After the two leading contenders in the Maldives' presidential election failed to win more than 50% of the vote on Saturday (September 9), a runoff round appeared likely. On Sunday, the first round's official results are expected to be released. But according to early statistics, incumbent President Ibrahim Solih was in second place to his primary competitor Mohamed Muiz, who received 46% of the vote to the former's 40%.

Maldives Elections | Preliminary Results: No clear winner after first round of voting

Zimbabwe's sitting president Emmerson Mnangagwa has secured a second term winning roughly 53 per cent of the votes in a taxing election.

Zimbabwe presidential elections 2023: President Emmerson Mnangagwa secures 2nd term

Guatemalans began casting their vote&nbsp;on Sunday (August 20) in the presidential run-off election, as many hope for a reversal of democratic backsliding the country has witnessed in recent administrations. The election has also been marked by the harassment of a surprise frontrunner who has vowed to end corruption.&nbsp;

<h2>About the run-off elections</h2>

Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (local time) and the voting was supposed to end by 6:00 pm (local time). The first results are expected later in the evening. The current race is between progressive outsider Bernardo Arevalo and former first lady Sandra Torres, both of whom are said to be social democrats.&nbsp;

A poll by CID Gallup and the Freedom and Development Foundation said that Arevalo – who is running mainly on an anti-corruption message – is leading with 50 per cent against Torres, who is coming in second with 32 per cent.

A presidential candidate of the&nbsp;National Union of Hope party, Torres is the ex-wife of deceased leftist president Alvaro Colom. She launched her fourth shot at the presidency with a focus on violent crime and poverty.

It is also worth noting that since both candidates are left-leaning, the Central American nation will have its first leftist leader in over a decade.

<h2>Fears of election interference</h2>

The Organization of American States said a team of 86 election observers was in the country. “It is essential that citizens be able to express themselves freely with full guarantees and that their expressions be respected,” said Eladio Loizaga, head of the OAS mission in Guatemala, on Saturday.&nbsp;

This comes amid fears of efforts to undermine the vote after Arevalo’s surprise second-place finish in June’s first-round vote was followed by raids against his Semilla party offices and those of electoral officials. Therefore, the vote has been closely watched by the international community.&nbsp;

Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei has vowed to ensure an orderly vote and transition of power. Meanwhile, prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche ahead of the vote on Sunday did not rule out the possibility of more raids and arrests after the elections. Notably, Curruchiche has been sanctioned by the United States for corruption.&nbsp;

<h2>What’s at stake?</h2>

The outcome of this election is set to usher in a new era of widespread allegations of corruption and creeping authoritarianism that Guatemala has witnessed under recent administrations.&nbsp;

“I hope that everything is calm, that democracy wins, that there is no fraud or political issues...and that our country gets ahead more than anything,” Ardem Villagran, a merchant in Guatemala City told Reuters.&nbsp;

The winner of the election will take office on January 14, amid a number of challenges that Guatemala currently faces. According to the World Bank, the country has some of the worst poverty, malnutrition and child mortality rates in Latin America.&nbsp;

Guatemala also has one of the highest crime rates in the world with many killings attributed to gang violence related to drug trafficking.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Guatemalans began casting their vote on Sunday (August 20) in the presidential run-off election, as many hope for a reversal of democratic backsliding the country has witnessed in recent administrations.

Guatemalans began casting their vote on Sunday (August 20) in the presidential run-off election, as many hope for a reversal of democratic backsliding the country has witnessed in recent administrations. The election has also been marked by the harassment of a surprise frontrunner who has vowed to end corruption. About the run-off elections Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (local time) and the voting was supposed to end by 6:00 pm (local time). The first results are expected later in the evening. The current race is between progressive outsider Bernardo Arevalo and former first lady Sandra Torres, both of whom are said to be social democrats. A poll by CID Gallup and the Freedom and Development Foundation said that Arevalo – who is running mainly on an anti-corruption message – is leading with 50 per cent against Torres, who is coming in second with 32 per cent. A presidential candidate of the National Union of Hope party, Torres is the ex-wife of deceased leftist president Alvaro Colom. She launched her fourth shot at the presidency with a focus on violent crime and poverty. It is also worth noting that since both candidates are left-leaning, the Central American nation will have its first leftist leader in over a decade. Fears of election interference The Organization of American States said a team of 86 election observers was in the country. “It is essential that citizens be able to express themselves freely with full guarantees and that their expressions be respected,” said Eladio Loizaga, head of the OAS mission in Guatemala, on Saturday. This comes amid fears of efforts to undermine the vote after Arevalo’s surprise second-place finish in June’s first-round vote was followed by raids against his Semilla party offices and those of electoral officials. Therefore, the vote has been closely watched by the international community. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei has vowed to ensure an orderly vote and transition of power. Meanwhile, prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche ahead of the vote on Sunday did not rule out the possibility of more raids and arrests after the elections. Notably, Curruchiche has been sanctioned by the United States for corruption. What’s at stake? The outcome of this election is set to usher in a new era of widespread allegations of corruption and creeping authoritarianism that Guatemala has witnessed under recent administrations. “I hope that everything is calm, that democracy wins, that there is no fraud or political issues...and that our country gets ahead more than anything,” Ardem Villagran, a merchant in Guatemala City told Reuters. The winner of the election will take office on January 14, amid a number of challenges that Guatemala currently faces. According to the World Bank, the country has some of the worst poverty, malnutrition and child mortality rates in Latin America. Guatemala also has one of the highest crime rates in the world with many killings attributed to gang violence related to drug trafficking. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Guatemalans vote for new leader in runoff elections amid hopes for renewal of democracy

A recent report suggests that Michelle Obama, best-selling author and wife of former US President Barack Obama, could run for President in the 2024 election. Although she has ruled out the possibility of ever contesting for the top job in the past, the new report suggests that the Democrats are looking at the former first lady to take on the Republican Party's Donald Trump. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Michelle Obama to Run For President In 2024? Report Says Joe Biden May Bow Out

Ecuador announced a 60-day state of emergency in all its prisons on the 25th of July. The extreme measure- the second ordered by president Guillermo Lasso in less than 24 hours- comes after a series of violent incidents, including shootings and explosions, in one of its most dangerous prisons. 31 inmates were killed and 14 injured in the latest battle, over the weekend, between rival gangs in Guayas 1 prison. Some 2,700 soldiers were rushed to the detention center, to retake control of the dreaded facility. In addition to the prison violence, the mayor of Manta was shot dead on the 23rd of July. Presidential elections are due in the south American country next month. All eight presidential hopefuls vying to replace Lasso have promised to improve security and improvement in the prison systems. Mohammed Saleh brings you this report

60-day state of emergency announced in Ecuadorian prisons

A woman was killed in Sierra Leone by the police who reportedly fired shots and tear gas at the main opposition party headquarters in the capital Freetown while they were awaiting the results of the recently-concluded elections. The victim was later identified as a nurse and party volunteer who was reported to be severely wounded, on Sunday.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened on Sunday?</h2>

The West African nation recently conducted its presidential election where incumbent President Julius Maada Bio, was reelected on Tuesday. However, the count has been disputed by the opposition.&nbsp;

The incident took place, on Sunday, the opposition’s presidential candidate Samura Kamara of All People’s Congress (APC)&nbsp;in a series of tweets said that his party headquarters has been surrounded by the military and live bullets had been fired at his office.&nbsp;

“I have been barricaded in my APC party headquarters during my live press conference. Live bullets and teargas fired at my offices by government forces,” said the APC presidential candidate.&nbsp; 
 
“People laying on the floor and the military has surrounded the building,” said Kamara, in a separate tweet. He added, “Live bullets fired at my private office at the Party headquarters. This is an assassination attempt.”

The party HQ in the capital city of Freetown was reportedly surrounded by police officers and the presidential guard during a post-election press conference. Kamara also said that “foreign journalists trapped in my office.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Live from my party office. People laying on the floor and the military has surrounded the building. Live bullets fired at my private office at the Part headquarters. This is an assassination attempt. <a href="https://twitter.com/UKinSierraLeone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UKinSierraLeone</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_AfricanUnion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbFreetown?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USEmbFreetown</a> Live shots at my door. Foreign… <a href="https://t.co/ad21VISNiA">pic.twitter.com/ad21VISNiA</a>
— SamuraKamara2023 (@samurakamara201) <a href="https://twitter.com/samurakamara201/status/1673045382668902402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Reuters, on Sunday, also reported that one woman was found severely wounded around the neck area and was found without a pulse. The news agency also said&nbsp;that the window of the room she was found in, had a “shattered hole the size of a fist.”

According to media reports, around 200 members of the security forces blocked access to the APC’s HQ in Freetown.

“We were just here on a press conference, then the next thing we knew we started hearing firing, and our whole office is surrounded by police and army,” said party spokesperson, Sidi Yaya Tunis, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>She 'died a hero': Victim's son on&nbsp;party volunteer's&nbsp;death</h2>

The woman was later identified as 64-year-old Hawa Dumbuya, who was a nurse and party volunteer, was found to be shot in the head, reported the Guardian.

Dumbuya’s 26-year-old son, Ibrahim Conceh, said that his mother “died a hero for me,” as quoted by the British media report.&nbsp;

He added, “She died for a righteous cause. Until her last breath, she was administering care for injured people. I want the international community to find the killer or the person who ordered such a barbaric act. I want justice.”

According to the Guardian, the 26-year-old who is also a law student has been unable to retrieve his mother’s body since it was taken to the mortuary by police and&nbsp;wishes to bury it in accordance with the Islamic tradition.&nbsp;

“I don’t know the games they are playing,” said Conceh, as quoted by the British media report, adding that he also doesn’t understand “why they want to hold her body.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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A woman was killed in Sierra Leone by the police who reportedly fired shots and tear gas at the main opposition party headquarters in the capital Freetown while they were awaiting the results of the recently-concluded elections.

A woman was killed in Sierra Leone by the police who reportedly fired shots and tear gas at the main opposition party headquarters in the capital Freetown while they were awaiting the results of the recently-concluded elections. The victim was later identified as a nurse and party volunteer who was reported to be severely wounded, on Sunday. What happened on Sunday? The West African nation recently conducted its presidential election where incumbent President Julius Maada Bio, was reelected on Tuesday. However, the count has been disputed by the opposition. The incident took place, on Sunday, the opposition’s presidential candidate Samura Kamara of All People’s Congress (APC) in a series of tweets said that his party headquarters has been surrounded by the military and live bullets had been fired at his office. “I have been barricaded in my APC party headquarters during my live press conference. Live bullets and teargas fired at my offices by government forces,” said the APC presidential candidate. “People laying on the floor and the military has surrounded the building,” said Kamara, in a separate tweet. He added, “Live bullets fired at my private office at the Party headquarters. This is an assassination attempt.” The party HQ in the capital city of Freetown was reportedly surrounded by police officers and the presidential guard during a post-election press conference. Kamara also said that “foreign journalists trapped in my office.” Live from my party office. People laying on the floor and the military has surrounded the building. Live bullets fired at my private office at the Part headquarters. This is an assassination attempt. @UKinSierraLeone @_AfricanUnion @USEmbFreetown Live shots at my door. Foreign… pic.twitter.com/ad21VISNiA — SamuraKamara2023 (@samurakamara201) June 25, 2023 × Reuters, on Sunday, also reported that one woman was found severely wounded around the neck area and was found without a pulse. The news agency also said that the window of the room she was found in, had a “shattered hole the size of a fist.” According to media reports, around 200 members of the security forces blocked access to the APC’s HQ in Freetown. “We were just here on a press conference, then the next thing we knew we started hearing firing, and our whole office is surrounded by police and army,” said party spokesperson, Sidi Yaya Tunis, as quoted by Reuters. She 'died a hero': Victim's son on party volunteer's death The woman was later identified as 64-year-old Hawa Dumbuya, who was a nurse and party volunteer, was found to be shot in the head, reported the Guardian. Dumbuya’s 26-year-old son, Ibrahim Conceh, said that his mother “died a hero for me,” as quoted by the British media report. He added, “She died for a righteous cause. Until her last breath, she was administering care for injured people. I want the international community to find the killer or the person who ordered such a barbaric act. I want justice.” According to the Guardian, the 26-year-old who is also a law student has been unable to retrieve his mother’s body since it was taken to the mortuary by police and wishes to bury it in accordance with the Islamic tradition. “I don’t know the games they are playing,” said Conceh, as quoted by the British media report, adding that he also doesn’t understand “why they want to hold her body.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sierra Leone elections: Woman killed after police fired shots at opposition party HQ

Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, the country’s president announced on Wednesday (May 31). The southern African country, which has a history of violent and disputed elections, summoned the United States deputy ambassador over a series of tweets which called for a peaceful election.&nbsp;

<h2>Zimbabwe gears up for national elections</h2>

The announcement of the dates was made by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a government gazette, on Wednesday, which also set the date October 2 as a potential presidential runoff vote. Mnangagwa, who was elected president in 2018, replaced his predecessor Robert Mugabe who led the country for nearly four decades.&nbsp;

Mugabe was ousted in 2017 after a military coup. The 80-year-old incumbent is already facing allegations of violence and intimidation from the opposition, while human rights groups have said that the Zimbabwe president is silencing criticism. Mnangagwa took office in 2018 following the general election a year after the coup.

In addition to the presidential election, the country will also vote for the 300-seat parliament and close to 2,000 local council positions. The southern African nation has only had two leaders since it gained independence in 1980.&nbsp;

Notably, Mnangagwa was a close ally of Mugabe and has attempted to present himself as a reformer. However, he has been accused of being more repressive than his predecessor who he helped remove from power.&nbsp;

In the upcoming election, Mnangagwa will compete with the 45-year-old lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, party leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The announcement of the election also comes amid the ongoing parliamentary debates over electoral reforms.&nbsp;

As per reports, Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa, in 2018 while his claims of election rigging were dismissed by the country’s Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, political analysts have said that the failure to implement electoral reforms may lead Zimbabwe up for another disputed election, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

The southern African nation is also in the midst of an economic crisis which has been attributed to Mugabe’s leadership. The opposition parties have reportedly also blamed the current government for corruption and economic mismanagement while Mnangagwa defending his ZANU-PF-led government blamed Western sanctions for the country’s financial and economic woes.&nbsp;

<h2>US deputy ambassador summoned by Zimbabwe's foreign ministry</h2>

The election announcement came a day after Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry summoned the US Deputy Ambassador Elaine French, for a meeting with the country’s foreign affairs acting permanent secretary Rofina Chikava for “election-related social media posts bordering on activism and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs,” reported the Associated Press.&nbsp;

The US embassy, took to Twitter, on May 26 posted an image and called for Zimbabweans to “Register to vote and make sure your voice is heard.” The foreign ministry said the tweet was against diplomatic protocols. However, US Embassy spokeswoman Meg Riggs said that they stand by their message of calling for peace during the election season and called the process a part of a “functioning democracy.”

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, the country’s president announced on Wednesday (May 31). The southern African country, which has a history of violent and disputed elections, summoned the United States deputy ambassador over a series of tweets which called for a peaceful election.

Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, the country’s president announced on Wednesday (May 31). The southern African country, which has a history of violent and disputed elections, summoned the United States deputy ambassador over a series of tweets which called for a peaceful election. Zimbabwe gears up for national elections The announcement of the dates was made by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a government gazette, on Wednesday, which also set the date October 2 as a potential presidential runoff vote. Mnangagwa, who was elected president in 2018, replaced his predecessor Robert Mugabe who led the country for nearly four decades. Mugabe was ousted in 2017 after a military coup. The 80-year-old incumbent is already facing allegations of violence and intimidation from the opposition, while human rights groups have said that the Zimbabwe president is silencing criticism. Mnangagwa took office in 2018 following the general election a year after the coup. In addition to the presidential election, the country will also vote for the 300-seat parliament and close to 2,000 local council positions. The southern African nation has only had two leaders since it gained independence in 1980. Notably, Mnangagwa was a close ally of Mugabe and has attempted to present himself as a reformer. However, he has been accused of being more repressive than his predecessor who he helped remove from power. In the upcoming election, Mnangagwa will compete with the 45-year-old lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, party leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The announcement of the election also comes amid the ongoing parliamentary debates over electoral reforms. As per reports, Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa, in 2018 while his claims of election rigging were dismissed by the country’s Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, political analysts have said that the failure to implement electoral reforms may lead Zimbabwe up for another disputed election, reported Reuters. The southern African nation is also in the midst of an economic crisis which has been attributed to Mugabe’s leadership. The opposition parties have reportedly also blamed the current government for corruption and economic mismanagement while Mnangagwa defending his ZANU-PF-led government blamed Western sanctions for the country’s financial and economic woes. US deputy ambassador summoned by Zimbabwe's foreign ministry The election announcement came a day after Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry summoned the US Deputy Ambassador Elaine French, for a meeting with the country’s foreign affairs acting permanent secretary Rofina Chikava for “election-related social media posts bordering on activism and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs,” reported the Associated Press. The US embassy, took to Twitter, on May 26 posted an image and called for Zimbabweans to “Register to vote and make sure your voice is heard.” The foreign ministry said the tweet was against diplomatic protocols. However, US Embassy spokeswoman Meg Riggs said that they stand by their message of calling for peace during the election season and called the process a part of a “functioning democracy.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Zimbabwe to hold general elections in August; summons US ambassador over ‘meddling’ tweets

Leader of Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party Umit Ozdag extended his support to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a step which he took against the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who was endorsing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ozdag held a joint press conference with Kilicdaroglu, in which he declared that the leaders have signed a memorandum of understanding&nbsp;which includes assurance to deport all refugees in Turkey in a year after coming to power.&nbsp;

The leaders also agreed that the democratically elected Kurdish mayors will not be reinstated in Turkey’s south-east who were earlier replaced as part of a crackdown by the state on the leftwing leaders and especially those belonging to the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which was a swipe at the Kurdish support which buoyed Kilicdaroglu through the first round.

“We reached a consensus with him. As the Victory party, we decided to support Kilicdaroglu in the second round,” he stated.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-election-erdogans-chance-of-winning-goes-up-as-sinan-ogan-pledges-support-595229">Turkey election: Erdogan's chance of winning goes up as Sinan Ogan&nbsp;pledges&nbsp;support</a>

<h2>HDP party to hold a meeting to discuss response</h2>

The HDP party, whose leader Selahattin Demirtas had earlier endorsed Kilicdaroglu, stated that it would hold a meeting to decide how to respond.&nbsp;

The split endorsement came days before Kilicdaroglu and Erdogan are likely to face a runoff round in the presidential elections on May 28. Erdogan received more than 49.5 per cent of the vote in the first round, ahead of Kilicdaroglu 's 44.5 per cent.

Ogan, who fought elections on a far-right explicitly anti-refugee platform, received just more than five&nbsp;per cent of the vote in the first phase and announced his support for Erdogan this week.

WATCH |&nbsp;Turkey Elections: The final twist in the tale is yet to come - Who will Sinan Ogan support? | WION

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“We believe that our decision will be the right decision for our country and nation,” he stated. “I declare that we will support Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the candidate of the People’s Alliance, in the second round of the elections," he added.&nbsp;

Ogan was backed by the Victory party but at the time the statement issued by the leader did not represent the views of the party.

Throughout his campaign, Kilicdaroglu has stated that he would expel all refugees “within two years” of coming to power in Turkey. Speaking to the Guardian about if he intended to square the promise with the desire to become part of the European Union, Kilicdaroglu replied, “We do not think of this as racism. When we come to power, we will sit and talk with the legitimate administration in Syria and find a solution to this problem.”

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Leader of Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party Umit Ozdag extended his support to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a step which he took against the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who was endorsing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Leader of Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party Umit Ozdag extended his support to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a step which he took against the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who was endorsing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ozdag held a joint press conference with Kilicdaroglu, in which he declared that the leaders have signed a memorandum of understanding which includes assurance to deport all refugees in Turkey in a year after coming to power. The leaders also agreed that the democratically elected Kurdish mayors will not be reinstated in Turkey’s south-east who were earlier replaced as part of a crackdown by the state on the leftwing leaders and especially those belonging to the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which was a swipe at the Kurdish support which buoyed Kilicdaroglu through the first round. “We reached a consensus with him. As the Victory party, we decided to support Kilicdaroglu in the second round,” he stated. ALSO READ | Turkey election: Erdogan's chance of winning goes up as Sinan Ogan pledges support HDP party to hold a meeting to discuss response The HDP party, whose leader Selahattin Demirtas had earlier endorsed Kilicdaroglu, stated that it would hold a meeting to decide how to respond. The split endorsement came days before Kilicdaroglu and Erdogan are likely to face a runoff round in the presidential elections on May 28. Erdogan received more than 49.5 per cent of the vote in the first round, ahead of Kilicdaroglu 's 44.5 per cent. Ogan, who fought elections on a far-right explicitly anti-refugee platform, received just more than five per cent of the vote in the first phase and announced his support for Erdogan this week. WATCH | Turkey Elections: The final twist in the tale is yet to come - Who will Sinan Ogan support? | WION “We believe that our decision will be the right decision for our country and nation,” he stated. “I declare that we will support Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the candidate of the People’s Alliance, in the second round of the elections," he added. Ogan was backed by the Victory party but at the time the statement issued by the leader did not represent the views of the party. Throughout his campaign, Kilicdaroglu has stated that he would expel all refugees “within two years” of coming to power in Turkey. Speaking to the Guardian about if he intended to square the promise with the desire to become part of the European Union, Kilicdaroglu replied, “We do not think of this as racism. When we come to power, we will sit and talk with the legitimate administration in Syria and find a solution to this problem.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey: Ultranationalist leader supports Kemal Kilicdaroglu in race for the presidency

Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from the country's tight presidential election after the release of a purported sex tape, increasing the chances of the opposition's victory in the first round.

The decision was announced by the 59-year-old after he was targeted by an online smear campaign through which his doctored images were shared in which the minister was seen meeting women and riding around in luxurious cars.

The former school headteacher and longtime member of the Republican People’s party (CHP) claimed that alleged sex tape circulating online was a deepfake, using footage taken from “an Israeli porn site”.

“If I had such images of myself, they were taken secretly in the past. But I do not have such an image, no such sound recording. This is not my private life, it’s slander. It’s not real.” Ince was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.

The secular nationalist leader had received 30.6 per cent of the vote when he had fought against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections of 2018.

The leader then quit the main opposition party and started his own movement which began to attract votes away from secular leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is the joint candidate of the anti-Erdogan bloc.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kilicdaroglu-leaves-erdogans-shadow-in-turkeys-election-campaign-589965">Kilicdaroglu leaves Erdogan's shadow in Turkey's election campaign</a>

"I'm withdrawing my candidacy," Ince said while speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's voting. "I am doing this for my country,” he added.

Ince had faced ferocious criticism from the opposition for taking part in the campaign. Many people considered him a spoiler candidate who can only help Erdogan clinch a third decade of rule.

Ince counter-argued that he was offering a more vibrant alternative to voters compared to the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu, whom he saw as a bookish former civil servant and someone who has lost multiple elections against Erdogan.

According to the last opinion polls, Kilicdaroglu was leading Erdogan by a few percentage points and was just a little away from breaking the 50-per-cent threshold which is required for a first-round win.

The popularity of Ince has been ebbing away after it touched around 15 per cent. The latest surveys showed the leader getting between two and four per cent of the vote.

However, that might not be enough to place Kilicdaroglu over the top. According to the Metropoll survey, around 30.5 per cent of Ince's support has moved to Kilicdaroglu and around 23.4 per cent went to Erdogan.

WATCH | Turkey elections: President Erdogan holds election rally

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Notably, the third-party candidate did not endorse any new candidate after he dropped out of the elections. His name will also appear on the presidential ballot even after he has left the race.

Meanwhile, the fourth minor candidate Sinan Ogan is believed to have been attracting votes from Erdogan.

"Another crazy day in Turkish politics," remarked emerging markets economist Timothy Ash.

"Ince withdraws, with the assumption that most of his votes now go to Kilicdaroglu, making it possible/more likely of a (Kilicdaroglu) first-round win,” he added. For days, Kilicdaroglu has been appealing for Ince to formally back his candidacy.

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Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from the country's tight presidential election after the release of a purported sex tape, increasing the chances of the opposition's victory in the first round.

Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from the country's tight presidential election after the release of a purported sex tape, increasing the chances of the opposition's victory in the first round. The decision was announced by the 59-year-old after he was targeted by an online smear campaign through which his doctored images were shared in which the minister was seen meeting women and riding around in luxurious cars. The former school headteacher and longtime member of the Republican People’s party (CHP) claimed that alleged sex tape circulating online was a deepfake, using footage taken from “an Israeli porn site”. “If I had such images of myself, they were taken secretly in the past. But I do not have such an image, no such sound recording. This is not my private life, it’s slander. It’s not real.” Ince was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper. The secular nationalist leader had received 30.6 per cent of the vote when he had fought against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections of 2018. The leader then quit the main opposition party and started his own movement which began to attract votes away from secular leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is the joint candidate of the anti-Erdogan bloc. ALSO READ | Kilicdaroglu leaves Erdogan's shadow in Turkey's election campaign "I'm withdrawing my candidacy," Ince said while speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's voting. "I am doing this for my country,” he added. Ince had faced ferocious criticism from the opposition for taking part in the campaign. Many people considered him a spoiler candidate who can only help Erdogan clinch a third decade of rule. Ince counter-argued that he was offering a more vibrant alternative to voters compared to the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu, whom he saw as a bookish former civil servant and someone who has lost multiple elections against Erdogan. According to the last opinion polls, Kilicdaroglu was leading Erdogan by a few percentage points and was just a little away from breaking the 50-per-cent threshold which is required for a first-round win. The popularity of Ince has been ebbing away after it touched around 15 per cent. The latest surveys showed the leader getting between two and four per cent of the vote. However, that might not be enough to place Kilicdaroglu over the top. According to the Metropoll survey, around 30.5 per cent of Ince's support has moved to Kilicdaroglu and around 23.4 per cent went to Erdogan. WATCH | Turkey elections: President Erdogan holds election rally Notably, the third-party candidate did not endorse any new candidate after he dropped out of the elections. His name will also appear on the presidential ballot even after he has left the race. Meanwhile, the fourth minor candidate Sinan Ogan is believed to have been attracting votes from Erdogan. "Another crazy day in Turkish politics," remarked emerging markets economist Timothy Ash. "Ince withdraws, with the assumption that most of his votes now go to Kilicdaroglu, making it possible/more likely of a (Kilicdaroglu) first-round win,” he added. For days, Kilicdaroglu has been appealing for Ince to formally back his candidacy. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey's presidential candidate Ince drops out after release of 'sex tape'

It was a hotly contested poll pitting three main challengers to replace President Buhari. In the end the Godfather of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu emerged victorious as the president-elect. But some feel Peter Obi would have been a better leader because he was considered young. So what happened to the millions of young voters who registered en-masse with the hope of bringing change to Nigeria? Erik Njoka decodes in this report.

World Of Africa | Nigerian youth feel disenfranchised?

The National Assembly of Vietnam has confirmed Vo Van Thuong as the new president in a reshuffle&nbsp;of the country's top leadership amid a comprehensive anti-corruption operation, as reported by Reuters.&nbsp;

After the Communist Party in power nominated Thuong, 52, as its lone candidate on Wednesday (March 2), lawmakers ratified Thuong's presidency in a special session on Thursday (March 3).

The presidency is one of the top four political positions in Vietnam, although being primarily ceremonial, as per Al Jazeera.&nbsp;

According to the state-run Viet Nam News, Thuong received the support of 487 of the 488 members of the National Assembly who were present.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-dispatches-resources-to-contain-oil-spillage-from-sunken-tanker-princess-empress-567710">Philippines dispatches resources to contain oil spillage from sunken tanker 'Princess Empress'</a>

Thuong's appointment comes at a time when Vietnam is experiencing political unrest, during which the all-powerful Communist Party is engaged in a campaign of de-corruption, and in which factional struggle has resulted in the dismissal of a number of ministers.

The election comes after his predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, was abruptly removed from office in January. The party accused him of ordering "violations and malfeasance" by those in his employ.

An important step forward in the nation's "blazing furnace", anti-corruption campaign was evident in Phuc's ouster as president.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;G20 meet: Russia, China criticise West for Blackmail and Threats'

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President-elect Thuong promised to "resolutely" carry on the fight against corruption in his opening address to the parliament as Vietnam's new leader.

“(I will) strive to fulfil to the best of my abilities the responsibilities and missions entrusted by the party, state and the people,” the newly elected president said at a swearing-in ceremony, the Viet Nam News reported.

Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo (the principal&nbsp;policymaking&nbsp;committee of a&nbsp;communist&nbsp;party), which is the highest-ranking body in the government, although he is regarded as a veteran of the party because he started his political career in communist youth organisations while he was an undergraduate.

He is commonly recognised as being close to Nguyen Phu Trong, the party's general secretary and the most important man in Vietnam who is responsible for the party's fight against corruption, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The National Assembly of Vietnam has confirmed Vo Van Thuong as the new president in a reshuffle of the country's top leadership amid a comprehensive anti-corruption operation, as reported by Reuters.

The National Assembly of Vietnam has confirmed Vo Van Thuong as the new president in a reshuffle of the country's top leadership amid a comprehensive anti-corruption operation, as reported by Reuters. After the Communist Party in power nominated Thuong, 52, as its lone candidate on Wednesday (March 2), lawmakers ratified Thuong's presidency in a special session on Thursday (March 3). The presidency is one of the top four political positions in Vietnam, although being primarily ceremonial, as per Al Jazeera. According to the state-run Viet Nam News, Thuong received the support of 487 of the 488 members of the National Assembly who were present. ALSO READ | Philippines dispatches resources to contain oil spillage from sunken tanker 'Princess Empress' Thuong's appointment comes at a time when Vietnam is experiencing political unrest, during which the all-powerful Communist Party is engaged in a campaign of de-corruption, and in which factional struggle has resulted in the dismissal of a number of ministers. The election comes after his predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, was abruptly removed from office in January. The party accused him of ordering "violations and malfeasance" by those in his employ. An important step forward in the nation's "blazing furnace", anti-corruption campaign was evident in Phuc's ouster as president. ALSO WATCH | G20 meet: Russia, China criticise West for Blackmail and Threats' President-elect Thuong promised to "resolutely" carry on the fight against corruption in his opening address to the parliament as Vietnam's new leader. “(I will) strive to fulfil to the best of my abilities the responsibilities and missions entrusted by the party, state and the people,” the newly elected president said at a swearing-in ceremony, the Viet Nam News reported. Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo (the principal policymaking committee of a communist party), which is the highest-ranking body in the government, although he is regarded as a veteran of the party because he started his political career in communist youth organisations while he was an undergraduate. He is commonly recognised as being close to Nguyen Phu Trong, the party's general secretary and the most important man in Vietnam who is responsible for the party's fight against corruption, as per Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Vo Van Thuong: Vietnam's Communist Party elects new president in reshuffle

Ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu has been declared the winner of Nigeria's disputed presidential election. The 70-year-old veteran politician got 36% of the vote, official results show.

Bola Tinubu wins Presidential elections of Nigeria

Nigeria's poll panel has started announcing state-by-state results from the presidential election. A historically tight poll has energised Africa's most populous nation. There have been reports of violence and intimidation, though not on the scale of previous elections. Votes for the presidency are being tallied by hand, and results are being uploaded online to the election commission's central database. According to initial tallies on Monday, Nigeria's ruling party candidate, Bola Tinubu has taken an early lead in the race for the presidency.

Nigeria Presidential Elections 2023: Ruling party candidate takes early lead

Nigeria's electoral commission has started announcing state by state results from national elections on Sunday. The first results from Ekiti state showed a majority of votes for President cast in favour of Bola Tinubu of the governing All Progressives Congress.

Nigeria Presidential Elections 2023: Electoral Commission announces state-wide results

The race for the U.S. Presidential elections scheduled to be held in 2024 has heated up. In the race, the Indian-origin Republican leader Nikki Haley launched her Presidential bid

Indian-American Nikki Haley kicks-off U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024

Retired NATO general Petr Pavel on Saturday won the presidential election run-off, defeating populist billionaire Andrej Babis.

Petr Pavel, aged 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman as Czech Republic's president, a prestigious but largely ceremonial post.

Pavel clinched 57.8 per cent of votes while Babis received only 42.2 per cent, as the Czech Statistical Office completed the counting of 97 per cent of ballots of almost 15,000 polling stations.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/czech-police-look-for-creepy-burglar-who-watches-people-in-their-sleep-493360">Czech police look for 'creepy' burglar who watches people in their sleep</a>

“My presidency will succeed only when we all succeed together,” said Pavel, while addressing the cheering crowd of his supporters.

The voter turnout was unusually high in the NATO member country 70 per cent, which has a population of 10.5 million people, after an acrimonious campaign which was filled with death threats and controversy.&nbsp;

Once elected as the president, Pavel had vowed to "restore order" in the country.

"I can't ignore the fact that people here increasingly feel chaos, disorder and uncertainty. That the state has somehow ceased to function. We need to change this. We need to play by the rules, which will be valid for everyone alike. We need a general sweep," he stated on his campaign website.

In the election's first round which was held two weeks ago, Pavel defeated Babis as he scored 35.4 per cent against the former prime minister's 35 per cent.

After that, death threats were targeted at Babis and his family, while Pavel fell victim to a hoax which claimed he was dead, plaguing the final campaign with disinformation.

The president of the Czech Republic selects the constitutional judges and the central bank governor, works as the armed forces commander and names the government.

Pavel served as former chairman of NATO’s military committee, which is the highest military body of the alliance. He completely endorsed the humanitarian and military support extended to Ukraine in its fight with Russia.

WATCH | Around 70,000 people protest against government in Prague over rising inflation

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For Babis, who had held the position of prime minister in the past, this was his second major defeat. Zeman's support was with Babis, as the two shared similar eurosceptic views and use anti-migrant rhetoric.

Babis and Pavel competed in the second round of voting after all eight candidates initially failed to get a clear majority in the first round, which was held two weeks ago.

Zeman was the country's first president who was elected by popular vote. His second term of five years will expire in March.

The previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, were elected by the lawmakers.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Retired NATO general Petr Pavel on Saturday won the presidential election run-off, defeating populist billionaire Andrej Babis. Petr Pavel, aged 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman as Czech Republic's president, a prestigious but largely ceremonial post.

Retired NATO general Petr Pavel on Saturday won the presidential election run-off, defeating populist billionaire Andrej Babis. Petr Pavel, aged 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman as Czech Republic's president, a prestigious but largely ceremonial post. Pavel clinched 57.8 per cent of votes while Babis received only 42.2 per cent, as the Czech Statistical Office completed the counting of 97 per cent of ballots of almost 15,000 polling stations. ALSO READ | Czech police look for 'creepy' burglar who watches people in their sleep “My presidency will succeed only when we all succeed together,” said Pavel, while addressing the cheering crowd of his supporters. The voter turnout was unusually high in the NATO member country 70 per cent, which has a population of 10.5 million people, after an acrimonious campaign which was filled with death threats and controversy. Once elected as the president, Pavel had vowed to "restore order" in the country. "I can't ignore the fact that people here increasingly feel chaos, disorder and uncertainty. That the state has somehow ceased to function. We need to change this. We need to play by the rules, which will be valid for everyone alike. We need a general sweep," he stated on his campaign website. In the election's first round which was held two weeks ago, Pavel defeated Babis as he scored 35.4 per cent against the former prime minister's 35 per cent. After that, death threats were targeted at Babis and his family, while Pavel fell victim to a hoax which claimed he was dead, plaguing the final campaign with disinformation. The president of the Czech Republic selects the constitutional judges and the central bank governor, works as the armed forces commander and names the government. Pavel served as former chairman of NATO’s military committee, which is the highest military body of the alliance. He completely endorsed the humanitarian and military support extended to Ukraine in its fight with Russia. WATCH | Around 70,000 people protest against government in Prague over rising inflation For Babis, who had held the position of prime minister in the past, this was his second major defeat. Zeman's support was with Babis, as the two shared similar eurosceptic views and use anti-migrant rhetoric. Babis and Pavel competed in the second round of voting after all eight candidates initially failed to get a clear majority in the first round, which was held two weeks ago. Zeman was the country's first president who was elected by popular vote. His second term of five years will expire in March. The previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, were elected by the lawmakers. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Retired Gen Pavel elected as new president of Czech Republic

Nigeria, a country that returned to democracy in 1999 is all set to witness general elections in a few weeks time. Nigerian have started queueing up outside the election office to collect their permanent voter cards. Watch this video to know more.

Nigeria gears up for 2023 general elections

According to a survey, most Republican voters prefer Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as their 2024 presidential nominee over Trump.Watch this video to know more.

Republicans prefer Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump in new opinion poll

Polls are underway in Kazakhstan Presidential elections. This comes after months of unrest in the country. This will be the seventh presidential election held since Kazakhstan independence's from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Voting underway for Presidential election in Kazakhstan

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wins the Brazil elections. He defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Lula da Silva has vowed to unite the country after the polarised elections.

Gravitas: Lula da Silva wins Brazil elections

Brazil has got its new President. The country has brought Lula de Silva back into power after a decade of leaving office. The President-elect defeated the most far-right government of Brazil. Joe Bolsonaro lost with 49.1 percent.

WION Dispatch | Brazil Presidential Polls: Lula Da Silva wins polls to become President

People across Brazil are turning up for the polling stations to cast their votes in the second and final round of the Presidential polls. Incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro has also cast his vote in the country's most polarized election in many years.

Voters take part in polarized Brazil Presidential Elections

Brazil presidential runoff election is on October 30th and the recent polls suggests that the leftist front-runner Lula de Silva might lead over. As per the polls, Lula is maintaining a steady six percent lead.

Brazil presidential run-off on October 30, polls suggest Lula’s lead over Bolsonaro

Ending weeks of political uncertainty, Kenyan Supreme Court on Monday upheld President-elect William Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential elections.

Chief Justice Martha Koome said that it was a "unanimous decision".&nbsp;

"The petitions are hereby dismissed, as a consequence we declare the first respondent (Ruto) as president-elect."

Watch |&nbsp;Kenya's Odinga still says he won election, but will respect Supreme court ruling

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According to AFP, the decision dealt challenger Raila Odinga, who claimed there had been election fraud, a blow.

Last month, Odinga petitioned Kenya's highest court, stating he had "enough evidence" to demonstrate that he had, in fact, won the election.

To determine whether any anomalies were significant enough to invalidate the election, as was the case with the presidential election in August 2017 that Odinga also contested, judges have spent the last two weeks poring over boxes of evidence.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-election-result-william-ruto-elected-5th-president-with-5049-of-vote-507171">Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote</a>

The court rejected Odinga's 72-page petition's claim that hackers hacked into the IEBC systems and uploaded tampered result forms.

Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) technology, according to Koome, satisfies the criteria for "integrity, verifiability, security, and transparency."

She dismissed all of the petitioners' assertions, adding that any anomalies "irregularities were not of such magnitude as to affect the final results of the presidential election."

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-defeated-presidential-candidate-odinga-challenges-poll-result-in-supreme-court-509163">Kenya: Defeated presidential candidate Odinga challenges poll result in Supreme Court</a>

Although the polling day went off without incident, the results triggered heated demonstrations in Odinga strongholds, and there are worries that the conflict could incite bloodshed in a nation where post-election discontent has a history of escalating into violence.

However, both candidates had pledged to uphold the court's decision.&nbsp;On September 13, Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya's fifth president.

Since 2002, no Kenyan presidential election result has been undisputed. After the 2007 election, Kenya had its worst electoral violence, during which more than 1,100 people lost their lives in confrontations between opposing tribes.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ending weeks of political uncertainty, Kenyan Supreme Court on Monday upheld President-elect William Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential elections. Chief Justice Martha Koome said that it was a "unanimous decision".

Ending weeks of political uncertainty, Kenyan Supreme Court on Monday upheld President-elect William Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential elections. Chief Justice Martha Koome said that it was a "unanimous decision". "The petitions are hereby dismissed, as a consequence we declare the first respondent (Ruto) as president-elect." Watch | Kenya's Odinga still says he won election, but will respect Supreme court ruling According to AFP, the decision dealt challenger Raila Odinga, who claimed there had been election fraud, a blow. Last month, Odinga petitioned Kenya's highest court, stating he had "enough evidence" to demonstrate that he had, in fact, won the election. To determine whether any anomalies were significant enough to invalidate the election, as was the case with the presidential election in August 2017 that Odinga also contested, judges have spent the last two weeks poring over boxes of evidence. Also read | Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote The court rejected Odinga's 72-page petition's claim that hackers hacked into the IEBC systems and uploaded tampered result forms. Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) technology, according to Koome, satisfies the criteria for "integrity, verifiability, security, and transparency." She dismissed all of the petitioners' assertions, adding that any anomalies "irregularities were not of such magnitude as to affect the final results of the presidential election." Also read | Kenya: Defeated presidential candidate Odinga challenges poll result in Supreme Court Although the polling day went off without incident, the results triggered heated demonstrations in Odinga strongholds, and there are worries that the conflict could incite bloodshed in a nation where post-election discontent has a history of escalating into violence. However, both candidates had pledged to uphold the court's decision. On September 13, Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya's fifth president. Since 2002, no Kenyan presidential election result has been undisputed. After the 2007 election, Kenya had its worst electoral violence, during which more than 1,100 people lost their lives in confrontations between opposing tribes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kenya: Political uncertainty ends, Supreme Court upholds William Ruto's presidential election win

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