Elections

Participants at UN-backed events in the southeastern provinces of Paktya and Paktika called on community members to work together to support women’s participation in the upcoming elections.

Congress member Motamma is a veteran in Karnataka politics. A former leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Council from 2010 to 2012, she is the first woman to be appointed to that position. Representing Mudigere first in 1978, Motamma is a three-time MLA who was the women and child welfare minister in SM Krishna's cabinet. Finishing her current term as an MLC, she has been given a ticket to contest Assembly elections again from Mudigere.

Ethiopia’s parliament, the House of Peoples’ Representatives, has chosen a former Minister of Women’s Affairs, as its new speaker, state-affiliated FANA Broadcasting Corporate reports.

The report confirms earlier rumours that Muferiat Kamil was set to be named speaker. She replaces Abadula Gemeda who has been in the role since 2010.

Equal Voice Alberta is urging more women to run in the 2019 Alberta provincial election.

The group launched their She Leads Campaign 101 Workshops on Saturday with a panel discussion that drew more than 40 attendees.

Organizer Jenessa Crognali says the first session was about learning to navigate the nomination process — one of the first steps toward getting elected.

The 13% rise in the number of women voters compared to the 2013 Assembly elections is no doubt a good sign in a democratic set up. But, relatively, the number of women candidates fielded by all main political parties is abysmally low, although the total number has gone up from 170 in 2013 to 219 this year.

President Danny Faure has announced a cabinet reshuffle involving a reduction in the size of the Cabinet which will now comprise 10 ministers in addition to the president and the vice‑president.

Carlos Alvarado, of the Citizen Action Party (PAC), based his presidential campaign during Costa Rica’s second electoral round on a promise of national unity. Last night, less than two weeks from Inauguration Day, he announced a Cabinet filled with familiar faces from five parties.

Tunisians will head to the polls on May 6 to vote in the country's first free municipal elections since the removal of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his government in 2011.