Like the DA, the new party, with a bishop as its presidential candidate, likes to present itself as morally upright, with a commitment to rooting out corruption and upholding the constitution.

ECONOMIST: South Africa's elections

Thailand also faces a political upheaval with a debate next month on a new constitution designed to clean up corruption.

ECONOMIST: Hanging on in Thailand

Describing South Africa as "the most unequal society in the world", he highlighted corruption, unaccountability and weaknesses in the constitution as key issues that need to be addressed.

BBC: South Africa's Desmond Tutu: 'I will not vote for ANC'

Mr Estrada has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution.

ECONOMIST: Philippines

Colombia's president, Uribe, is in the midst of a corruption scandal over the allegation that a lawmaker was bribed to vote for a change to the constitution that allowed him to run for a new term in 2006.

CNN: McCain talks trade in Colombia

This week it began to pass bills allowing for the creation of a new post of prime minister (to be filled by Mr Odinga), a law to work against tribalism, a panel to investigate the election, another to draft a new constitution, and a truth and justice commission to investigate political crimes, including a history of corruption ever since independence in 1963.

ECONOMIST: Time to break with a corrupt past