Latest news with #Elections
a day ago
- Politics
Candidates vying for seat in Alberta byelection featuring Poilievre to debate tonight
Headlines Latest News Podcasts (new window) Home Politics Federal Elections About 210 candidates registered to run as of Monday Lawn signs are displayed in advance of next month's byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot. Photo: CBC / Monty Kruger Ten candidates vying to represent Battle River-Crowfoot in the House of Commons are to debate tonight in the riding's largest municipality. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's press secretary Sarah Fischer said he will be attending the event hosted by the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce ahead of the Aug. 18 byelection. Poilievre is looking to win in the sprawling eastern Alberta riding after he lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton in the April general election. The writ was dropped last month after Conservative Damien Kurek, who handily won the seat in the April vote, stepped down so Poilievre could run. About 210 candidates were registered to run as of Monday on Elections Canada's website, including Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, the NDP's Katherine Swampy, Independent Bonnie Critchley and dozens of others sponsored by the Longest Ballot Committee protest group. Elections Canada says adapted ballots requiring electors to write out the name of their preferred pick will be available at polls given the unusually long list of candidates. The debate starts at 7 p.m. MT. WATCH | The longest ballot in federal election history with a twist: Tax and shipping records appear to contradict Ottawa's claims 12 minutes ago Armed Conflicts Falun Gong-associated Shen Yun says it faces threats by Chinese government Rakhim Ibragimov faces charges in transnational drug conspiracy linked to fugitive Ryan Wedding 2 hours ago Drugs & Narcotics Recent deaths have sparked calls for reform, and some policing experts say officer training should be examined 2 hours ago Law Enforcement Agencies Canada's big advantage is its free-trade deal with the U.S. that avoids most tariffs 3 hours ago Trade Agreements
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
The rise of Japan's far right was supercharged by Trump
BBC Japanese politics is a usually steady ship, verging on the boring most of the time. Not anymore. Last Sunday, a once obscure far-right party, Sanseito, surged from one to 15 seats in the elections, making them a serious contender in Japan's political scene. With their "Japanese First" slogan, riffing off US President Donald Trump's "America First", they have truly ruffled the feathers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its embattled prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. For him, the last week was something of a rollercoaster. In the election, his ruling LDP coalition lost their majority in the upper house of Japan's parliament - having already lost control of the lower house last year - prompting calls for his resignation from his own party. By Wednesday, he had sealed a deal on tariffs with the US, which the US president called "massive". But while this gave the economy a badly-needed dose of stability, it still couldn't salvage Japan's politics from upheaval. Japan is one of the most stable democracies in the world; their elections are rarely surprising. The LDP has governed almost continuously since 1955 (except brief spells). It seemed immune to the populism seen in other countries. But the party now faces one of its most serious challenges in post-war history. So what turned the land of humdrum politics into a fierce political battleground - and drew many to the far right? Rice wars: anger in supermarkets It has been a tough few years for Japanese households. They have struggled with inflation, high prices, stagnant wages and a sluggish economy. Take the price of rice. It has doubled since last year and a typical 5kg bag of it now costs above 4,000 yen (£20) in supermarkets. This is partly due to a supply shortage caused by a bad harvest in 2023, but it was compounded by a powerful earthquake, which prompted warnings of a "megaquake" - causing shoppers to stockpile in panic. Footage on local TV channels and on social media showed long lines of people queuing to buy rice. Reuters "Rice is a staple for us. We've always sort of taken it for granted [but] this affects everyone, not just me and what my baby eats, but people's business as well," explains Momoko Abe, 36, who is shopping with her four-month daughter in a supermarket in northern Tokyo."It was quite shocking to see that the price could rise like this in such a short period." Another shopper, 65-year-old Watanabe Takeshi, tells me he doesn't have much choice. "It's expensive but we have to buy it. The price of rice is controlled by the government," he says. The agriculture minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, has vowed to bring prices down and to modify the supply chain - and more rice has already gone into the market - but prices remain high. It is a symptom of a government struggling to revive the economy and contain inflation. From 'America First' to 'Japan First' Young Japanese people in particular are fed up. "[We are] sick of the current political situation," a young voter called Eriko Harada told a news outlet at a Sanseito rally. Another young voter, Uta Kato, says: "It's simple. The reason Sanseito won so much support is because they speak on our behalf." Voters' frustration - and anger - is palpable in political rallies, as it is in the aisles of supermarkets. It's what, in part, drove many to support a "Japan First" party. But something else was at play too. "I think we can attribute a lot of this to ripples coming from the White House, from Maga land," argues Jeff Kingston, professor of Asian studies and history at Temple University in Tokyo, referencing the Make America Great Again movement that backed Trump. "Trump is empowering the primordial in people all over the world." Another parallel with Trump's Republicans, as well as other right-wing movements and parties across the world, is the focus on immigration. Japan has historically had very low levels of immigration but it has been on the rise. The number of foreign residents living in Japan at the end of last year was approximately 3.77 million - an increase of almost 11% from the previous year, and a new record high. Japan's population is ageing fast, and many argue that the country needs migrants to work, pay taxes, and take care of the ballooning numbers of elderly people. But others feel differently. "The number of foreign immigrants who don't obey the rules is increasing," argues the young voter Uta Kato. "The burden on citizens including taxes is bigger so life is getting more difficult." Sanseito blames the government for policies that have allowed more foreigners into the country. "We are not promoting xenophobia," the party's founder, Sohei Kamiya, said at a news conference in June. "Japanese people feel unease and dissatisfaction because there are no established rules for accepting foreigners." In another news conference he said: "Many citizens are frustrated that too much money is being spent on social security and education support for foreigners." Welfare minister Takamaro Fukuoka - of the LDP - has rebutted the claim that the government is providing favourable medical or welfare benefits to foreign residents. Still, the message resonates with supporters. "Foreigners are scary. I'm afraid they may go on a rampage," a 54-year-old Sanseito volunteer told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. When asked why he feared foreigners, he admitted that he had not experienced any direct harm from them. A 35-year-old homemaker attending a Sanseito rally with her husband and child told the paper: "Sanseito says things that other parties don't say." But the far-right party's focus on foreigners doesn't just apply to people seeking to live in Japan. Sanseito has another, more unusual target on its list: tourists. Tourists taking selfies and behaving badly A weak yen has forced Japanese families to tighten their belts - but it also enables millions of tourists to enjoy holidays here (where their money goes a lot further than it used to). As a result, Japan has seen a large rise in incoming tourists. Almost 37 million of them travelled to Japan last year, according to the National Tourism Organisation - an all-time high. Most came from other east Asian countries, like China and South Korea, with a substantial minority also coming from the West. Some argue that tourists behave in an uncouth, disrespectful way - violating the strong norms of courtesy on which Japanese people pride themselves. Last November, a 65-year-old American tourist was arrested on suspicion of scrawling graffiti onto a wooden gate at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo. Also last year, residents in the town of Fujikawaguchiko admitted their frustration over tourists breaking traffic rules in order to photograph Mount Fuji, which looms over the area. The pretty town, in the foothills of the volcano, is often a base for climbers. It is also on the banks of Lake Kawaguchi. The area is known for its striking beauty - but eventually authorities erected a screen to block the view. "It's regrettable we have to do this because of some tourists who can't respect rules," a local official said. Kazuhiko Iwama, 65, who has lived in the town his whole life, told me about this at the time. "[Tourists] cross the street and they don't seem to care about the cars at all, it is dangerous," he said. "They leave trash and cigarette butts everywhere." Even after the mountain was shielded from view, some tourists found ways to take a selfie. Some incidents were caught on video and posted online. Spreading 'false information about foreigners' This all fuelled a frustration that led to many voters turning to Sanseito - and resulted in its ballot box success. But not everyone believes this was done fairly. Some analysts have argued that the right-wing party has conflated misbehaviour and bad manners by some tourists with Japan's immigration issue and lumped it into one "big foreign problem". "They have spread false information about foreigners [saying that they're] creating large amounts of crime and threatening the public order," says Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer in international studies at Kanda University of International Studies, in eastern Japan. "They have also been fixated on the idea of foreigners buying property." Days before the vote, the prime minister's administration spoke about the issue too, announcing a new government taskforce to fight "crimes and disorderly conduct" by foreign nationals. His party has also promised a target of "zero illegal foreigners". The Trump admirer who started Sanseito Sanseito, which translates as "Participate in Politics," started in 2020, the year when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its height, and gained prominence with YouTube videos that spread conspiracy theories about vaccinations. Its founder Sohei Kamiya is a former supermarket manager and reservist of the Self-Defence Force (how Japan describes its army). He has credited Trump as an influence for his "bold political style". Reuters He attracted people on social media who were unhappy with conventional parties, gaining support with warnings of a "silent invasion" of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. And in 2022, Kamiya was Sanseito's only candidate to be elected into the upper chamber. In a video released on his YouTube channel, Kamiya referred to the "deep state", the idea that the military, police and political groups work secretly to protect particular interests - and rule a country without being elected. "There is a deep state everywhere," he said in the video. "Such as in the media, the medical field, the agricultural field and Kasumigaseki [government agencies]." He also made certain contentious remarks on the campaign trail, which spread on social media. "Once the election campaign cycle started, every media outlet and online forum was talking about 'Sanseito'… and controversial statements or policy positions," says Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group think tank. Kamiya faced backlash after he branded gender equality policies "a mistake" because, in his view, they encouraged women to work and kept them from having children. But he defended his stance. "The phrase 'Japanese First' was meant to express rebuilding Japanese people's livelihoods by resisting globalism," he said in one interview. "I am not saying that we should completely ban foreigners or that every foreigner should get out of Japan. "We were criticised as being xenophobic and discriminatory. The public came to understand that the media was wrong and Sanseito was right." Gusto over policy? Prof Kingston says his success is less about policies and more about gusto. "It wasn't so much the content of the message, but how the message was delivered," he argues. "It's the passion, the emotions and the social media. People [in] their 30s and 40s think, 'We want change… we may not buy into everything he is pedalling, but he can change things and address my concerns'." In addition to the swelling youth base, a large number of the LDP's core conservative voters have also turned to Sanseito because they no longer see the ruling party as right-wing enough. The late former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, represented the far-right of the LDP and that kept voters on board. His successors like Fumio Kishida and now Ishiba represent a more moderate wing of the LDP. "For voters on the far right, they lost their home. They want a more ardent advocate for their positions. And Kamiya is that passionate advocate," Prof Kingston says. Ultimately, it is too early to tell whether this populist trend will endure in Japanese politics, say analysts. Though it may be seen as the refreshing agent of change in politics, it has yet to be put through the wringer of close scrutiny. The governing LDP may be the weary incumbent but it is still a big beast that has weathered many political storms. It remains the most experienced party when it comes to foreign relations; recently, it had to navigate a volatile global order and an unstable Asia-Pacific region. Domestically, the LDP is down but not out. If nothing else, this is because there is currently no alternative considered viable enough. But the far-right's success has hammered home a new reality: voters can no longer be taken for granted. And while Japan historically cherished its stability, a new generation is hungry for change - even if its not yet clear what that looks like. Top image credit: Reuters BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Liberal Party's climate policy a huge headache for state and federal leaders
Political parties are funny beasts, as the Liberals were reminded on the weekend. To win elections they need to appeal to broad sections of the community, many of whom only have a passing interest in politics once every few years. Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard famously referred to the party as a "broad church" for voters. And yet the heart of the parties — the kind of people who, for example, show up to Saturday morning meetings years out from an election — are not always representative of broader society. Both Labor and the Liberals can struggle at times because it is those very people who help shape policies — and more importantly, party brands in the eyes of ordinary voters. It can create headaches when, for example, that core group votes to abandon a commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, continuing a debate which has dogged the party for years, as the WA Liberals' State Council did on Saturday. The group also voted to remove the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags behind the prime minister at press conferences and cut back on Welcome to Country ceremonies. The net zero issue has dogged the Liberals for years, with federal leader Sussan Ley setting up a working group to review the party's policy after its federal election drubbing. But the WA Liberals' State Council was not waiting for that review, nor was one of its most prominent voices who supported the motion. "We're part of a process," frontbencher Andrew Hastie, acknowledged on Saturday. "But I think it's pretty clear the South Australian division, the WA division, the Northern Territory division have adopted this position. "We'll see how the LNP goes in future weeks." The debate is shaping up as a thorny issue for Ley, who faces not only division between the party's membership and its elected members, but among its own MPs. In a sign of just how thorny the issue is, WA Leader Basil Zempilas had to spend part of his Monday morning defending his different position after attending the council meeting, but leaving before votes were taken. "The WA Parliamentary Liberal Party supports the status quo," he told reporters. "We are very comfortable with standing in front of the Aboriginal flag, we are very comfortable with the Welcome to Country and we support the status quo on the net zero targets." Party members who spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity to speak freely pointed out there was not necessarily anything unusual with that position. The views of the lay party — ordinary members who voted on Saturday — are not binding on elected MPs, who have the final say on the party's policies. Lay party motions are just one viewpoint to consider, they said. Also, they added, the motions were focused on the federal party, not the state. Which is all well and good, and gives Zempilas the ability to freely offer his own position without creating an even bigger storm. But it does little to solve the Liberals' key problem: the effect this splintering can have on public perception at both state and federal levels. Because the potential cost of this position is making it harder to win back the very voters who have deserted the party in recent years. At a state level, the party had bled voters to a more centrist Labor Party for a range of reasons, including it would seem the Liberals' drift further to the right on some issues. Federally, the cost has been even more clearly seen in seats taken by teal independents. The seat of Curtin, taking in Perth's leafy Western suburbs, had been as Liberal as they come until independent Kate Chaney swung the electorate in 2019 with a campaign heavily focused on climate. "I got the biggest swing in WA, five-and-a-half per cent. Pretty sure I got a strong endorsement," was Hastie's alternative view. For some though, there is also a view this issue is about more than just net zero, but ultimately the leadership of the party. While far from a universal view, there is little doubt having such a public show of disunity so early into Ley's leadership will only work against her prospects of staying in the job long-term. Hastie had been touted as a possible leadership contender after the May federal election, but bowed out early before Ley was installed. "I'd be foolish to say I don't have a desire to lead, I do have a desire to lead," he told the Curtin's Cast podcast at the time. "But the timing was all out for personal reasons." Politics is a game where little is done without an eye to the future prospects of each decision. Hastie, and others, clearly see some benefit in creating a clear point of difference with Labor over future climate policy. The question voters will decide in a few years' time is whether that is of benefit only among the party's core base, or helps win over electors more widely.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Human rights ‘not breached over election interference probe refusal'
The UK Government did not breach human rights laws by refusing to order an independent investigation into Russian interference in elections. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found there was no breach of measures aimed at ensuring free and fair elections after a long-running legal action backed by three former MPs. The Strasbourg court acknowledged there was evidence of a 'significant and ongoing threat' to the UK's democratic processes from Vladimir Putin's country, but said Westminster had taken action to respond to the danger. The case was lodged at the ECtHR in 2022 by three then-MPs, Labour's Sir Ben Bradshaw, the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and the SNP's Alyn Smith, after applications for a judicial review of Boris Johnson's decision not to order an investigation into Russian activities were declined by domestic courts. In a judgment published on Tuesday, the court ruled that the UK Government's response did not violate the right to free elections. The judgment said: 'While the Court does not underestimate the threat posed by the spreading of disinformation and the running of 'influence campaigns', their nature is nevertheless such that it is difficult to assess accurately the impact that they may have on individual voters and, by extension, on the outcome of a given election.' There was also a risk to freedom of expression if there were 'knee-jerk reactions' to debate during an election contest. 'There is a very fine line between addressing the dangers of disinformation and outright censorship,' the judgment said. Any actions taken by states 'to counter the risk of foreign election interference through the dissemination of disinformation and the running of influence campaigns' would have to be balanced against the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 'Therefore, while states should not remain passive when faced with evidence that their democratic processes are under threat they must be accorded a wide margin of appreciation in the choice of means to be adopted in order to counter such threats,' the judgment said. 'In the court's view, the United Kingdom's response to the threat of Russian election interference did not fall outside the wide margin of appreciation afforded to it in this area.' The case followed reports from the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) which looked at alleged Russian disinformation campaigns, including during the 2016 Brexit referendum. The court noted that 'there were undoubtedly shortcomings in the Government's initial response' to the Russian threat but there were 'thorough and independent investigations' by the ISC and the DCMS committee.. The judgment also noted that following the publication of the ISC report in 2020 there had been new laws passed to help address the risk: the Elections Act 2022, the National Security Act 2023 ('the NSA 2023') and the Online Safety Act 2023. Following the judgment, Ms Lucas said: 'It's hugely significant that the court has found in favour of our case that foreign interference is a threat to our right to free and fair elections and that they recognise there will be cases when states do have a duty to investigate. 'And while it's clearly disappointing that they found that the Government had done enough, I've no doubt that this will continue to be contested. 'The bottom line is that we still cannot be assured that our democratic system is robust against foreign interference – and for as long as that is the case, we will continue to explore all possible avenues for remedy.' Tessa Gregory, a partner at Leigh Day – the law firm which represented the three former MPs, said: 'In an important judgment, which will have far-reaching implications, the court has accepted, contrary to the UK's submissions, that in order to safeguard citizens' right to free and fair elections, states will in certain circumstances have to take positive action against foreign interference in electoral processes including by investigating credible allegations. 'Our clients continue to think the UK has fallen short of protecting our democracy and are considering next steps in relation to the court's conclusion that there has been no violation of their right to free and fair elections.' A Government spokesman said: 'We note today's judgment, which found no violation. 'We are committed to safeguarding our electoral processes, which is why we recently announced tougher new rules on political donations to protect our elections from the growing danger of foreign interference. 'These changes will boost transparency and accountability in politics by closing loopholes that would allow foreign donors to influence elections. 'More broadly, national security is our first responsibility, and we have taken action to harden and sharpen our approach to threats – whether standing with Ukraine against Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, placing Russia on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme, and working with allies to monitor and counter Russian submarines and ships in UK waters.'
Hans India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Notification for local body polls to be out next month
Hyderabad: The Notification for Local Body Elections is expected to be issued in August second week. The State Government has already asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to make all arrangements for local body polls including the finalization of the schedule by August first week. The government is planning to hold Gram Panchayat elections in the first phase followed by Mandal and Zilla Parishad and Municipal elections. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy instructed all the departments to complete the formalities for the distribution of the scheme benefits including new ration cards to ensure no violation of election code which is being into the force soon after the SEC announced schedule for the conduct of local body elections anytime after August 10. In the wake of protracted delay in conducting the elections, Telangana High Court has already ordered the state government to complete the local body elections by September end this year. Sources said that the only challenge before the government is to implement 42 per cent BC quota in the local body polls since the approval of ordinance to BC reservation was pending before Governor Jishnu Dev Varma. The government was expecting the Governor will also take a call on the issue by August first week and then the election process will be started. The SEC authorities already prepared the revised electoral rolls and the Panchayat Raj department announced the total number of MPTC and ZPTC segments as part of the election preparations. The Municipal Administration and Urban Development department also finalized the number of wards and merger of villages with the surrounding municipal bodies for elections.
