In This Issue

IFES is advising the Election Commission of Pakistan, or ECP, as it prepares for the February 18 election. IFES Chief of Party in Islamabad Staffan Darnolf recently spoke with IFES.org about the challenges ahead.… read more »

With the enthusiastic approval from his Board of Directors, IFES CEO and President Jean-Pierre Kingsley announced the creation of the IFES Executive Advisory Council. This is an exclusive group of internationally-renowned and experienced senior practitioners recognized for their seasoned contributions in the field of electoral cycle assistance and democratic governance.… read more »

A civilian government is back in power in Thailand, but the country's new parliament faces a host of challenges including laws enacted by the outgoing military government that shape the conduct of elections and the power structure of the new government. IFES consultants Catherine Barnes and Robert Dahl examined these challenges and future prospects for democracy in Thailand in a presentation at IFES in Washington January 23.… read more »

Candidates have been buying votes in Thailand since at least 1936 when the practice was first recorded, according to King Prajadhipok's Institute, a respected Thai organization partnering with IFES. Since then, the practice has become highly sophisticated, with a Thai government commission finding evidence of at least...… read more »

In January, the country's main coalition of labor unions demanded that the government led by Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté meet its obligations under the three-party accords signed January 27, 2007. The call for a new strike was meant as a wake-up call on the anniversary of last year's unrest and it worked.… read more »