Tunisians back new constitution but turnout just 25 per cent, exit poll says
Tunis, TunisiaReuters Voters in a referendum in Tunisia on Monday overwhelmingly backed a new constitution giving President Kais Saied nearly total powers but with only a quarter of eligible voters participating, an exit poll said, amid a boycott by opposition parties. The poll by Sigma Conseil said 92.3 per cent of voters in the referendum […]
Hundreds protest Tunisian referendum
Tunis, TunisiaReuters Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Tunis on Saturday to demonstrate against a referendum to be held on Monday on a new constitution that they reject as illegal. President Kais Saied published the draft constitution, giving himself far more powers, reducing the role of the parliament and judiciary, and removing most checks on […]
Tunisians protest against referendum for controversial new constitution
Tunis, TunisiaReuters Tunisian police blocked hundreds of demonstrators from reaching electoral commission offices on Thursday as protesters took to the streets against a referendum on a new constitution that would expand the President’s executive powers. President Kais Saied proposed the new constitution this month that would limit the role of parliament and boost his own […]
As Australia votes, Indigenous people press call for inclusion in constitution
Canberra, AustraliaReuters Activists at one of the world’s longest-running protests for the rights of Indigenous people are not pinning their hopes for change on Australia’s 21st May general election. The election campaign has been dominated by debate about rising prices, COVID-19 and climate change, with the plight of Australia’s 700,000 or so Indigenous people, who […]
Essay: How Israel’s missing constitution deepens divisions between Jews and with Arabs
In an article first published on The Conversation, scholar BRENDAN SZENDRO outlines why he sees a constitution for Israel as a key to addressing the nation’s political instability…
Chile ruling coalition heading for upset in constitutional delegates vote
Santiago, ChileReuters Chile’s centre-right ruling coalition looks set to fail in its bid to keep control of the body drafting the country’s new constitution, falling short of one-third of votes for its list of new delegates with 69 per cent of votes counted. The coalition, Chile Vamos, has secured just 21 per cent of the […]
For Gambian Christians, there’s a lot to like – and one big worry – in the proposed constitution
World Watch Monitor The Gambia, a tiny nation on Africa’s North Atlantic coast, is considering a new constitution. Prominent Christian voices in the country say there is a lot to like in the draft, and one big thing to worry about: It does not explicitly define majority-Muslim Gambia as a secular state. A committee of […]
ESSAY: THE US SUPREME COURT MADE THE BLADENSBURG CROSS A SPECIAL CASE. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY
In an article first published on Religion News Service, AMANDA TYLER, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, comments on last week’s decision concerning a war memorial known as the Bladensburg Cross…
Unity among Cuban Christians unprecedented following constitutional vote
World Watch Monitor Cuba’s vote for a new Constitution was characterised by an unusual level of opposition as well as an unprecedented unity among churches. Nearly 87 per cent of the voters approved a new constitution in a referendum held last Sunday (24th February), while about 15 per cent stayed at home and more than 700,000 people voted […]
Church leaders being placed under “intense pressure” to ensure yes vote for Cuba’s proposed constitution, says CSW
Church leaders in Cuba are being placed under “intense pressure” by Cuban Government officials to ensure congregations vote in favour of a proposed new constitution, according to religious freedom advocacy CSW. The UK-based organisation, which has previously highlighted concerns that the new constitution would significantly reduce religious freedom in the island nation, says religious leaders, […]