As the next round of negotiations to try and keep Greece in the European Union get underway, a tangible solution is still not evident, but the sense of despair locally is palpable.
Read Moreelections
What if your MP was decided on the flip of a coin?
We say that it should be the voters and the voters alone that determine who is and who is not a member of Parliament. At least, up until we say that pure chance should decide that matter.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday May 21
Indonesia and Malaysia agree to take stranded migrants; North Korea claims to have miniaturised its nuclear weapons for missile use; Burundi postpones elections; Syrian rebels claim Idlib military base; and more
Read MoreHow Racism wins elections
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has won the largest single chunk of seats in the latest race for the Knesset meaning he's likely to form a coalition government. However his desperation politics of the last few days exposed a man willing to sink so low as to use the future of Palestine as an election ploy…and that's not all he's capable of.
Read MoreWhy not elect a Cassowary as Premier?
Queensland voters didn't go quite as far as this cartoon recommended. But they did create quite a thorny thicket for their politicians to play in.
Read MoreNetanyahu needs to pull the plug on his address to the US Congress
Israel's Prime Minister is using the potential nuclear deal with Iran for his own personal political reasons. While there is still time he should heed the advice of those who actually do value the close and, until now, non-partisan relationship between Israel and the United States.
Read More"A trying operation under the influence of chloroform"
Handing someone a "Vote United Future" pamphlet on election day is an offence that can get you fined $20,000. Why is that, and should it be so?
Read MoreAnd whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire
The Justice and Electoral Committee will soon be reviewing the 2014 general election. Here's the first of my thoughts on what it might profitably look at.
Read MoreOrganise to Win
Of six by-elections since 2008, only one, Mt Albert, looks anything like Christchurch East in the scale of the Labour result.
It's no coincidence those two seats had similar results: They were planned and run on the same organisational template. None of the other by-elections were.
Read MoreNZ Labour - as crazy as the UK Tories
What sort of crazy, ideologically blinkered party would require that a set proportion of its candidates be women? The UK Conservative Party, that's who.
Read MoreMMP changes -- shake off the coat-tail and lower your threshold
What oh what will the Electoral Commission recommend in its review of MMP? And will MPs be willing to play ball?
Read MoreDeja vu in Egypt
Just days before Egypt's first truly democratic elections since the ouster of Mubarak, the interim ruling generals have exposed their self-interest, and responded to the resulting protests by firing on the very people who considered them heroes just nine months ago.
Read MoreA policeman's lot is a happy one ...
Would electing a serving police officer be a valuable addition to a local authority, or a threat to our very constitution? Whatever your view, you're too late ...
Read MoreNice hara-kiri Brownie!
Gordon Brown's falling on his sword after losing the British election may have made life more difficult for the Liberal Democrats as they chose between a party that is more in line politically or the party which won the largest minority. Winston Peters may be finding this awfully familiar
Read MoreThe ghosts of the civil dead
Paul Quinn wants to take us back to the days when all prisoners could not vote. Why on earth would he want to do that?
Read MoreThe stench of death now hangs on Gordon Brown
It is Gordon Brown's own political cowardice that will finally do him in
Read MoreA new form of capitalism
The free-marketers can cry all they like, the credit crunch means capitalism will change its shape once again
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