Worldfocus » Slovakia http://worldfocus.org International News, Videos and Blogs Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:46:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Roundup of election results from Europe to Latin America http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/04/01/roundup-of-election-results-from-europe-to-latin-america/4616/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/04/01/roundup-of-election-results-from-europe-to-latin-america/4616/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:40:25 +0000 Worldfocus http://worldfocus.org/?p=4616 From Europe to Latin America, voters elected new leaders and governments during the last few months. Here is a roundup of the newly-elected with reactions from bloggers on the ground.

Country Election Blogs
Montenegro A coalition led by Montenegro’s prime minister made gains in parliamentary elections on March 29. The ruling coalition is likely to push for European Union membership talks. A blogger at “Blogactiv” describes the role of the EU in the country’s elections.
Macedonia Macedonia’s presidential election is headed for a runoff on April 5 after peaceful elections on March 22 failed to determine a winner. Ahead of the vote, the “Fistful of Euros” blog called ethnic Albanian candidate Imer Selmani “Macedonia’s Obama.”
Slovakia Slovakia is also headed to a runoff in April after its March 21 presidential election. The “Fistful of Euros” blog also provides a summary of the election in Slovakia.
Azerbaijan Voters in Azerbaijan approved a controversial referendum to ban presidential term limits on March 18. An American journalist in Azerbaijan writes about what the referendum will mean for the country’s future.
El Salvador El Salvador veered left in its presidential election on March 15, meaning Mauricio Funes of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) will join a growing number of leftist Latin American leaders. Read our roundup of blogger reactions.
Russia Local elections made headlines in Russia, where an independent candidate caused an upset, replacing incumbent Mayor Mikhail Savchenko of the pro-Kremlin United Russia. “The Power Vertical” blog explores the implications of the vote for a unified Russia.
Venezuela In mid-February, Venezuela voted to end term limits, allowing President Hugo Chávez to run for re-election. Read our roundup of blogger reactions.
Israel Since Israel’s hotly-contested parliamentary elections in early February, hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, head of the much more liberal Labor Party, have joined together to form a coalition government. Read our roundup of blogger reactions following the vote.
Bolivia Bolivians approved a new constitution in late January, seen as a victory for President Evo Morales. Read our roundup of blogger reactions.
Upcoming Elections
Moldova Moldova is scheduled to hold its parliamentary elections on April 5 and the Community Party is considered likely to retain and may even increase its majority in the 101-member parliament. Blogger and Peace Corps volunteer “Dezvoltareerena” hopes the elections “will help bring Moldova into a new era of development.”
Indonesia On April 9, Indonesia — Southeast Asia’s biggest democracy — is slated to hold parliamentary elections to determine which parties can field candidates for the presidential elections in July. Read what a Worldfocus contributing blogger had to say about how the election season is shaping up in one Indonesian town.
India India, the world’s largest democracy, begins its multi-stage parliamentary elections on April 16, with the fifth and final stage on May 13. “Rashmi” blogs that in the run up to the elections the media coverage was focused on “juvenile” topics.
South Africa On April 22, South Africa is scheduled to hold its third general election after becoming a democracy and the first since a schism in the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Blogger Becca Cohen attended an election debate and blogged about corruption being a major theme.
Ecuador Ecuador is scheduled to hold presidential elections on April 26, after ratifying a new constitution this past September. Current President Correa enjoys a 60 percent approval rate. Blogger “Linea” notes that all the houses around him have signs supporting one candidate or another, suggesting that people have already made up their minds. 
From Europe to Latin America, voters elected new leaders and governments during the last few months. Here is a roundup of the newly-elected governments with reactions from bloggers on the ground. /files/2009/03/th_elsalv_elections.jpg ]]> http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/04/01/roundup-of-election-results-from-europe-to-latin-america/4616/feed/ Citizenship gained by soil or blood http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/11/19/citizenship-gained-by-soil-or-blood/2756/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/11/19/citizenship-gained-by-soil-or-blood/2756/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:01:44 +0000 Worldfocus http://worldfocus.org/?p=2756 The U.S. is one of few countries to grant citizenship to children born on its soil, but many have suggested that the country revoke this right to deter immigration.

Nationality laws vary greatly around the globe.

In Greece, for example, some children face insecurity and confusion because they are not Greek citizens, despite being born in and living in the country. In Japan, the government may pass a law granting 20,000 mixed race children Japanese citizenship.

When a child is born, he or she can gain a nationality in a variety of ways – from the place of birth or from parents’ nationalities or ethnicities; sometimes automatically and other times requiring an application process.

Standard basis for citizenship:
Jus soli — birthright — a rule that the citizenship of a child is determined by the place of its birth
Jus sanguinis — blood right — a rule that a child’s citizenship is determined by its parents’ citizenship

The chart below details the foreign populations in world countries, residency requirements for naturalization (excluding special factors such as marriage to a national) and types of citizenship.

Data is from 2005, the latest available date for comprehensive comparative information. For more detailed information on citizenship laws and requirements in a particular country, visit that country’s Web site.

642,000
15.9% of population
*		 Residence for 1,350 days of past 5 years Eliminated birthright  citizenship in 2006
1.2 million
15.1% of population
40.9% are nationals		 10 years continuous residence Blood right
585,000
14.1% of population
45.2% are nationals		 3 years residence Eliminated automatic birthright citizenship in 2004
38.36 million
12.9% of population
46.4% are nationals		 Legal residency for 5 years Birthright
10.14 million
12.3% of population		 At least 8 years  residence Blood right
6.47 million
10.7% of population
53.1% are nationals		 5 years residence Blood right; delayed birthright (can acquire citizenship on request)
5.41 million
9.1% of population		 5 years residence Many types of  citizenship (vary)
974,000
8.8% of population
41.5% are nationals		 10 of last 12 years Blood right; birthright if  no other nationality  acquired
2.52 million
4.3% of population
47.5% are nationals		 10 years residence Blood right; birthright if no other nationality acquired
168,000
2.7% of population		 3 years residence Birthright
1.11 million
2.3% of population		 4 of 8 last years Blood right
124,000
2.3% of population		 5 years residence Blood right
2.05 million
1.6% of population		 5 years of residence Blood right
644,000
0.6% of population		 5 years residence Birthright; recognizes  dual nationality
596,000
0% of population		 Settlement in China Blood right

*When data on foreign-born nationals is blank, the information is not available.
Sources: United Nations, NationMaster. Photos courtesy of Flickr users under a Creative Commons license.

Nationality laws vary greatly around the globe. Here is a chart detailing the size of foreign-born populations and protocols for citizenship and naturalization around the world. /files/2008/11/th_chart_baby.jpg ]]> http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/11/19/citizenship-gained-by-soil-or-blood/2756/feed/