defunct program of detaining and brutally interrogating terror suspects after 9/11, a program that involved techniques widely condemned as torture.
That was when Haspel offered to withdraw, the officials said. They said the acting director of the CIA was reassured that her nomination was still on track. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity. The news was first reported by the Washington Post.
After Haspel’s offer to withdraw, White House aides worked to reassure her that she had the president’s support. As with other nominations, this one hit a roadblock but is back on track, said a third administration official.
評論都有D兩極，似乎唔少外國媒體都睇淡，但係又有大馬媒體用民調睇似乎PH會過半，而PAS會一席都冇 
Invoke predicts slim win for Harapan, wipeout for PAS
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/423535
Invoke predicts slim win for Harapan, wipeout for PAS
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/423535
First past the post 有機會
應該都係個民調問題多 
你嘅講法係最正路，不過要睇吓馬拉選民會唔會棄保，唔熟馬來政治
Italy’s president puts coalition talks out of their misery
https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-government-negotiation-sergio-mattarell-president-puts-coalition-talks-out-of-their-misery/
ROME — Italy’s main parties’ fractious and fruitless attempts to form a government came to an end Monday as President Sergio Mattarella finally ran out of patience.
Mattarella instead called on the rival factions to support a “neutral” government to lead the country at least until the end of the year.
The president’s move, which ended two months of political negotiations since the March 4 elections, is aimed at avoiding fresh elections this summer or fall, when the country faces key international and domestic deadlines, including an EU summit in June and a budget law that has to be drafted in October.
A neutral government, however, faces strong opposition from the political parties that prevailed in March’s election: the 5Star Movement headed by Luigi Di Maio and the far-right League of Matteo Salvini. Both party leaders have said they won’t support a technocratic government and would rather hold new elections.
That makes it likely that Mattarella won’t be able to win the parliamentary vote needed to put his new plan in place. If that happens, the president said, new elections in July or October would be inevitable, with all the negative consequences that would bring, including spooking the financial markets, as the country would be forced to postpone a budget law that could halt painful VAT hikes scheduled to come in later in the year.
https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-government-negotiation-sergio-mattarell-president-puts-coalition-talks-out-of-their-misery/
ROME — Italy’s main parties’ fractious and fruitless attempts to form a government came to an end Monday as President Sergio Mattarella finally ran out of patience.
Mattarella instead called on the rival factions to support a “neutral” government to lead the country at least until the end of the year.
The president’s move, which ended two months of political negotiations since the March 4 elections, is aimed at avoiding fresh elections this summer or fall, when the country faces key international and domestic deadlines, including an EU summit in June and a budget law that has to be drafted in October.
A neutral government, however, faces strong opposition from the political parties that prevailed in March’s election: the 5Star Movement headed by Luigi Di Maio and the far-right League of Matteo Salvini. Both party leaders have said they won’t support a technocratic government and would rather hold new elections.
That makes it likely that Mattarella won’t be able to win the parliamentary vote needed to put his new plan in place. If that happens, the president said, new elections in July or October would be inevitable, with all the negative consequences that would bring, including spooking the financial markets, as the country would be forced to postpone a budget law that could halt painful VAT hikes scheduled to come in later in the year.
Hezbollah makes strong showing in Lebanon elections
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/07/hezbollah-makes-strong-showing-lebanon-elections
Hezbollah has gained political ground in Lebanon and consolidated Iran’s influence on the fragile state’s affairs after winning, along with its allies, a small majority in national elections.
The Shia militia-cum-political bloc’s gains came at the expense of the Sunni prime minister, Saad Hariri, whose authority was weakened by a relatively poor showing in stronghold areas.
Many of Hariri’s traditional supporters appear to have stayed at home on Sunday for the first parliamentary vote in nine years. His patron, Saudi Arabia, in November and remained disengaged in the lead-up to the vote. It offered no immediate reaction to the result.
Hariri’s bloc, the Future Movement, lost one-third of its seats, and he blamed a “scheme” to “eliminate” it from the political process when speaking on Monday.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/07/hezbollah-makes-strong-showing-lebanon-elections
Hezbollah has gained political ground in Lebanon and consolidated Iran’s influence on the fragile state’s affairs after winning, along with its allies, a small majority in national elections.
The Shia militia-cum-political bloc’s gains came at the expense of the Sunni prime minister, Saad Hariri, whose authority was weakened by a relatively poor showing in stronghold areas.
Many of Hariri’s traditional supporters appear to have stayed at home on Sunday for the first parliamentary vote in nine years. His patron, Saudi Arabia, in November and remained disengaged in the lead-up to the vote. It offered no immediate reaction to the result.
Hariri’s bloc, the Future Movement, lost one-third of its seats, and he blamed a “scheme” to “eliminate” it from the political process when speaking on Monday.
Trump to announce decision on Iran deal today
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/07/when-will-trump-make-iran-deal-decision-572300
President Donald Trump on Tuesday will announce his decision on whether the United States will continue or terminate U.S. involvement in the Iran nuclear deal ahead of the Saturday deadline.
“I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm,“ the president wrote on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
Trump has in the past criticized the agreement and is poised to fulfill his campaign promise of withdrawing from the deal. Trump had until Saturday to decide whether to again renew a waiver of sanctions against Iran as part of the nuclear agreement.
Trump’s most recent criticisms of the deal came Monday morning, when he bashed former Secretary of State John Kerry for reportedly meeting with foreign officials in a bid to salvage the nuclear deal.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/07/when-will-trump-make-iran-deal-decision-572300
President Donald Trump on Tuesday will announce his decision on whether the United States will continue or terminate U.S. involvement in the Iran nuclear deal ahead of the Saturday deadline.
“I will be announcing my decision on the Iran Deal tomorrow from the White House at 2:00pm,“ the president wrote on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
Trump has in the past criticized the agreement and is poised to fulfill his campaign promise of withdrawing from the deal. Trump had until Saturday to decide whether to again renew a waiver of sanctions against Iran as part of the nuclear agreement.
Trump’s most recent criticisms of the deal came Monday morning, when he bashed former Secretary of State John Kerry for reportedly meeting with foreign officials in a bid to salvage the nuclear deal.
Malaysia election: PM Najib Razak in fight for political survival
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/08/malaysia-election-pm-najib-razak-in-fight-for-political-survival
Many are now predicting that the government will once again lose the popular vote, though thanks to recent gerrymandering and the redrawing of electoral boundaries it will still be able to hold on to power.
Figures within Umno, Najib’s party in the ruling coalition, say that if Najib wins fewer than 130 seats out of a total of 222 (BN currently holds 133), then he is likely to face a post-election leadership challenge.
Najib has also faced growing criticism from within his own party. Last week Umno sacked two senior leaders and suspended another – all long-time loyalists of Mahathir – for speaking against Najib and attending opposition events.
Among rural Malay farmers in states such as Sabah and Sarawak – which account for 60% of Malaysia’s land mass – Najib demands huge loyalty for the generous subsidies given out, and issues such as the 1MDB corruption scandal do not factor in their voting choices.
For Najib to lose the election it would require a huge swing away from him in these areas, which is still unlikely.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/08/malaysia-election-pm-najib-razak-in-fight-for-political-survival
Many are now predicting that the government will once again lose the popular vote, though thanks to recent gerrymandering and the redrawing of electoral boundaries it will still be able to hold on to power.
Figures within Umno, Najib’s party in the ruling coalition, say that if Najib wins fewer than 130 seats out of a total of 222 (BN currently holds 133), then he is likely to face a post-election leadership challenge.
Najib has also faced growing criticism from within his own party. Last week Umno sacked two senior leaders and suspended another – all long-time loyalists of Mahathir – for speaking against Najib and attending opposition events.
Among rural Malay farmers in states such as Sabah and Sarawak – which account for 60% of Malaysia’s land mass – Najib demands huge loyalty for the generous subsidies given out, and issues such as the 1MDB corruption scandal do not factor in their voting choices.
For Najib to lose the election it would require a huge swing away from him in these areas, which is still unlikely.
Armenian parliament elects protest leader Nikol Pashinian as prime minister
http://www.dw.com/en/armenian-parliament-elects-protest-leader-nikol-pashinian-as-prime-minister/a-43697066
Armenia's parliament on Tuesday elected opposition lawmaker and protest leader Nikol Pashinian as prime minister, marking a dramatic, peaceful change in power after a weeks-long political crisis.
The parliamentary vote follows weeks of protests spearheaded by Pashinian that forced longtime Armenian leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as premier last month.
Lawmakers voted 59 to 42 to approve Pashinian as prime minister.
He was the only candidate in Tuesday's parliamentary vote, the second to choose a premier after he received only 45 of the necessary 53 votes last week.
http://www.dw.com/en/armenian-parliament-elects-protest-leader-nikol-pashinian-as-prime-minister/a-43697066
Armenia's parliament on Tuesday elected opposition lawmaker and protest leader Nikol Pashinian as prime minister, marking a dramatic, peaceful change in power after a weeks-long political crisis.
The parliamentary vote follows weeks of protests spearheaded by Pashinian that forced longtime Armenian leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as premier last month.
Lawmakers voted 59 to 42 to approve Pashinian as prime minister.
He was the only candidate in Tuesday's parliamentary vote, the second to choose a premier after he received only 45 of the necessary 53 votes last week.
明早都係美國幾個州 (Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia) Primary的日子，大家可以參考：
Every May 8 primary election you should know about, briefly explained
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/7/17304812/primary-election-2018-may-8-ohio-indiana-north-carolina-west-virginia
What’s At Stake In The First Big Primary Day Of 2018
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/whats-at-stake-in-the-first-big-primary-day-of-2018/
Every May 8 primary election you should know about, briefly explained
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/7/17304812/primary-election-2018-may-8-ohio-indiana-north-carolina-west-virginia
What’s At Stake In The First Big Primary Day Of 2018
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/whats-at-stake-in-the-first-big-primary-day-of-2018/
2018 Indiana Election Results
https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/indiana/
North Carolina
https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/north-carolina/
Ohio
[url]https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/ohio/
[/url]
West Virginia
https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/west-virginia/
https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/indiana/
North Carolina
https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/north-carolina/
Ohio
[url]https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/ohio/
[/url]
West Virginia
https://www.politico.com/election-results/2018/west-virginia/
Macron, Merkel, May express ‘regret’ at Trump’s Iran move
https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-sanctions-donald-trump-emmanuel-macron-angela-merkel-theresa-may-express-regret-at-trumps-iran-move/
The leaders of France, Germany and the U.K. expressed “regret and concern” over Donald Trump’s decision to reimpose U.S. nuclear sanctions on Iran Tuesday.
Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Theresa May spoke by phone to discuss Trump’s decision, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “and agreed their continuing commitment” to the pact.
In a joint statement, the three European leaders said, “Together, we emphasise our continuing commitment to the JCPoA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. This agreement remains important for our shared security.
“We urge all sides to remain committed to its full implementation and to act in a spirit of responsibility.”
They said the “world is a safer place as a result” of the deal.
“We urge the U.S. to ensure that the structures of the JCPoA can remain intact, and to avoid taking action which obstructs its full implementation by all other parties to the deal.”
They also urged “Iran to show restraint in response to the decision by the U.S.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-sanctions-donald-trump-emmanuel-macron-angela-merkel-theresa-may-express-regret-at-trumps-iran-move/
The leaders of France, Germany and the U.K. expressed “regret and concern” over Donald Trump’s decision to reimpose U.S. nuclear sanctions on Iran Tuesday.
Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Theresa May spoke by phone to discuss Trump’s decision, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “and agreed their continuing commitment” to the pact.
In a joint statement, the three European leaders said, “Together, we emphasise our continuing commitment to the JCPoA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. This agreement remains important for our shared security.
“We urge all sides to remain committed to its full implementation and to act in a spirit of responsibility.”
They said the “world is a safer place as a result” of the deal.
“We urge the U.S. to ensure that the structures of the JCPoA can remain intact, and to avoid taking action which obstructs its full implementation by all other parties to the deal.”
They also urged “Iran to show restraint in response to the decision by the U.S.”
首相拿督斯裡納吉說，國陣有信心繼續獲得人民的委託，在未來五年執政國家。
納吉也是國陣主席，他說，國陣在過去五年內落實了多個成功的政策，證明可以為國家經濟和人民福利帶來正面影響。
他說，國陣將在未來五年推出更為全面和具有誠信的宣言，不止集中於國家發展，也著重於促進人民的福利生活。
「基於這些事實，以及上蒼的旨意，我相信也有信心，人民將會投票給國陣。」
納吉也是國陣北根國席候選人，相信選民的投票傾向不受惡言惡語影響，因為選民將發現，全國大選不是口水戰，而是投選有誠信，並且在發展國家與幫助人民上有良好表現紀錄的政府。
http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/s/242490
Brexit: UK upper house votes to stay in EU single market
http://www.dw.com/en/brexit-uk-upper-house-votes-to-stay-in-eu-single-market/a-43708954
The unelected upper house of the UK parliament delivered a blow to UK Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Tuesday by voting in favor of four changes to the European Union [Withdrawal] Bill, bringing the total number of government defeats to 14.
The changes the House of Lords approved to the Brexit blueprint include requiring the government to negotiate staying in the European Economic Area, the EU's single market. That amendment was approved 245 votes to 218.
The other amendments remove references to when the UK is set to leave the bloc — 11 p.m. on March 29, 2019 — from the bill and allow the country to continue participating in EU agencies after Brexit. A fourth amendment was to enable greater scrutiny of statutory instruments, which cover small changes to existing laws.
The latest amendment is the 14th time in recent weeks that the government has lost in the House of Lords on the draft legislation that will officially end the UK's EU membership.
http://www.dw.com/en/brexit-uk-upper-house-votes-to-stay-in-eu-single-market/a-43708954
The unelected upper house of the UK parliament delivered a blow to UK Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Tuesday by voting in favor of four changes to the European Union [Withdrawal] Bill, bringing the total number of government defeats to 14.
The changes the House of Lords approved to the Brexit blueprint include requiring the government to negotiate staying in the European Economic Area, the EU's single market. That amendment was approved 245 votes to 218.
The other amendments remove references to when the UK is set to leave the bloc — 11 p.m. on March 29, 2019 — from the bill and allow the country to continue participating in EU agencies after Brexit. A fourth amendment was to enable greater scrutiny of statutory instruments, which cover small changes to existing laws.
The latest amendment is the 14th time in recent weeks that the government has lost in the House of Lords on the draft legislation that will officially end the UK's EU membership.