October 18, 2024
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.
Nanzen-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan established in 1291. Photo credit: Wikimedia/雷太 (CC BY 2.0)
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Japan Snap Parliamentary Elections: October 27, 2024
In August 2024, Japan’s then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he was stepping down in the wake of a slush fund scandal in the governing Liberal Democratic Party. The party helped a leadership election on September 27, which former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba won. Following the election, Ishiba called a snap election for October 27, a move that had been widely expected.
Reuters (October 17, 2024): Japan’s ruling LDP at risk of losing majority in election, polls show
Leo Lewis, Financial Times (October 15, 2024): Ishiba’s election gamble: Japan’s train-loving PM fights to keep LDP on track
Palau Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 5, 2024
Graeme Smith, The Conversation (October 14, 2024): The US isn’t the only country voting on Nov 5. This small Pacific nation is also holding an election – and China is watching
India, State Legislative Assembly Elections in Jharkhand: November 13 and 20, 2024 and Maharashtra: November 20, 2024 (following elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana in October)
Biman Mukherji, South China Morning Post (October 18, 2024): Coming India state polls may decide BJP’s future after surprise win in Haryana
The Hindu (October 18, 2024): Battle of wits: On the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections
Aijaz Hussain, AP (October 16, 2024): Kashmir gets a largely powerless government 5 years after India stripped its special status
Sri Lanka Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 14, 2024
Sri Lanka held its first presidential election since the 2022 financial crisis on September 21. Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake won, defeating a number of establishment political figures. He then called snap parliamentary elections, in a bid to consolidate his power. Sri Lanka remains a key site of geopolitical competition, with China constantly seeking to expand its influence and India continuing to play a role.
Salman Rafi Sheikh, Asia Sentinel (October 14, 2024): Sri Lanka Suddenly in Play as Indian Ocean Fulcrum
Meera Srinivasan, The Hindu (October 12, 2024): Rajapaksa brothers opt out of Sri Lanka’s November 14 general elections
Indonesia Regional Elections: November 27, 2024
Victoria Milko and Niniek Karmini, AP (October 18, 2024): Who is Prabowo Subianto, the former general who becomes Indonesia’s new president?
Johannes Nugroho, Nikkei Asia (October 15, 2024): Jokowi has been a poor guardian of Indonesia’s democracy
Charlie Campbell, Time (October 14, 2024): How President Prabowo Subianto Is Steering Indonesia’s Future
Philippines Midterm Legislative and Local Elections: May 12, 2025
Jeoffrey Maitem, South China Morning Post (October 15, 2024): Most Philippine voters won’t support pro-China candidates in 2025 elections: survey
Ben Sturt, The Diplomat (October 14, 2024): Former Philippine President Duterte Makes Political Comeback Amid Usual Controversy
Singapore Parliamentary Elections: By November 23, 2025
Channel News Asia (October 15, 2024): Singapore passes law to ban deepfakes of candidates during elections
Bangladesh Snap Elections: Forthcoming
AFP (October 17, 2024): Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Paul Staniland, Carnegie Endowment (October 15, 2024): Bangladesh Is Well-Positioned to Build a New Political Area. Can It Seize the Moment?
Sanjay Pulipaka and Mohit Musaddi, The Diplomat (October 14, 2024): Is Bangladesh’s Interim Government State Building by Stealth?
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Macau Chief Executive Election: October 13, 2024 (indirect)
Luisetta Mudie and Ha Syut , Radio Free Asia (October 15, 2024): EXPLAINED: Who will be the next leader of Macau?
Kenji Kawase, Nikkei Asia (October 12, 2024): Macao’s predetermined election reverberates across casinos and Hong Kong
Mongolia Local Elections: October 11, 2024
AKIpress (October 12, 2024): Ruling party of Mongolia wins local elections in Ulaanbaatar
Elections On Deck
Asia Elections Weekly News Review: October 18, 2024
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Last Updated: October 30, 2024 by 21votes
October 18, 2024
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
Japan Snap Parliamentary Elections: October 27, 2024
In August 2024, Japan’s then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he was stepping down in the wake of a slush fund scandal in the governing Liberal Democratic Party. The party helped a leadership election on September 27, which former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba won. Following the election, Ishiba called a snap election for October 27, a move that had been widely expected.
Reuters (October 17, 2024): Japan’s ruling LDP at risk of losing majority in election, polls show
Leo Lewis, Financial Times (October 15, 2024): Ishiba’s election gamble: Japan’s train-loving PM fights to keep LDP on track
Palau Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 5, 2024
Graeme Smith, The Conversation (October 14, 2024): The US isn’t the only country voting on Nov 5. This small Pacific nation is also holding an election – and China is watching
India, State Legislative Assembly Elections in Jharkhand: November 13 and 20, 2024 and Maharashtra: November 20, 2024 (following elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana in October)
Biman Mukherji, South China Morning Post (October 18, 2024): Coming India state polls may decide BJP’s future after surprise win in Haryana
The Hindu (October 18, 2024): Battle of wits: On the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections
Aijaz Hussain, AP (October 16, 2024): Kashmir gets a largely powerless government 5 years after India stripped its special status
Sri Lanka Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 14, 2024
Sri Lanka held its first presidential election since the 2022 financial crisis on September 21. Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake won, defeating a number of establishment political figures. He then called snap parliamentary elections, in a bid to consolidate his power. Sri Lanka remains a key site of geopolitical competition, with China constantly seeking to expand its influence and India continuing to play a role.
Salman Rafi Sheikh, Asia Sentinel (October 14, 2024): Sri Lanka Suddenly in Play as Indian Ocean Fulcrum
Meera Srinivasan, The Hindu (October 12, 2024): Rajapaksa brothers opt out of Sri Lanka’s November 14 general elections
Indonesia Regional Elections: November 27, 2024
Victoria Milko and Niniek Karmini, AP (October 18, 2024): Who is Prabowo Subianto, the former general who becomes Indonesia’s new president?
Johannes Nugroho, Nikkei Asia (October 15, 2024): Jokowi has been a poor guardian of Indonesia’s democracy
Charlie Campbell, Time (October 14, 2024): How President Prabowo Subianto Is Steering Indonesia’s Future
Philippines Midterm Legislative and Local Elections: May 12, 2025
Jeoffrey Maitem, South China Morning Post (October 15, 2024): Most Philippine voters won’t support pro-China candidates in 2025 elections: survey
Ben Sturt, The Diplomat (October 14, 2024): Former Philippine President Duterte Makes Political Comeback Amid Usual Controversy
Singapore Parliamentary Elections: By November 23, 2025
Channel News Asia (October 15, 2024): Singapore passes law to ban deepfakes of candidates during elections
Bangladesh Snap Elections: Forthcoming
AFP (October 17, 2024): Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Paul Staniland, Carnegie Endowment (October 15, 2024): Bangladesh Is Well-Positioned to Build a New Political Area. Can It Seize the Moment?
Sanjay Pulipaka and Mohit Musaddi, The Diplomat (October 14, 2024): Is Bangladesh’s Interim Government State Building by Stealth?
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Macau Chief Executive Election: October 13, 2024 (indirect)
Luisetta Mudie and Ha Syut , Radio Free Asia (October 15, 2024): EXPLAINED: Who will be the next leader of Macau?
Kenji Kawase, Nikkei Asia (October 12, 2024): Macao’s predetermined election reverberates across casinos and Hong Kong
Mongolia Local Elections: October 11, 2024
AKIpress (October 12, 2024): Ruling party of Mongolia wins local elections in Ulaanbaatar
Elections On Deck
Category: This Week Tags: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka