November 2024
International Association for Democracy
The International Association for Democracy (IAD) is an NGO that works to defend and promote democracy around the globe.
Here comes our November Newsletter. We are ready to share with you our achievements, important events around the world, including the high-octane elections in the USA, fateful historical events, and as always some interesting facts about democracy.
The Latest
Our actions have been fruitful
Becoming visible in the democratic arena
At the Athens Democracy Forum, IAD was invited to a lunchtime symposium discussing cloud computing and how it can affect digital sovereignty. The event was moderated by the Tony Blair Institute, and the panel included the Secretary General of the Greek Ministry for Digital Governance.
We are pleased to have been given the opportunity to contribute to strengthening democracy and look forward to participating in more upcoming events!
USA Elections
Despite the many predictions of a close race, Donald Trump has secured a landslide victory against Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential election, winning every swing state and a total of 312 electoral college votes versus Kamala Harris’ 226 votes, as well as winning the popular vote.
The Republicans now also hold majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, which along with the conservative majority on the Supreme Court leaves President Trump in a strong position to implement his agenda.
While protests are being planned around inauguration day, Vice President Harris and President Biden have both congratulated the new president-elect, with Biden inviting Trump to meet at the White House and promising an orderly transition of power, leaving a repeat of the 2020 election’s chaos unlikely.
Important Day in History - November
The Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy
In the Czech Republic, the 17th of November is the day of struggle for freedom and democracy. This date’s importance is doubled. On the 17th of November 1939, students protested against the closure of universities during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, leading to the execution of several students.
Fifty years later, students gathered in commemoration of this event. The demonstration turned into a protest against the communist regime in 1989 and marked the beginning of the Velvet Revolution, overthrowing it. This holiday aims to celebrate the fight for democracy and the crucial political importance of students.
Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9th the world celebrated the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Built to ensure the residents of the Soviet-occupied eastern zone were unable to escape to the West after the fall of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime, this concrete barrier had stood as a symbol of Soviet totalitarianism for nearly three decades, menacing the people of East Germany with its barbed wire and armed guards.
The symbolic importance of the wall was highlighted in Ronald Reagan’s famous exhortation for Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!” In 1989, two years after President Reagan’s call, the Berlin Wall came crashing down. Only one year after, East and West Germany would reunite and then in 1991, the Soviet Union itself collapsed. Today, the remaining fragments of the wall serve as a powerful reminder of the need to protect and cherish democracy.
Democracy - Latest Developments
Moments of challenge and progress
Ex Bolivia's President banned from running again for office
Bolivia’s constitutional court ruled that ex-President Evo Morales is banned from running again for office. The decision was published on Friday, and it caused Morales supporters to protest. Morales led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, with three consecutive mandates. However, the Constitutional Court has established that presidents are bound to serve two terms, consecutive or non-consecutive. According to Morales' legal representative, they would address the decision to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. He added that Arce's administration is responsible for this political persecution.
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Government of Mauritius decisively defeated at the polls
The opposition party Alliance of Change has won 60 of the 64 seats in parliament following the recent general election in Mauritius, and its leader, Navin Ramgoolam, has been appointed prime minister. His predecessor, Pravind Jugnauth, had acknowledged that his Lepep alliance was heading for a “huge defeat” in the runup to the election. It has since been reduced from 42 seats in Parliament to just 2. This contest was not without its difficulties, being marked by a phone-tapping scandal with leaked recordings of public figures posted online, and a subsequent social media ban (which only lasted 24 hours after a public outcry). Despite these challenges, the election saw an 80% voter turnout.
Maia Sandu wins Moldova elections for the second time
Moldova’s pro-EU President Maia Sandu has secured a second term after a heated election seen as a choice between closer ties with Europe or Russia. The Moldovan Central Electoral Commission confirmed Sandu’s win with 55% of the vote. In her victory speech, Sandu pledged to represent all Moldovans, emphasizing unity in a country marked by political divides.
Nobel Prize in Economics awarded for research linking democracy and development
For their work in international income disparity, development and democracy, the Nobel in Economics was awarded to the Turkish economist Daron Acemoglu, and his British colleagues Simon Johnson, and James Robinson. The study investigated the role of institutions and the rule of law in economic development and found that legal frameworks and exploitative institutions impede financial prosperity and development. The research also shows that, compared to other systems, democracy fosters long-term economic growth.
Irish general election
A general election has been called for the Republic of Ireland to take place on the 29th of November. Taoiseach Simon Harris made the announcement on the 8th of November, saying the time was “now right” to ask the Irish people for a new mandate, and called for a “safe and respectful campaign.” Harris’s party Fine Gael has ruled out a coalition with Sinn Fein and Sinn Fein has also ruled out any coalitions, with leader Mary Lou McDonald calling it the "election of a lifetime" because for the first time in a century the Irish people had a "chance to elect a government which didn’t include Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael".
Cyber threats cause concerns in Germany ahead of 2025 elections
As Germany prepares for its upcoming elections, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warns the country should fortify its protection against cyber threats and disinformation campaigns. According to Faeser, most of these hybrid threats derive from Russian interference attempts.
Did you know?
The US presidential elections of 2016 and 2020 were not some of the most controversial and dramatic elections in US history. How much do you know about the election of 1800?
If you think that modern political rhetoric is too forceful and inappropriate, imagine that in the past, candidates could allow themselves to say the following (p.s. these are their actual words): “He is a despicable hypocrite”, “He is the bastard of a Scottish merchant”, “He is a vile androgynous character, who has neither the strength and firmness of a man nor the softness and sensitivity of a woman”. Boldly said.
Would you like to join us, and become a volunteer at IAD?
If your goal is to protect and promote democracy, and you want to use or develop your knowledge in a particular field, we invite you to become one of our volunteers.
Take a look here to see what our volunteers say about working at the International Association for Democracy.
We are currently recruiting for various positions: Legal Advisors, Fundraising Officers, Lobbying Officers, HR Officers, Website Officers, Digital Marketing Officers, Social Media officers, etc.
Visit https://www.iad.ngo/join to find out more about our vacancies and how you can apply.
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