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News & Updates
Feature
Remembering Kalle Könkkölä, Finnish Politician and Disability Rights Advocate
IFES is saddened by the passing of Finnish politician and disability rights advocate Kalle Könkkölä on September 11. He served from 1983 to 1987 as the first member of the Finnish Parliament with a disability, developing key pieces of legislation on disability inclusion and independent living.
News & Updates
Feature
Elections on Trial Project: Inaugural Meeting of the Europe and Eurasia Electoral Jurisprudence Working Group
IFES is working to establish peer networks in Europe and Eurasia and Africa, supported by the United States Agency for International Development. Regional knowledge exchange allows judges and election commissioners to discuss best practices and share comparative examples of how other countries deal with specific categories of complaints and disputes.
Publication
Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002
Election Material
Constitution
The Constitution of Finland
Constitution of Finland adopted in 1999 to replace the previous 1919 Constitution.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
Democracy and You
Published by the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) in 1999, the book entitled Democracy and You: A Guide to Better Understanding provides Namibians with general information and definitions regarding democratic governance and the structure of Namibian politics. In addition to outlines of the Namibian constitution and government, this book includes a civic education essay competition and repeatedly stresses the importance of democracy.
Election Material
Civic Education Material
The Married Persons Equality Act
This document, published in 1997 by the Namibia Institute for Democracy, outlines the “The Married Persons Equality Act.” The acts primary goal was to abolish marital power and property law. The act outlines the legality of marriage, divorce, spousal rights to personal property and a minimum legal age to marry. Although not focusing on the electoral system this piece nevertheless is an example of the legislative process and civil society development.
Election Material
Constitution
Les Lois Fondamentales De Finlande: Reglements De La Chambre Des Representants
Fundamental Laws of Finland (French Translation).
Election Material
Ballot
Namibia Regional Council Election Ballot 1992
Ballot papers for regional elections held in Namibia between 30 November, and 3 December 1992. Two ballot papers are included. The first is from the Regional Council election from Opuwo. The second ballot is from the Local Authority Council election in Omaruru.
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Manual on - Conduct of Regional and Local Authority Councils Elections
Manual on - Conduct of Regional and Local Authority Councils Elections