January 6, 2023
A weekly review of key news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Photo credit: Wikimedia/මියුරු සංකල්ප (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Sri Lanka Local Elections: February 2023
AFP (January 4, 2023): Crisis-hit Sri Lanka to hold first election since major unrest: Local government polls will be held before the end of February, according to officials
Japan Unified Local Elections: April 2023 (next national elections due in 2025)
Fujino Kiyomitsu, Nippon.com (January 5, 2023): Japanese Politics in 2023: Can Kishida Recover Before the Local Elections?
Kanako Takahara, Japan Times (January 2, 2023): In 2023, Kishida’s political survival hangs in the balance
Jio Kamata, The Diplomat (November 24, 2023): Is This The Beginning of the End for Kishida? Kishida and the LDP may not face a national election until 2025, but the prime minister is already on shaky ground.
Thailand General Elections: May 7, 2023
Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Bloomberg (December 11, 2022): Thaksin-Linked Party Has Best Chance in Next Thai Vote: Poll
Burma Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup, widely considered likely to be a sham)
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (January 6, 2023): Myanmar’s Military Junta Takes Step Toward Controversial Election: The electoral exercise, intended to stabilize the political situation, will instead likely inflame the country’s nationwide conflict.
Nirupama Subramanian, Indian Express (January 6, 2023): Reading the junta’s poll promise: Myanmar military regime’s election announcement has added to the uncertainty in the country. How India deals with the neighbour as G20 chair will be watched across the world
AP (January 4, 2023): Myanmar Army Leader Touts Election Plan, Prisoner Release on Independence Day
Maldives Presidential Election: September 2023 (due)
N. Sathiya Moorthy, Observer Research Foundation (January 6, 2023): Maldives: The effects of domestic politics on foreign policy
Marwaan Macan-Markar, Nikkei Asia (January 5, 2023): Conviction of Maldives’ pro-China Yameen overshadows election: Ex-president and current candidate’s corruption appeal has high geopolitical stakes
Mimrah Ghafoor, The Diplomat (December 23, 2022): Maldives’ 2023 Election Will Shape Indian Ocean Geopolitics: Both China and India have a stake in the drama surrounding the Maldives’ upcoming presidential election.
New Zealand General Elections: October 2023 (expected – due by January 2024)
Ben McKay, Sydney Morning Herald (December 16, 2022): How New Zealand fell out of love with Jacinda Ardern’s government
Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: December 2023 (due)
The Business Standard (January 4, 2023): US calls on all political parties in Bangladesh to respect rule of law, avoid violence
Taiwan Presidential Election: Early 2024 (due)
Hsien-Ming Lin, East Asia Forum (January 5, 2023): Does the China factor still matter to Taiwanese voters?
Kawashima Shin, The Diplomat (December 18, 2022): Taiwan’s Local Elections and Cross-Strait Relations: The recent elections could offer some valuable insights
Russell Flannery, Forbes (December 11, 2022): One Of These Seven People Is Likely To Win Taiwan’s High-Stakes Presidential Vote In 2024, Gallup Pollster Says
Indonesia General Elections: February 14, 2024
Ananda Teresia, Reuters (January 6, 2023): Indonesia president eyes cabinet reshuffle in coming days
Solomon Islands: 2024 (delayed from 2023)
Matthew Lee, AP (January 4, 2023): US moves to reopen Solomon Islands embassy to counter China
Clare Caldwell, Lowy Institute (December 27, 2022): How to Interpret 2022: Solomon Islands strikes a deal
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Fiji General Elections: December 14, 2022
Jon Fraenkel, The Guardian (January 3, 2023): Dramatic change, severe obstacles: Fiji enters 2023 with a new government, but many of the same problems
Nick Perry, AP (December 22, 2023): Fiji calls in military after close election is disputed
Stephen Wright, Radio Free Asia (December 18, 2022): Fiji election’s kingmaker party favors Australia, New Zealand as allies over China: Sodelpa, the predominantly indigenous Fijian and Christian party, also wants Fiji to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
Nepal General Elections: November 20, 2022
Biswas Baral, The Diplomat (January 1, 2023): Can Nepal Achieve Political Stability? Nepal’s political landscape after the November 2022 election looks disturbingly familiar – but there are some signs change is coming.
Malaysia General Elections: November 19, 2022
Kevin Zhang and Joshua Zi Wei Wan, The Conversation (January 4, 2023): How a less influential Islamic party becomes the largest one in Malaysia’s parliament
Regional Analysis
Kerryn Baker, East Asia Forum (January 3, 2023): Concerns for Pacific democracy, but no crisis yet
Mong Palatino, Global Voices (January 2, 2023): China’s Belt and Road Initiative divides the Pacific
Richard Heydarian, Nikkei Asia (December 30, 2023): 2023 outlook: Populists still ascendant in Southeast Asia
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2023
Bangladesh Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament – largely symbolic role): February 2023 (due)
Micronesia Parliamentary Elections: March 7, 2023
Australia, New South Wales State Elections: March 25, 2023
Bhutan National Assembly Elections: March 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland: March 2023 (due)
Sri Lanka Provincial Elections: March 2023 (due)
Nepal Presidential Election (by Parliament): March 2023 (due)
Japan Unified Local Elections: April 2023 (due)
Thailand General Elections: May 7, 2023
New Zealand, Niue General Elections: May 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Karnataka: May 2023 (due)
Hong Kong District Council Elections: June 2023 (due)
Tonga Local Elections: June 2023 (due)
Cambodia Parliamentary Elections: July 23, 2023
Burma Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup, widely considered likely to be a sham)
Maldives Presidential Election: September 2023 (due)
Tuvalu General Elections: September 2023 (due)
Singapore Presidential Election (largely ceremonial role): September 2023 (due)
Philippines Village Elections: October 30, 2023
New Zealand General Elections: October 2023 (expected – due by January 2024)
Bhutan Parliamentary Elections: October 2023 (due)
Marshall Islands Parliamentary Elections: November 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram: November 2023 (due)
Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: December 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Rajasthan and Telangana: December 2023 (due)
Philippines Village Elections: December 2023 (due)
India, Elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Proposed for 2023
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Asia This Week: January 6, 2023
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Last Updated: January 16, 2023 by 21votes
January 6, 2023
A weekly review of key news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Sri Lanka Local Elections: February 2023
AFP (January 4, 2023): Crisis-hit Sri Lanka to hold first election since major unrest: Local government polls will be held before the end of February, according to officials
Japan Unified Local Elections: April 2023 (next national elections due in 2025)
Fujino Kiyomitsu, Nippon.com (January 5, 2023): Japanese Politics in 2023: Can Kishida Recover Before the Local Elections?
Kanako Takahara, Japan Times (January 2, 2023): In 2023, Kishida’s political survival hangs in the balance
Jio Kamata, The Diplomat (November 24, 2023): Is This The Beginning of the End for Kishida? Kishida and the LDP may not face a national election until 2025, but the prime minister is already on shaky ground.
Thailand General Elections: May 7, 2023
Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Bloomberg (December 11, 2022): Thaksin-Linked Party Has Best Chance in Next Thai Vote: Poll
Burma Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup, widely considered likely to be a sham)
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (January 6, 2023): Myanmar’s Military Junta Takes Step Toward Controversial Election: The electoral exercise, intended to stabilize the political situation, will instead likely inflame the country’s nationwide conflict.
Nirupama Subramanian, Indian Express (January 6, 2023): Reading the junta’s poll promise: Myanmar military regime’s election announcement has added to the uncertainty in the country. How India deals with the neighbour as G20 chair will be watched across the world
AP (January 4, 2023): Myanmar Army Leader Touts Election Plan, Prisoner Release on Independence Day
Maldives Presidential Election: September 2023 (due)
N. Sathiya Moorthy, Observer Research Foundation (January 6, 2023): Maldives: The effects of domestic politics on foreign policy
Marwaan Macan-Markar, Nikkei Asia (January 5, 2023): Conviction of Maldives’ pro-China Yameen overshadows election: Ex-president and current candidate’s corruption appeal has high geopolitical stakes
Mimrah Ghafoor, The Diplomat (December 23, 2022): Maldives’ 2023 Election Will Shape Indian Ocean Geopolitics: Both China and India have a stake in the drama surrounding the Maldives’ upcoming presidential election.
New Zealand General Elections: October 2023 (expected – due by January 2024)
Ben McKay, Sydney Morning Herald (December 16, 2022): How New Zealand fell out of love with Jacinda Ardern’s government
Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: December 2023 (due)
The Business Standard (January 4, 2023): US calls on all political parties in Bangladesh to respect rule of law, avoid violence
Taiwan Presidential Election: Early 2024 (due)
Hsien-Ming Lin, East Asia Forum (January 5, 2023): Does the China factor still matter to Taiwanese voters?
Kawashima Shin, The Diplomat (December 18, 2022): Taiwan’s Local Elections and Cross-Strait Relations: The recent elections could offer some valuable insights
Russell Flannery, Forbes (December 11, 2022): One Of These Seven People Is Likely To Win Taiwan’s High-Stakes Presidential Vote In 2024, Gallup Pollster Says
Indonesia General Elections: February 14, 2024
Ananda Teresia, Reuters (January 6, 2023): Indonesia president eyes cabinet reshuffle in coming days
Solomon Islands: 2024 (delayed from 2023)
Matthew Lee, AP (January 4, 2023): US moves to reopen Solomon Islands embassy to counter China
Clare Caldwell, Lowy Institute (December 27, 2022): How to Interpret 2022: Solomon Islands strikes a deal
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Fiji General Elections: December 14, 2022
Jon Fraenkel, The Guardian (January 3, 2023): Dramatic change, severe obstacles: Fiji enters 2023 with a new government, but many of the same problems
Nick Perry, AP (December 22, 2023): Fiji calls in military after close election is disputed
Stephen Wright, Radio Free Asia (December 18, 2022): Fiji election’s kingmaker party favors Australia, New Zealand as allies over China: Sodelpa, the predominantly indigenous Fijian and Christian party, also wants Fiji to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
Nepal General Elections: November 20, 2022
Biswas Baral, The Diplomat (January 1, 2023): Can Nepal Achieve Political Stability? Nepal’s political landscape after the November 2022 election looks disturbingly familiar – but there are some signs change is coming.
Malaysia General Elections: November 19, 2022
Kevin Zhang and Joshua Zi Wei Wan, The Conversation (January 4, 2023): How a less influential Islamic party becomes the largest one in Malaysia’s parliament
Regional Analysis
Kerryn Baker, East Asia Forum (January 3, 2023): Concerns for Pacific democracy, but no crisis yet
Mong Palatino, Global Voices (January 2, 2023): China’s Belt and Road Initiative divides the Pacific
Richard Heydarian, Nikkei Asia (December 30, 2023): 2023 outlook: Populists still ascendant in Southeast Asia
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2023
Bangladesh Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament – largely symbolic role): February 2023 (due)
Micronesia Parliamentary Elections: March 7, 2023
Australia, New South Wales State Elections: March 25, 2023
Bhutan National Assembly Elections: March 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland: March 2023 (due)
Sri Lanka Provincial Elections: March 2023 (due)
Nepal Presidential Election (by Parliament): March 2023 (due)
Japan Unified Local Elections: April 2023 (due)
Thailand General Elections: May 7, 2023
New Zealand, Niue General Elections: May 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Karnataka: May 2023 (due)
Hong Kong District Council Elections: June 2023 (due)
Tonga Local Elections: June 2023 (due)
Cambodia Parliamentary Elections: July 23, 2023
Burma Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup, widely considered likely to be a sham)
Maldives Presidential Election: September 2023 (due)
Tuvalu General Elections: September 2023 (due)
Singapore Presidential Election (largely ceremonial role): September 2023 (due)
Philippines Village Elections: October 30, 2023
New Zealand General Elections: October 2023 (expected – due by January 2024)
Bhutan Parliamentary Elections: October 2023 (due)
Marshall Islands Parliamentary Elections: November 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram: November 2023 (due)
Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: December 2023 (due)
India, State Elections in Rajasthan and Telangana: December 2023 (due)
Philippines Village Elections: December 2023 (due)
India, Elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Proposed for 2023
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Category: This Week Tags: Bangladesh, Burma, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand