'Crazy' Martinelli elected president of Panama

Per BBC, right-wing Ricardo Martinelli, a businessman who owns a major supermarket chain, has defeated Balbina Herrera in Panama's presidential election today.

Per the Nica Times, Martinelli ran a campaign of 'change' as a political outsider, promising to combat crime and help Panama thrive despite uncertain economic times. He is sometimes called “el loco” (the crazy), and Herrera has suggested that he as president would be a crazy choice for Panama. Martinelli played off of that in his campaign, with “We crazies are the majority!” campaign posters.

Twitterers in Panama poked fun at the slogan when they heard he had won the election with more than 60 percent of the vote, according to early estimates:

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   AndyMahfood (Panama) LOS LOCOS SOMOS MAS!... MARTINELLI PRESIDENTE 09! (WE CRAZIES ARE THE MAJORITY... MARTINELLI PRESIDENT 09!) 03 May 2009 from web
2. 
   Shirley_Garcia (Panama City, Panama) Ricardo Martinelli....Panama's New President!! Definitivamente los locos somos mas!! (Definitely we crazies are the majority!!) 04 May 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   carolinee82 (Panama) Martinelli Presidenteeee!!! :) woooaa, LOS LOCOS SOMOS MAS! :D (woooaa, WE CRAZIES ARE THE MAJORITY!) 04 May 2009 from web
4. 
   AlexSoRandom (Panama City, Panama) martinelli president! panama will now be officially ruled by a crazy person, but at least he's not tacky 04 May 2009 from web
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   ChrisMarieC (Panama) Martinelli ? okay i just hope that he does what he promisse :D 04 May 2009 from web
6. 
   Arineth (Panama) Well the Panama's new president is Ricardo Martinelli and Los locos somos mas! 04 May 2009 from web
7. 
   wizard387 (Panama City, Panama) Balbina hablando heno,, nisiquiera acepto el triunfo de Martinelli. (Balbina talking hay, did not even accept the triumph of Martinelli.) 04 May 2009 from web

'Crazy' Martinelli elected president of Panama

Jacob Zuma elected president of South Africa

Per Telegraph.co.uk,, Jacob Zuma, leader of the African National Congress (ANC) is in fact the next president of South Africa. According to the Telegraph, "Zuma delighted thousands of revellers gathered outside the party's headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg by dancing and singing with an energy that belied his 67 years."

Twitterers are expressing their thoughts on Zuma's latest victory.

1. 
   LouiseStoch (Cape Town, South Africa) Ok....i guess we all have to face the fact... Jacob Zuma... is the new president...awesome. at least the western cape gets DA
2. 
   8mischa8 (Cape Town, South Africa) Its a long weeeekend!!!!! Thank the heavens for public holidays! But thank hell for Jacob Zuma!
3. 
   jenstjarnstrom (Undisclosed) Jacob Zuma (educate yourself) have been married at least 4 times, and has 18 kids w/ 7 different women. WOW.
4. 
   paulfreathy (South Africa) According to BBC British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called Jacob Zuma to congratulate him. Oh dear!
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   CTerry1985 (Weymouth, England) Zuma Fact 1: Jacob Zuma was once on trial for rape. He was acquitted.
6. 
   aschley84 (Boston, Mass.) Disturbed but not surprised by the fact that Jacob Zuma is now President of South Africa. Are other people following the RSA election?

Jacob Zuma elected president of South Africa

South Africa votes in general election

Per BBC, South Africans have begun casting ballots in what is expected to the be the "most competitive general election since the end of the apartheid in 1994." The results will determine how much ruling power the ANC will have with Jacob Zuma at the top of the ticket and an attempt to retain a majority of seats in parliament, according to the article.

Those following the South Africa election on Twitter are using #saelections in their tweets. The hashtag trended all the way up to No. 2 on Twitter.

Twitterers in Johannesburg are reporting long lines at polling places.

1. 
   ExMi (Johannesburg, South Africa) I think next elections should do drive-thru voting. #saelections 22 Apr 2009 from mobile web
2. 
   Lioneldp (Johannesburg, South Africa) The meze queue is very popular at the Saheti station #saelections http://twitpic.com/3rdo5 22 Apr 2009 from TwitterFon
3. 
   RubyGold (Johannesburg, South Africa) Been here an hour nother to go q has slowed rather #saelections 22 Apr 2009 from TwitterFon
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   theclam (Johannesburg, South Africa) South Africans are an enterprising lot. Coffee muffins etc for sale in the lines... I can smell some boerie cooking.. #saelections 22 Apr 2009 from mobile web
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   mdegale (Johannesburg, South Africa) voting at houghton school. lots of cars, fairly long queue #saelections #fb 22 Apr 2009 from txt
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   hellioncat (Johannesburg, South Africa) @magependragon ah yeah, we got there 7:30, got out at 10:20, voting station was primrose, germiston. #saelections 22 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to magependragon

South Africa votes in general election

South Africa gears up for general elections

Per News 24 in South Africa, Johannesburg Metro Police expects 120,000 to attend an African National Congress (ANC) rally on Sunday in which ANC President Jacob Zuma will give his final public address before the nation's general elections on April 22.

Zuma has been a controversial figure in recent years due to corruption charges, yet he is expected to become South Africa's next president, per the Los Angeles Times.

Twitter users in Johannesburg have been sharing their opinions on Zuma and the upcoming South Africa electons:

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   garymeyerza RT @jasdonwar: @ANC_Debate How can Zuma have integrity after his court battles? Does RSA and the ANC not need integrity? 17 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
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   nikzaz @ANC_Debate Why Zuma, is there no other person more qualified with less stigmas' attached, surely there is another option? 17 Apr 2009 from web in reply to ANC_Debate
3. 
   pauljacobson the opposition parties base their campaigns on our fear of a Zuma led govt. What else do they offer? 17 Apr 2009 from m.slandr.net
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   baldaufji @MauriYambo Joburg is energetic, can-do. But big frustration from the urban poor. Disparity between rich/poor is HUGE. Enter Jacob Zuma. 18 Apr 2009 from web in reply to MauriYambo
5. 
   ifilose Vaguely terrified of the 90,000 strong Jacob Zuma rally tomorrow. Press accreditation organization woes do not bode well. Will Madiba show? 18 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

South Africa gears up for general elections

Indonesia votes in key election

Per EuroNews, more than 170 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots on Thursday in the first of two general elections, choosing between thousands of local and national candidates.

Indonesia will hold a second election, its presidential vote, on July 8, according to the article. Southeast Asia's largest democracy, the nation seeks to "stimulate growth, attract investment and create jobs," EuroNews reports.

Twitterers in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta have been providing updates on the election for the last several hours, using hashtags like #election and #politikana:

1. 
   djeedjes @joycevh are u going for election?Starbucks is giving free coffee for people who had the election by showing their ink marked fingers here! 09 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry
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   sTeP_eNd has take a part on government election today.. This is my 1st.. :-D 09 Apr 2009 from Ping.fm
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   budip Following Indonesia Election report through Twitter (thanks #politikana!). Can't vote, since my name is not registered. 09 Apr 2009 from web
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   TyaOwen just had my 3rd election and I did well :) I feel like I choose the right one this time *fingers crossed* 09 Apr 2009 from web
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   ariefr just registered to vote. The crowd is bigger than last election's. Either my RT is growing or more ppl realize the importance of election 09 Apr 2009 from web
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   chibialfa No, I am not voting. Didn't get the invitation, too lazy to drag my ass to TPS, but twitter makes me feel as if I was there. #election 09 Apr 2009 from Mobile Tweete
7. 
   somemandy This year's election is weird. There's a tps right in front of my house, but none of the people in my house can vote there. #pemuli09 09 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry

Indonesia votes in key election

Afghan president legalizes marital rape

Per the Times of India, President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai signed a law legalizing the lack of need for sexual consent between married couples.

The law also restricts married women from leaving their house without permission of the husband. Infuriating women's groups all over the world, the Shia Family Law was put into action in efforts to win over conservative Shia muslims before the upcoming election in August.

Much of the Twitterverse voiced opposition to the passed law.

1. 
   NYUProf (New York, N.Y.) RT @arenda UNCONSCIONABLE! (via @goldlis @susanneure) Karzai backs law to legalize rape of Afghan women w/in marriage http://twurl.nl/3kiieg 31 Mar 2009 from TwitterFon
2. 
   buzz7 (India) New blog post: Afghan women condemn Karzai's decision to sign law legalizing rape http://tinyurl.com/dfbrfd 31 Mar 2009 from Twitter Tools
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   dylanlamb (Dublin, Ireland) Afghanistan's President just passed a bill to 'legalize rape', which a MP has dubbed 'one of the worst bills passed this century'. Ya sure? 31 Mar 2009 from web
4. 
   JanersM (Huntsville, Ala.) The new pro-rape law in Afghanistan is just absolutely appalling. http://tinyurl.com/cqcer3 01 Apr 2009 from web

Some twitterers linked the law back to the U.S. and its responsibilities in Afghanistan.

1. 
   shadowfax_rulz (Undisclosed location) Another Bush accomplishment - legalizing rape in Afghanistan http://tinyurl.com/c9r9qb 01 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   mrmmosh (Los Angeles, Calif.) Hamid Karzai signs a pro-rape bill into law. This is the Afghanistan we're supporting? Please. We need the troops in Iraq. http://tr.im/i4f9 01 Apr 2009 from web

Afghan president legalizes marital rape

FMLN wins election in El Salvador

Per the El Paso Times, leftist candidate Mauricio Funes won El Salvador's presidential election on Sunday, effectively ending two decades of conservative rule in the nation and bringing the FMLN - a party of former guerrillas - to power.

Breaking Tweets found that most twitterers who commented on the election celebrated its results.

@ciskosv (Santa Ana, El Salvador): Well, the Salvadoran people speak! Really truly a civic celebration, so forward El Salvador!



@kingconejo (San Salvador, El Salvador): THE FMLN ACTUALLY WON THE ELECTION! Wish I was partying in Suchitoto instead of alone here. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7944899.stm


@AdrianaLemus (San Salvador, El Salvador): El Salvador has a new president. The people have spoken. There was a change for democracy at last :D


@sagotmontse (Costa Rica): Ver ganar al FMLN en El Salvador es como sentir que finalmente la guerra se resolvió y que se hizo justicia #elecciones2009 (View FMLN win in El Salvador is like to feel that the war was finally resolved and that justice was done #elecciones2009)

@cafe_con_leche (Los Angeles): FMLN's expected win today has been LONG awaited!!!



One Twitter user in El Salvador provided election-related tweets throughout the day.

@Alexanndra (El Salvador): # http://twitpic.com/24htl - Hace media hora ejercí mis derechos... y me dejaron neeegro el dedo xD (http://twitpic.com/24htl - About half an hour exercising my rights ... and left me black finger xD)

@Alexanndra: #eleccion2009 Sigue tráfico paralizado en Soyapango. Hace 2 horas hay embotellamiento en el sector de Unicentro y Plaza España (#eleccion2009 still paralyzed traffic in Soyapango. 2 hours ago there are bottlenecks in the sector and Unicentro Plaza España)

@Alexanndra: #eleccion2009, nuestro amigo el Garrobo reportando en su blog, desde San Miguel: http://tinyurl.com/dcje4c (Un poco jocosa la nota) (#eleccion2009, our friend Garrobo reporting on his blog, from San Miguel: http://tinyurl.com/dcje4c (A little note in jest))

FMLN wins election in El Salvador

India's election candidacy expands

Per The Times of India, The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) announced 46 more names to be included in the upcoming Lok Sabha (House of the People) elections.

Among the names are high profile candidates well known to India's population and relatives of already existing BJP leaders. The elections will be held in April and May, per the Indian Elections Web site.

The upcoming elections have been a hot topic lately on Twitter. Many are tweeting their thoughts with the hashtag #IndiaVotes09.

@LokeshAwasthy (Mumbai, India): hope to get my Voter Id done in this trip to Jabalpur,bt no [expletive] candidate whom I can vote,we must have a vote against option #IndiaVotes09


@abhilash (Paris, France): Reading party manifestos and the likes for the coming India General Elections. #IndiaVotes09



@mudittuli (New Delhi, India): BJP needs to mobilize these RSS workers, if they really want to win and take india to new heights. #indiavotes09




shahpriya (Mumbai, India): http://is.gd/m23R I hope the elections are carried out safely ... #indiavotes09


b50 (Mumbai, India): I am just SUPER THRILLED with all the campaigns to get voters registered. Indian Express + Janaagraha = iCount! Hah ! #IndiaVotes09

India's election candidacy expands

Afghan president seeks to move up elections

Per A Pakistan News, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai orders elections to be held by April, overturning the Independent Election Commission's decision for August 20 elections; that date set as a response to security and logistics issues.

Twitterer @nhangen, currently in Kabul, shared his opinions with Breaking Tweets.

@nhangen (Kabul, Afghanistan): I think it makes sense to do it before his term is up, but I don't think the country is ready AT ALL for it. Need a 2nd Candidate.


@nhangen (Kabul, Afghanistan): Karzai is the George Bush of Afghanistan. Not enough security and lack of campaigns, which assures Karzai's re-election.


Al Jazeera reporter @ragehomaar posted an update of the news on his Twitter page.

@ragehomaar (U.K./Pakistan): President Karzai calls Afghan election for April instead of August as previously planned



A Twitterer in Eastern Europe particularly enjoyed someone's comment about the news in the Swampland blog at Time Magazine.

@Yamamayoo (Riga, Latvia): love comment on previous article "Hey Karzai speaks English, which is the most important puppet qualification."



Some Americans also tweeted about the developments.

@Robert_Banghart (Federal Way, Wash.): Karzai's push for early Afghan vote likely to undermine the vote's credibility? http://ff.im/-1hlmf


@anthonyrichter (New York): following the tit-for-tat between Karzai and the US government - Karzai is playing a game of chicken with Obama

Afghan president seeks to move up elections