In 2019, a total of 53 countries around the world will witness elections to elect their leaders. Some of the elections having significance include polls in India, Indonesia, and Nigeria. According to data, India has 800 million eligible voters, while Indonesia and Nigeria have 187 million and 84 million registered voters respectively.
Three major types of elections:
Presidential election
Voters elect the country’s head of state or a president. The president holds the highest political position and officially represents the country.
Parliamentary election
The legislative body is elected by the people and, in turn, chooses the head of the government or prime minister. The legislative body implements laws and runs the government on a day-to-day basis.
In countries without a prime minister, such as South Africa, Brazil, and the United States, the president is both the head of state and head of government.
General Election
Voters elect the head of state as well as federal and local representatives.
Eligible to vote:
An adult of 18 years of age and above is eligible to cast the ballot in ninety percent of the countries. If you’re 16, you’d be eligible to vote in 7 countries such as Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Malta, and Nicaragua.
Voters can vote at the age of 17 in Ethiopia, Indonesia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste.
In Lebanon, Malaysia, Samoa, Singapore and Tonga, a voter has to be at least 21.
South Korea is the only country where voters are considered eligible at the age of 19.
Likewise, in Cameroon and Nauru, a voter has to be at least 20 years old.
Women’s right:
In 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote.
The last European country to allow women to vote was Switzerland in 1971.
In 1994, South Africa became the last African democracy to give equal voting rights to all following the end of apartheid.
In Afghanistan, women gained and lost the right to vote several times. They have continuously held the right to vote since 2004.
How often are elections held?
San Marino is only the country where the election is held every year. Countries like Australia, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand hold elections in every three years. Similarly, 48 countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Japan, USA have elections in every four years.
Likewise, 104 countries, including Nepal, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Cuba, France have elections in every five years. Six countries have the electoral process in six years where nine countries hold elections in seven years. Countries like Denmark, Greece, Jordan, Montenegro, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu do not have fixed term for elections.
How many terms can each leader serve?
Most leaders can either serve one or two terms in office. It’s not uncommon, however, for a country’s leader to have an unspecified term limit.
Leaders can serve only one term in 34 nations, 2 terms in 85 nations, including Nepal as per the current constitutions and unlimited term in 59 nations.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya is the world’s longest-serving, non-royal leader. He’s been in power for almost 44 years. He’s followed by Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – 40 years – and Cambodia’s Hun Sen – 34 years.
Likewise, 52 countries have given the permission to cast vote to the prisoners. In 65 countries, only ‘selected’ prisoners can cast their vote. Prisoners cannot vote in 60 countries.
KATHMANDU: The government today called the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) for dialogue.
Making public the cabinet decisions on Thursday, government spokesperson Gokul Baskota said that the government was ready for talks to end violence in the country.
Bastola said arms and weapons cannot be the solution, and Nepal–the land of Lord Buddha– needs peace and prosperity.
“Let’s not go for violence or war,” he said adding Nepali people are not in favor of yet another insurgency.
Likewise, Baskota, who is also the Minister for Communication and Information Technology defended the National Security Policy-2075 saying that the issues of national need, strengthening nationality of the country were incorporated in the policy.
On another issue, Minister Banskota said the government has not received any formal proposal relating to the formation of a new Gurkha Battalion by the British government.
KATHMANDU: Nepal Army (NA) has raised concerns over some media reports which carried news reports on mobilization of the army to quell the Biplav-led party cadres.
The NA, in a statement, has accused some media of disseminating false news by quoting “confidential government sources”.
It has asked all army personnel not to be misled with such false news saying that the NA operates as per the country’s constitution, Army Act and the government’s order.
KATHMANDU: Private medical colleges have agreed to return the amount they ‘overcharged’ from the students.
The colleges have also agreed to give students deprived of filling up the exam form earlier a second chance till tomorrow to complete the process.
Infuriated student unions on last Tuesday had padlocked the offices of Tribhuvan University (TU) vice chancellor and Institute of Medicine (IoM)’s dean’s office, alleging them of turning deaf ears towards the students’ demands.
A joint meeting of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; TU vice chancellor Dr Tirtharaj Khaniya; representatives of Gandaki Medical College and KIST Medical College, and the agitating students held today concluded with the agreements.
With the agreement, two agitating students unions — All Nepal National Free Students Union and the All Nepal Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) — have been convinced to unlock the padlocks.
The government is gearing up to celebrate 2020 as Visit Nepal Year. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is a major gateway for international tourists visiting Nepal. Management of TIA is crucial since the first impression is the last impression. Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager at TIA is working to give the airport a facelift. Khabarhub caught up with Chhetri. Excerpts:
There are a lot of complaints on the poor state of things at TIA. How are you dealing with those?
I am in the aviation sector for the past 30 years. Thus, I am familiar with the problems facing TIA. When we talk about international airports, we have an image of huge and sophisticated airports in developed countries. We do not have an adequate budget to develop huge infrastructures. Yet, I am trying my best by managing the resources we have.
Given the limited budget, I am working on a way to draw the attention of the tourists in a different manner. I am emphasizing on our unique culture and tradition.
TIA toilets used to be stinky, we made them neat and clean. Also in the past, passengers were disappointed in the lack of drinking water and adequate sitting facilities. Those problems exist no more.
I am also working to install air conditioners in the domestic and international lounge of the airport. Alongside, construction works are on to scale up the TIA infrastructure.
What have you done at the airport as part of welcoming foreign tourists?
Given the limited budget, I am working on a way to draw the attention of the tourists in a different manner. I am emphasizing on our unique culture and tradition. I have designed and decorated the airport the way we welcome guests as per our tradition. This has enchanted visitors.
We have used copper pitchers full of water with flowers on the tops. Walls are decorated with pictures that resemble our culture and tradition. We have also placed a statue of Garuda to welcome tourists. It is in fact, loved by many and people take a selfie with the statue. All these have come at the cost of mere Rs. 5,00,000. These small things have remained impressive to international tourists since these are new sights to them, uncommon at sophisticated airports.
What about the parking problem?
Parking is not a big issue as was in the past. Previously, it was messy. Even pick picketers roamed freely at the mismanaged parking lot. Taxi drivers forced passengers into their vehicles, dragging them. The situation now is different. Yes, the parking lot is a bit distant from the airport. However, you have trolleys to carry your goods from the well-managed parking lot up to the airport.
We are also starting pick and drop service soon so that passengers are directly led to the parking area from the plane.
You once talked of a boutique airport. What does that mean?
By a boutique airport, I mean a modern airport reflecting original traditional and cultural traits. We are been working on it. As part of a short term plan, we are housing a one-horn rhino at the airport within two weeks. That shall give it a distinct look for the tourists. Besides, the airport also has long term projects in developing its infrastructure.
There have been reports of disrupted flights due to cracks on the runway during monsoon? How are you dealing with the problem?
Problem with the runway is true. Now, we are repairing the runway with new materials. This work will be over in three months. We are also working on the taxiway. The airport is getting rid of this problem, soon.
Is TIA becoming a transit point for criminals as rumored?
I cannot tell you what transpired at TIA before my tenure. But after I assumed the position, crime-related activities here have come down by 80 percent. We are serious about the security issue. We hold security meeting once a month that is attended by officers from the revenue office, terminal office; and the police and army. We are frequently updated on the security situation here.
KATHMANDU: Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has instructed all local levels to collect details of the unemployed people at the respective local level.
Under-secretary at the Prime Minister Employment Program Section at the Ministry, Dr Loknath Bhusal has issued the directive to all the local levels through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.
The Ministry has assigned the employment coordinator at all the local levels for collecting the particulars of the unemployed people at each local level.
According to Bhusal, local bodies, where the employment coordinator has not been assigned, are directed to mobilize one of their employees to collect the particulars of the unemployed.
The government has mobilized the employment coordinators to 485 local levels. The process of assigning the coordinator in remaining local levels has been forwarded.
The government has already called for registering the names of the unemployed persons at the local levels by April 13.
The government has made provisions for guaranteeing a minimum of 100 days’ employment to the unemployed person in one fiscal year. If the 100 days’ employment cannot be granted to a person, the government shall give 50 per cent of the remuneration as living allowance for the number of days unemployed.
BANKE: Indian Custom Office has intercepted as many as 140 Kathmandu-bound fuel tankers at Rupaidiya checkpoint, citing technical glitches with online service.
According to Sharad Kumar KC, custom officer at Nepalgunj Custom Office, 140 fuel tankers as well as a dozen trucks laden with vegetables have been stranded on the Nepal-India border checkpoint for the last two days.
Even though the Indian Custom Office agreed to release the trucks ferrying vegetables, they are not going to release the tankers until the online service comes into operation, KC told Khabarhub.
“We are coordinating with Indian Custom Office since yesterday. They said they are facing server problem with the online service. They are trying to fix it,” he said.
KC said transport disruption started occurring time and again at the border checkpoint since online service was brought into operation.
JAKARTA: The death toll in floods of Papua Province of Indonesia has reached 107, media reports said on Thursday.
The number of casualties may go even higher as a large number of people are still missing, Indonesian officials say.
According to them a total of 93 people are still missing and a search and rescue operation is underway.
They went missing in the floods and landslides that occurred in Jayapura district of Papua Province since last Saturday.
Officials said they have evacuated over 7,000 flood-affected victims to safer areas. Over 350 buildings, three bridges, eight schools, eight religious sites, infrastructures including roads were damaged in the floods and landslides.
(Agencies)
KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has appointed chairpersons to five various constitutional commissions.
The president, on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, appointed Balananda Poudel as the chairman of the National Natural Resources and Finance Commission, Dr Shanta Raj Subedi as the chairman of the National Inclusion Commission, Bijaya Kumar Dutta as the chairman of the Madhesi Commission, Bishnu Prasad Chaudhari as the chairman of the Tharu Commission and Samim Miya Ansari as the chairman of the Muslim Commission.
Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher JB Rana administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-appointed chairs in the presence of President Bhandari amid a special ceremony organized at Shital Niwas.
Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun; Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanubhakta Dhakal; Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe; heads of constitutional bodies and chiefs of the security agencies; and special class office-bearers of the Nepal government were also present on the occasion.
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) is organizing a program to commemorate late former Prime Minister and party President Girija Prasad Koirala in the capital on Thursday.
Koirala had played an important role in bringing the then rebel Maoist party into the peace process by signing a 12-point peace accord with the latter.
Five-time Prime Minister Koirala had taken a lead during the second people’s movement in 2006 to overthrow the monarchy.
Koirala was born on July 1, 1924 as the youngest son to his father Krishna Prasad Koirala and mother Dibya Koirala in Tedi village of Saharasa district in Bihar State of India.
NC leader Sujata Koirala is the only one daughter of Koirala.
Historic Biratnagar Jute Mill Strike in 1947 had taken place under the leadership of Koirala. He had become the Morang district president of Nepali Congress from 1951 to 1960.
He had become general secretary from 2031 to 2047 BS. Then he continued leading the NC as president from 2053 BS until he passed away on February 19, 2010.