International Association for Democracy - IAD

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International Association for Democracy - IAD

IAD is a charity that works to defend & promote democracy around the globe.

We link people with their governments and lobby governments to promote, strengthen and safeguard democracy at home and abroad. We also work towards raising public awareness about the current state of democracy around the world and what should be done to better defend and promote democracy.

14/08/2026

Zambia’s Electoral Commission suspended the counting and announcement of election results nationwide on August 14, citing reports of violence targeting election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes.

The commission said it would review the suspension within 24 hours, while no official presidential results had been released. The suspension comes one day after President Hakainde Hichilema and opposition candidate Brian Mundubile faced off in Zambia’s presidential election.

Mundubile has claimed victory without providing evidence, while Hichilema has called for patience as the country awaits the official result. The decision puts the electoral commission’s management of the count and the credibility of the final result at the center of attention.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zambia-suspends-vote-counting-over-violence-against-election-officials-2026-08-14/

04/08/2026

Following widespread Gen Z-led protests in India last month against exam paper leaks that resulted in the resignation of the education minister, protest leaders are debating the future of the movement. The founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, who sparked the protests, has stated that his party will not immediately enter electoral politics but will discuss its future with supporters. Ultimately, he believes the protests reflected widespread anger over youth unemployment and a lack of trust in politicians and government institutions.

Dipke believes that entering politics would make his party a target of government investigations but still wants to continue giving voice to youth concerns. He has not ruled out entering politics later if the public supports it. Indians will vote in their next general election in 2029, when the youth vote could play a key role.

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-gen-z-cockroach-party-resists-lure-election-after-rattling-modi-2026-08-04/

28/07/2026

New UK PM Andy Burnham, who took office last week, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022 with the aim of annexing the country. Zelenskyy is the first foreign leader to visit Burnham since he took office and the two discussed cooperation on drones and ballistic missile interceptors. Russia and Ukraine have continued to strike each other’s military and energy infrastructure, with reports emerging of civilian casualties.

Burnham replaced the unpopular Keir Starmer, who resigned after two years as PM. He is similarly expected to face voter dissatisfaction with the high cost of living and slow economic growth. The former mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham supports investment in disadvantaged regions, measures to help struggling households, and new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-burnham-iran-araghchi-505af356645b8ecd779454ce0e02051a
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/19/nx-s1-5895993/andy-burnham-prime-minister-keir-starmer

24/07/2026

Moldova's parliament has elected financier Vasile Tofan as prime minister and approved his new government. Tofan, a political newcomer backed by President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity, secured 53 votes in the 101-seat parliament.

Tofan succeeds Alexandru Munteanu, who resigned earlier this month. He has pledged to revive Moldova's economy and continue the country's efforts to join the European Union, with a target of membership by 2030.

Moldova applied for EU membership in 2022, was granted candidate status the same year, and began accession talks in 2024.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/21/moldova-chooses-new-prime-minister-as-it-pushes-for-eu-membership

23/07/2026

Prosecutors have charged a man with the murder of former UK Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead in her home on 9 July. Counter Terrorism Policing is also investigating his motives to determine whether to bring terrorism charges. Police first arrested the suspect on 11 July and believe he acted alone.

Widdecombe, 78, served as an MP for 23 years, a minister in Sir John Major’s government, and a Member of the European Parliament. She became a member of the Brexit Party and later, Reform UK. Leaders of numerous political parties, including Reform UK, the Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats, have paid tribute to Widdecombe and mourned her death.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4n2erympvo

22/07/2026

Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega, in power since 2007, has announced that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections. Winning several disputed elections and imprisoning and exiling opposition leaders, Ortega has consolidated his control over the presidency, courts, and military. He also amended the constitution last year to extend his presidential term and give more power to his wife as “co-president.”

The UN, US, and human rights groups have accused Ortega of authoritarianism and widespread human rights violations, including the jailing of opposition leaders and the killing of protesters. They believe that Nicaragua has become a one-party state with no free and fair elections.

Source:
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/20/americas/nicaragua-ortega-no-elections-intl-hnk

17/07/2026

A bipartisan panel of the Wisconsin Elections Commission has found probable cause that Elon Musk likely violated state election law by offering $1 million payments to voters during the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The complaints have been referred for possible prosecution.

The commission voted 5-1 to refer the case to local district attorneys after concluding the payments may have violated Wisconsin's election bribery law. Prosecutors now have 40 days to decide whether to file criminal charges.

The payments were announced during the state Supreme Court race, which drew national attention and became the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-wisconsin-election-million-dollar-checks-2900f27acc373c9f1661a934f00c0c3d

13/07/2026

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to resign and flee the country amid widespread protests in 2024, has stated that she plans to return to Bangladesh and surrender to authorities. A war crimes court has already sentenced her to death in absentia for ordering a deadly crackdown on student protesters. She stated that she and other members of her Awami League plan to return from India in December.

While initially an advocate for democracy against a military government, Hasina later served as prime minister for 20 years and was accused of democratic backsliding and suppressing dissent. Her crackdown on protesters in 2024 resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, according to the UN. Since her resignation, the Awami League has been banned and its members have faced legal charges.

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladeshs-hasina-plans-december-return-with-party-colleagues-surrender-2026-07-10/

10/07/2026

On Thursday, thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán protested outside Sándor Palace in Budapest against new Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s proposed constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok.

Magyar says Sulyok enabled Orbán-era authoritarianism. The broader reform package would also introduce parliamentary term limits, change the judiciary, and create a new financial-oversight institution.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized the proposed removal process while supporting broader democratic reforms. The dispute has become an early test for Hungary’s new government as it tries to reverse Orbán-era institutional capture.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/hungary-orban-supporters-protest-president-95f0bf6a5adb74ac02281d4017f05b62

06/07/2026

A referendum in Slovakia on ending lifelong payments to former prime ministers and re-establishing a special prosecutor’s office to deal with major crimes has failed due to low turnout. Slovaks voted on Saturday on whether to reverse changes introduced by the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico in 2024.

The changes included lifelong payments to former prime ministers as well as the abolition of a special prosecutor’s office and the National Criminal Agency, which both dealt with major crimes such as corruption and extremism. The latter policy sparked mass protests and criticism given that members of Fico’s party faced corruption charges. With a turnout of only 16%, Saturday’s referendum did not secure the necessary 50% turnout to be valid.

Source:
https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-fico-referendum-corruption-60d7cb3ae150739a926056afae9dc2a8

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