Upcoming Elections
Hong Kong Rural Representative – January 7 and 13, 2019 and City Council – November 2019
Thousands marched in Hong Kong on New Years to call for democracy. Sum Lok-kei at the South China Morning Post writes: “The year 2018 was rough for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy bloc, after it lost two seats in the legislature to the pro-establishment camp in two by-elections. It was also the year when the government set firm red lines on pro-independence activists, raising concerns over freedom of expression. What will shape the city’s politics and become flashpoints for conflict in 2019?”
Thailand General – February 24, 2019 (may be delayed)
Bloomberg reports: “Thailand’s government said a general election planned for Feb. 24 may clash with preparations for the coronation of the country’s king, and it will be up to the Election Commission to decide whether the timing of the poll is appropriate.” Nikkei Asian Review lists the five most important things to know about this election.
India General – April or May 2019
CNN reports: “The next general election must be held by May 2019 — and it could be a much closer race than many had predicted just a month ago.”
Philippines Legislative – May 13, 2019
The New York Times reports: “The Philippine police said on Thursday that a mayor had ordered the killing of a congressman who was gunned down shortly before Christmas, and that one of the men he hired to carry out the assassination had been arrested….Political violence has long plagued the Philippines. Even before Mr. Batocabe’s killing, several officials and candidates for local office in the nationwide elections scheduled for May had been gunned down around the country. But it had been years since a Philippine congressman had been murdered.”
Japan Local – April 2019 and Upper House – July 2019
Japan Times reports: “There will be nationwide local elections in mid-April, which will be followed by Emperor Akihito’s historic abdication at the end of the same month and the arrival of a new era. A little less than two months later, in late June, the nation will host the Group of 20 summit in Osaka for the first time ever, before political tensions soar once again later in the summer when a pivotal Upper House election is held. The nation will then brace for a consumption tax hike, slated for October, from the current eight to 10 percent.”
Maldives Parliamentary – April 9, 2019
The Maldives Independent reports: “President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pledged Saturday night to open a new bank to provide loans to aspiring guesthouse operators.” While this seems like a random bit of non-news for a blog focused on democracy, it is actually politically significant. Before the 2008 transition to democracy, the dictatorship banned foreigners from all inhabited islands in the country. So while tourists visited luxury resorts with overwater villas, they had almost no interaction with local communities (aside from a few highly-scripted “local village excursions” that resorts offered). When Mohamed Nasheed became president, he opened up the country’s inhabited islands to foreign tourists, and encouraged local residents to start up guesthouses. The policy provided new opportunities while encouraging more interaction between Maldivians and visitors, but it was not without controversy, with opposition from some religious conservatives.
Indonesia General – April 17, 2019
Natural disasters continue to torment Indonesia ahead of general elections this April.
Australia Federal Parliamentary – May 2019 (expected)
Bloomberg reports: “With elections expected in May, the next few months are critical for [Prime Minister Scott] Morrison to turn around the fortunes of his Liberal -National coalition government. It trails the main opposition Labor party by 10 percentage points, according to the most recent Newspoll. Should that margin be be replicated at the ballot box, the coalition would lose about 20 seats in parliament and Labor leader Bill Shorten would become prime minister after five years in opposition.”
Regional Elections – 2019
Here are Nikkei Asian Review’s predictions for Asia’s 2019 elections.
Burma General – 2020
Kyaw Zwa Moe of The Irrawaddy, a pro-democracy Burmese website, writes: “What can we expect for Myanmar in 2019? Many people no doubt have numerous hopes. Personally, I only have one, and it’s not asking much—simply that 2019 turns out to be a year of stability that paves the way for free and fair elections to be held as planned in 2020. That’s it. Nothing more. That’s not a big deal, is it? In fact, it’s a very big deal for a country like Myanmar, where the notion of free and fair elections was a dream until very recently.”
Recent Elections
Bangladesh Parliamentary – December 30, 2018
The incumbent Awami League won 96 percent of seats in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections last week amid allegations of fraud and voter intimidation.
The Economist reports: “In this latest vote the electoral playing-field was so tilted, the voting so deeply flawed and the counting so lacking in transparency that even many of the party’s supporters doubt the result. That is a pity. In the judgment of opinion polls and independent observers, Sheikh Hasina’s party looked set to capture a tidy majority even without such vigorous manipulation.”
CNN reports that at least fifteen people were killed in violence surrounding the election.
Some good news:
Other Regional News and Views
Cambodia
Radio Free Asia reports: “Cambodia’s rubber stamp parliament on Thursday approved draft laws to increase the number of local level government positions, after Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested such legislation would encourage opposition officials whose party he had dissolved to defect to his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).”
Singapore
The Singapore Independent reports: “Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made no mention of the next General Election in his New Year Message, released this past Monday. While the next General Election must be must be held by 15 Jan 2021, speculation that the election will be called as soon as this year has hit a fever pitch. Political pundits have predicted that the next election will be held in the next few months while opposition parties are ramping up their efforts in preparation for the polls.”
Taiwan
Washington Post reports: “In one of his most significant addresses on Taiwan since taking power, [Chinese president] Xi reiterated an appeal to the 23 million citizens of the island democracy: If Taiwan submits to Chinese rule, he said, it would enjoy lasting peace and its own system of governance under a “one country, two systems” model, much like Hong Kong after the former British colony was returned to China more than two decades ago.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh in 2015. Sheikh Hasina just won in a landslide. Modi hopes to do the same later this spring. Photo credit: Government of India
21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles or publications.
Asia This Week – January 4, 2019
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Last Updated: January 11, 2019 by 21votes
Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore Asia and the Pacific on Fridays. Click the map pins.
Hong Kong Rural Representative - January 7 and 13, 2019 and City Council - November 2019
Thousands marched in Hong Kong on New Years to call for democracy. Sum Lok-kei at the South China Morning Post writes: “The year 2018 was rough for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy bloc, after it lost two seats in the legislature to the pro-establishment camp in two by-elections. It was also the year when the government set firm red lines on pro-independence activists, raising concerns over freedom of expression. What will shape the city’s politics and become flashpoints for conflict in 2019?”
Thailand General - February 24, 2019 (may be delayed)
Bloomberg reports: “Thailand’s government said a general election planned for Feb. 24 may clash with preparations for the coronation of the country’s king, and it will be up to the Election Commission to decide whether the timing of the poll is appropriate.” Nikkei Asian Review lists the five most important things to know about this election.
India General - April or May 2019
CNN reports: “The next general election must be held by May 2019 — and it could be a much closer race than many had predicted just a month ago.”
Philippines Legislative - May 13, 2019
The New York Times reports: “The Philippine police said on Thursday that a mayor had ordered the killing of a congressman who was gunned down shortly before Christmas, and that one of the men he hired to carry out the assassination had been arrested….Political violence has long plagued the Philippines. Even before Mr. Batocabe’s killing, several officials and candidates for local office in the nationwide elections scheduled for May had been gunned down around the country. But it had been years since a Philippine congressman had been murdered.”
Japan Local - April 2019 and Upper House - July 2019
Japan Times reports: “There will be nationwide local elections in mid-April, which will be followed by Emperor Akihito’s historic abdication at the end of the same month and the arrival of a new era. A little less than two months later, in late June, the nation will host the Group of 20 summit in Osaka for the first time ever, before political tensions soar once again later in the summer when a pivotal Upper House election is held. The nation will then brace for a consumption tax hike, slated for October, from the current eight to 10 percent.”
Maldives Parliamentary - April 9, 2019
The Maldives Independent reports: “President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pledged Saturday night to open a new bank to provide loans to aspiring guesthouse operators.” While this seems like a random bit of non-news for a blog focused on democracy, it is actually politically significant. Before the 2008 transition to democracy, the dictatorship banned foreigners from all inhabited islands in the country. So while tourists visited luxury resorts with overwater villas, they had almost no interaction with local communities (aside from a few highly-scripted “local village excursions” that resorts offered). When Mohamed Nasheed became president, he opened up the country’s inhabited islands to foreign tourists, and encouraged local residents to start up guesthouses. The policy provided new opportunities while encouraging more interaction between Maldivians and visitors, but it was not without controversy, with opposition from some religious conservatives.
Indonesia General - April 17, 2019
Natural disasters continue to torment Indonesia ahead of general elections this April.
Australia Federal Parliamentary - May 2019 (expected)
Bloomberg reports: “With elections expected in May, the next few months are critical for [Prime Minister Scott] Morrison to turn around the fortunes of his Liberal -National coalition government. It trails the main opposition Labor party by 10 percentage points, according to the most recent Newspoll. Should that margin be be replicated at the ballot box, the coalition would lose about 20 seats in parliament and Labor leader Bill Shorten would become prime minister after five years in opposition.”
Burma General - 2020
Kyaw Zwa Moe of The Irrawaddy, a pro-democracy Burmese website, writes: “What can we expect for Myanmar in 2019? Many people no doubt have numerous hopes. Personally, I only have one, and it’s not asking much—simply that 2019 turns out to be a year of stability that paves the way for free and fair elections to be held as planned in 2020. That’s it. Nothing more. That’s not a big deal, is it? In fact, it’s a very big deal for a country like Myanmar, where the notion of free and fair elections was a dream until very recently.”
Bangladesh Parliamentary - December 30, 2018
The incumbent Awami League won 96 percent of seats in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections last week amid allegations of fraud and voter intimidation. The Economist reports: “In this latest vote the electoral playing-field was so tilted, the voting so deeply flawed and the counting so lacking in transparency that even many of the party’s supporters doubt the result. That is a pity. In the judgment of opinion polls and independent observers, Sheikh Hasina’s party looked set to capture a tidy majority even without such vigorous manipulation.”
CNN reports that at least fifteen people were killed in violence surrounding the election.
Cambodia
Radio Free Asia reports: “Cambodia’s rubber stamp parliament on Thursday approved draft laws to increase the number of local level government positions, after Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested such legislation would encourage opposition officials whose party he had dissolved to defect to his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).”
Singapore
The Singapore Independent reports: “Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made no mention of the next General Election in his New Year Message, released this past Monday. While the next General Election must be must be held by 15 Jan 2021, speculation that the election will be called as soon as this year has hit a fever pitch. Political pundits have predicted that the next election will be held in the next few months while opposition parties are ramping up their efforts in preparation for the polls.”
Taiwan
Washington Post reports: “In one of his most significant addresses on Taiwan since taking power, [Chinese president] Xi reiterated an appeal to the 23 million citizens of the island democracy: If Taiwan submits to Chinese rule, he said, it would enjoy lasting peace and its own system of governance under a “one country, two systems” model, much like Hong Kong after the former British colony was returned to China more than two decades ago.”
Upcoming Elections
Hong Kong Rural Representative – January 7 and 13, 2019 and City Council – November 2019
Thousands marched in Hong Kong on New Years to call for democracy. Sum Lok-kei at the South China Morning Post writes: “The year 2018 was rough for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy bloc, after it lost two seats in the legislature to the pro-establishment camp in two by-elections. It was also the year when the government set firm red lines on pro-independence activists, raising concerns over freedom of expression. What will shape the city’s politics and become flashpoints for conflict in 2019?”
Thailand General – February 24, 2019 (may be delayed)
Bloomberg reports: “Thailand’s government said a general election planned for Feb. 24 may clash with preparations for the coronation of the country’s king, and it will be up to the Election Commission to decide whether the timing of the poll is appropriate.” Nikkei Asian Review lists the five most important things to know about this election.
India General – April or May 2019
CNN reports: “The next general election must be held by May 2019 — and it could be a much closer race than many had predicted just a month ago.”
Philippines Legislative – May 13, 2019
The New York Times reports: “The Philippine police said on Thursday that a mayor had ordered the killing of a congressman who was gunned down shortly before Christmas, and that one of the men he hired to carry out the assassination had been arrested….Political violence has long plagued the Philippines. Even before Mr. Batocabe’s killing, several officials and candidates for local office in the nationwide elections scheduled for May had been gunned down around the country. But it had been years since a Philippine congressman had been murdered.”
Japan Local – April 2019 and Upper House – July 2019
Japan Times reports: “There will be nationwide local elections in mid-April, which will be followed by Emperor Akihito’s historic abdication at the end of the same month and the arrival of a new era. A little less than two months later, in late June, the nation will host the Group of 20 summit in Osaka for the first time ever, before political tensions soar once again later in the summer when a pivotal Upper House election is held. The nation will then brace for a consumption tax hike, slated for October, from the current eight to 10 percent.”
Maldives Parliamentary – April 9, 2019
The Maldives Independent reports: “President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pledged Saturday night to open a new bank to provide loans to aspiring guesthouse operators.” While this seems like a random bit of non-news for a blog focused on democracy, it is actually politically significant. Before the 2008 transition to democracy, the dictatorship banned foreigners from all inhabited islands in the country. So while tourists visited luxury resorts with overwater villas, they had almost no interaction with local communities (aside from a few highly-scripted “local village excursions” that resorts offered). When Mohamed Nasheed became president, he opened up the country’s inhabited islands to foreign tourists, and encouraged local residents to start up guesthouses. The policy provided new opportunities while encouraging more interaction between Maldivians and visitors, but it was not without controversy, with opposition from some religious conservatives.
Indonesia General – April 17, 2019
Natural disasters continue to torment Indonesia ahead of general elections this April.
Australia Federal Parliamentary – May 2019 (expected)
Bloomberg reports: “With elections expected in May, the next few months are critical for [Prime Minister Scott] Morrison to turn around the fortunes of his Liberal -National coalition government. It trails the main opposition Labor party by 10 percentage points, according to the most recent Newspoll. Should that margin be be replicated at the ballot box, the coalition would lose about 20 seats in parliament and Labor leader Bill Shorten would become prime minister after five years in opposition.”
Regional Elections – 2019
Here are Nikkei Asian Review’s predictions for Asia’s 2019 elections.
Burma General – 2020
Kyaw Zwa Moe of The Irrawaddy, a pro-democracy Burmese website, writes: “What can we expect for Myanmar in 2019? Many people no doubt have numerous hopes. Personally, I only have one, and it’s not asking much—simply that 2019 turns out to be a year of stability that paves the way for free and fair elections to be held as planned in 2020. That’s it. Nothing more. That’s not a big deal, is it? In fact, it’s a very big deal for a country like Myanmar, where the notion of free and fair elections was a dream until very recently.”
Recent Elections
Bangladesh Parliamentary – December 30, 2018
The incumbent Awami League won 96 percent of seats in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections last week amid allegations of fraud and voter intimidation.
The Economist reports: “In this latest vote the electoral playing-field was so tilted, the voting so deeply flawed and the counting so lacking in transparency that even many of the party’s supporters doubt the result. That is a pity. In the judgment of opinion polls and independent observers, Sheikh Hasina’s party looked set to capture a tidy majority even without such vigorous manipulation.”
CNN reports that at least fifteen people were killed in violence surrounding the election.
Some good news:
Other Regional News and Views
Cambodia
Radio Free Asia reports: “Cambodia’s rubber stamp parliament on Thursday approved draft laws to increase the number of local level government positions, after Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested such legislation would encourage opposition officials whose party he had dissolved to defect to his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).”
Singapore
The Singapore Independent reports: “Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made no mention of the next General Election in his New Year Message, released this past Monday. While the next General Election must be must be held by 15 Jan 2021, speculation that the election will be called as soon as this year has hit a fever pitch. Political pundits have predicted that the next election will be held in the next few months while opposition parties are ramping up their efforts in preparation for the polls.”
Taiwan
Washington Post reports: “In one of his most significant addresses on Taiwan since taking power, [Chinese president] Xi reiterated an appeal to the 23 million citizens of the island democracy: If Taiwan submits to Chinese rule, he said, it would enjoy lasting peace and its own system of governance under a “one country, two systems” model, much like Hong Kong after the former British colony was returned to China more than two decades ago.”
21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles or publications.
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Category: This Week Tags: Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand