# Democracy

All time

# 814 million

Voting has started in the world's biggest general election in India

It’s expected that the country’s 814 milion-strong electorate will shy away from the ruling Congress party.

5.9k

Apr 7th 2014, 11:53 AM

# Democracy

Afghan voters brave Taliban threats in historic election

Afghanistan’s third presidential election brings an end to 13 years of rule by Karzai, who has held power since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

5.4k

Apr 5th 2014, 8:11 AM

# back online

Turkish authorities have (reluctantly) restored access to Twitter

So. Many. Notifications.

6.0k

Apr 3rd 2014, 3:49 PM

Voices

Column: Student politics is key to civic participation in later life

With the right support, we can raise a new generation of politically aware citizens eager to reinvigorate the electorate, writes Clive Byrne.

Mar 31st 2014, 8:00 AM

# Diplomatic War

8 things that have been said and done on the Crimean crisis today

The process of integration has started and the international community isn’t happy as Russia sets itself up as a powerful entity once more.

9.1k

136

Mar 18th 2014, 2:37 PM

# surprise surprise

North Korea had an election yesterday. Guess who won.

In the absence of any competing candidates, voters are simply required to mark “Yes” next to the name on the ballot sheet.

12.3k

Mar 10th 2014, 10:20 PM

# one man one vote

It's election day in North Korea and people have one option: 'Yes'.

In the absence of any competing candidates, voters are simply required to mark “Yes” next to the name on the ballot sheet.

17.1k

Mar 9th 2014, 9:37 AM

Voices

Column: Economic rights are just as vital to a democracy as civil rights

We must rail against the insidious notion that moral norms are not rights at all but, rather, privileges bestowed upon us by our kindly masters, writes Dr Tom Hickey.

Mar 4th 2014, 1:00 PM

# Threat

Youth unemployment ‘puts the wind beneath the wings of every extremist in Europe’

The Minister for Finance said that extremism is something that is a threat to every democracy in Europe.

7.3k

Feb 17th 2014, 3:15 PM

# Ukraine

Hundreds wounded as police and protesters clash in freezing temperatures in Ukraine

More than 200 people were wounded amid mounting fury over draconian new anti-protest laws.

8.0k

Jan 20th 2014, 4:53 PM

# pussy riot

Another Pussy Riot member has been freed in Russia after amnesty

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova was today freed hours after Maria Alyokhina was released. The third band member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was freed months into her sentence.

9.8k

Dec 23rd 2013, 6:48 AM

# Protests

Thailand set for elections as parliament is dissolved

Up to 100,000 protesters remain on the streets of Bangkok, calling for the complete ousting of the current government.

4.6k

Dec 9th 2013, 8:03 AM

Voices

Column: Voting is too often seen as a "right" when it's actually a duty

Structures need to be put in place to get the most amount of people to vote, to ensure the structures of the country have the greatest legitimacy along with those who govern them.

121

Nov 1st 2013, 7:10 AM

'Extortion not part of our democracy' - Obama on default threat

Yes, it’s the debt ceiling issue again.

4.6k

Oct 8th 2013, 9:22 PM

# A House Divided

Let’s figure this out – what’s the real plural of referendum?

It often seems as if the debate on pluralising ‘referendum’ can be as divisive as the issues being voted upon. So who’s right?

53.1k

Oct 4th 2013, 6:30 AM

# Irish Aid

Ireland to give €700,000 to war-torn Mali

The money will be used to help refugees and internally-displaced citizens of the west African country.

5.9k

149

Aug 16th 2013, 12:26 PM

Voices

Column: The Mahon Report shows we need direct democracy to end abuses of power

The corruption identified in the Mahon Report would have been avoided under a system of direct democracy – which demands that the public have a real say in decisions that affect their lives, writes Raymond Whitehead.

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150

Aug 7th 2013, 7:30 PM

# mugabe

Mugabe's party claims victory as observers question vote

Zimbabwe election observers have said that the country’s Presidential election was “seriously compromised”.

4.7k

Aug 1st 2013, 10:39 AM

# Mali

'Large turn-out' in Mali's first election since French intervention

The election is seen as vital for restoring constitutional order after a coup in March last year.

4.2k

Jul 28th 2013, 6:15 PM

Voices

Column: Seanad abolition would widen the democratic deficit in Ireland and Europe

The Seanad shouldn’t be abolished but reformed; without it, we will have no institution capable of protecting us from the mistakes of unelected technocrats, writes Fiachra Ó Raghallaigh.

Jul 22nd 2013, 7:30 PM

# Jailed

Putin opponent sentenced to five years in penal colony

Moscow mayoral candidate was Alexei Navalny earlier convicted of embezzlement in Russia’s northern Kirov region.

6.8k

Jul 18th 2013, 9:53 AM

# Egypt

Muslim Brotherhood should not be treated as criminals – ElBaradei

Egypt’s interim premier has called for the inclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood in the democratisation process, adding that new elections would take place within a year.

3.9k

Jul 7th 2013, 12:11 PM

# Anglo Tapes

President Higgins: Anglo Tapes “are not the voices of the people of Ireland”

Michael D reassures Irish people they will be recognised internationally for their spirit and hard work.

8.7k

Jul 1st 2013, 8:40 PM

# European Union

President: Racism will rise if Europe does not focus on citizens

President Michael D Higgins criticised the EU for listening to the concerns of financial institutions over citizens.

6.9k

Jun 6th 2013, 3:45 PM

# Election

Chavez heir wins Venezuela vote - but opposition refuses to concede

Nicolas Maduro, who had been acting president since the death of Hugo Chavez, won 50.66 per cent of the vote last night.

4.7k

Apr 15th 2013, 7:46 AM

# Not the News

Here is the week's news... skewed

Breaking via The Mire wire: RTE stars confused by Pope’s message of humility, and Office of Public Works ‘may never know’ the source of the Cork floods.

6.3k

Mar 23rd 2013, 10:00 AM

# Promissory notes

TDs question lack of debate on promissory notes

Deputies Micheál Martin and Peadar Tóibín both criticised the lack of facility for debate on the issue in the Dáil today.

4.3k

Feb 7th 2013, 2:16 PM

Voices

Column: Secrecy has led to shameful practices in Ireland - whistle-blower law is needed now

If the economic downturn has taught us anything, it is the importance of exposing systemic wrong doing, writes Louise Bayliss.

128

Feb 7th 2013, 7:00 AM

# Pakistan

Bhutto son launches political career

First major public speech made on fifth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto’s death.

2.8k

Dec 27th 2012, 2:17 PM

# Egypt

Egypt awaits referendum results as opposition cries fraud

Opponents to the new constitution have said it will weaken human rights, particularly women’s rights and undermine the independence of the judiciary.

1.7k

Dec 24th 2012, 9:18 AM

# Clashes

Obama tells Egypt he is 'deeply concerned' over protest deaths

The US president told Mohamed Morsi that he was worried about the deaths of protesters in Egypt in recent days.

2.4k

Dec 7th 2012, 7:38 AM

Voices

Column: They promised an end to stroke politics – has it worked out that way?

Gary Murphy looks at Ireland’s history of ‘stroke politics’ and asks: should we simply accept that this is the way things will always work?

378

Dec 7th 2012, 7:00 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Should the voting age be lowered to 17?

The Constitutional Convention, kicking off today, is to consider lowering the minimum voting age. What would you do?

5.6k

113

Dec 1st 2012, 10:00 AM

# Egypt

Egypt: Protests rage as Morsi promises democracy

Morsi opponents began a one-week sit-in in Tahrir Square and called for a mass protest on Tuesday.

4.7k

Nov 23rd 2012, 9:33 PM

# Burma

Obama visits Aung San Suu Kyi at home, calls for more reform

Barack Obama has become the first sitting US President to visit the country.

4.5k

Nov 19th 2012, 2:15 PM

# Politics

New political party 'Direct Democracy Ireland' launched in Dublin

The new party aims for Ireland’s political system become direct democracy rather than a representative democracy.

15.3k

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Nov 14th 2012, 7:11 PM

# Seanad Abolition

Seanad abolition: Where do the parties stand?

The government has committed to abolishing the upper house but where do the parties stand on whether it should stay or go? We asked them and here is what they told us…

5.2k

Oct 28th 2012, 8:00 AM

Voices

Aaron McKenna: The Constitution is ours – so why aren’t we writing it?

Real people power would look very different to this fiction of engagement.

Oct 27th 2012, 8:15 AM

# Democracy

Constitutional Convention aims to begin discussions next month

132 members of the public have been identified to participate – 66 of whom will be direct substitutes for the others.

3.0k

Sep 21st 2012, 4:08 PM

# Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi awarded with the US Congress’ highest civilian honour

Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi has been presented with the US Congress’ highest civilian honour – which she was awarded while under house arrest in 2008.

1.5k

Sep 20th 2012, 8:53 AM