(Current Affairs) International Events | October: 2013

International Events

Cambodian Peoples Party claimed Victory

The Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), which is led by Prime Minister Hun Sen won at least 68 seats in the Lower house comparing with the 55 seats for the main opposition. The National Election Committee (NEC) gave a list of results from each polling station but no tally for parliamentary seats. The election in Cambodia was held on 28 July 2013 and the results were also declared on the same day. It is important here to note that the
Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power in Cambodia for nearly three decades (28 years). The major opponent of CPP in the election was Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which is led by Sam Rainsy, who recently came back to the country from self-imposed exile. More than nine million people were found eligible to vote.

Cambodia is a one party dominant state with the Cambodian Peoples Party in power. Opposition parties do exist, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power.

Election in Cambodia

Cambodia is one party dominant state which elects on national level legislature. Parliament has two chambers. The National Assembly of Cambodia has 123 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. The Senate has 61 members, appointed by the king on recommendation of the parties in the National Assembly. Three main political parties have dominated Cambodian politics over the last decade: the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), the United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) and, more recently, the Sam Rainsy Party. As per article 76 paragraph 2 of Cambodian Constitution|: The deputies (i.e. of the National Assembly) shall be elected in a free, universal, equal, direct and secret ballot.

PDP won the National Assembly Elections in Bhutan

Bhutans Election Commission on 14 July 2013 formally announced that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the National Assembly elections by having secured a majority of thirty two seats. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) won fifteen seats and was elected as the opposition party. Over 66 per cent turnout was recorded in the elections. The foremost election issues were rising fuel prices and credit crunch. The second parliamentary elections saw a keen voter turnout. While nineteen international media personnel from India, Netherlands, South Korea covered the elections while 279 media personnel from Bhutan cover the Second Parliamentary Elections this year. In 2008, the DPT had won the election by a landslide and won the first round of this years polls with 45 percent of the vote. Bhutans king had given up the monarchys centuries-old absolute power in 2008 and allowed the introduction of democracy to the Himalayan kingdom.

Mamnoon Hussain Elected as the President of Pakistan

Mamnoon Hussain, the Indiaborn Pakistani businessman was on 30 July 2013 elected as the 12th President of Pakistan. 73-year old Mamnoon Hussain, who belonged to the PML-N Party, will join the office on 9 September 2013. He succeeded Asif Ali Zardari, who did not go for re-election. The presidential office of Pakistan will be vacated on 9 September 2013 by the incumbent Asif Ali Zardari, as his term of 5 years ended. Mamnoon Hussain became a clear winner, in comparison to ex-judge Wajihuddin Ahmed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Raza Rabbani of Pakistan Peoples Party was withdrawn by the Party. Overall, Mamnoon Hussain secured 432 votes, while Wajihuddin Ahmed secured just 77 votes.

Background

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on 23 July 2013 ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold the  Presidential election on 30 July 2013. The decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan was issued following the petition filed by, Raja Zafarul Haq, the PML(N) leader, who pleaded the court that a large number of Parliamentarians, who will cast vote in the election would precede for Umrah and observe Aitakaf, during the last ten days of Ramazan. Earlier, the Presidential election of Pakistan was scheduled to be held on 6 August 2013.

Some Important Facts

  • Mamnoon Hussain is an Indiaborn resident of Pakistan and was elected as the 12th President of Pakistan.
  • He was born in historic Agra city and belongs to Urduspeaking ethnic group which migrated to Pakistan during partition in 1947.
  • In Pakistan, the office of President is ceremonial. However, the President is still the Constitutional chief of the armed forces. He/she cannot order the deployments.
  • The President of Pakistan appoints the services chiefs, but after recommendation from the Prime Minister.
  • So far, Pakistan has had 11 Presidents. Out of these, five have been military generals. Four of these illegally received powers through the coups.
  • The first President of Pakistan- Major Sikandar Mirza was elected in the year 1956 after adoption of the first constitution.

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