Akhmad Kadyrov, the head of the unpopular, Moscow-imposed Chechen administration, is a likely candidate for the next presidential election, due in January; but even if he wins as the least-bad of the bunch, he will find it at least as hard to rule as Mr Maskhadov did.And the election may not even take place, since legally the Chechens first need to hold a referendum adopting a new constitution.
Yet, with early results showing Mr. Hasanli headed to a resounding defeat — a loss that appeared preordained from the moment a referendum was adopted in 2009 clearing the way for Mr. Aliyev to seek a third five-year term — the more relevant issue was fairness, which seemed to be lacking in the election.
Overseas, the British government continues to move toward a national referendum to adopt IRV for elections to the House of Commons - the first national referendum of any sort in the United Kingdom in decades.
A U.K.-wide referendum on adopting A.V. for Westminster is scheduled for May 5.
Last year, Mr. Musgrove supported a proposal in a statewide referendum to adopt a new design for the flag.
Thus Britain would have to hold a referendum to adopt the single currency or to cede its vetoes over EU foreign policy, for instance.
When the Swedes' Social Democratic prime minister, Goran Persson, last November announced a referendum on adopting the euro, he was confident they would say yes.
One of them, New Zealand, is currently considering a referendum on adopting a more local design — perhaps the silver fern of Maori legend.
Before the election, Mr. Blair said he expected to decide within two years whether to take the most pivotal step, calling a referendum on adopting the euro.
Denmark is to hold a national referendum on adopting the euro on Thursday, and the currency's weakness has seriously eroded popular support.
