September 2, 2022

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.

Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi hosts a press conference at her home 2012. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Foreign and Commonwealth Office (OGL v1.0)

Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections

New Zealand Local Elections: October 8, 2022

Radio New Zealand (September 1, 2022): Local body elections: The controversial candidates running for NZ councils

Damien Venuto, New Zealand Herald (August 30, 2022): The Front Page: Why this year’s local elections are more important than ever

Timor-Leste Local Elections: October 2022 (due), following Presidential Elections: March/April 2022

Pranay Varada, Harvard International Review (August 31, 2022): Democracy and Development in Timor-Leste: Interview with President José Ramos-Horta

Nepal General and Provincial Elections: November 20, 2022

Parul Chandra, Deccan Herald (September 1, 2022): Nepal’s misgivings on Agnipath could hurt ties, help China: The brewing Agnipath controversy in Nepal can derail bilateral ties and allow China to make deeper inroads

Gopal Sharma, Reuters (August 29, 2022): Nepal seeks to pause recruitment of Gurkhas into Indian army under ‘Agnipath’ plan

Man Aman Singh Chhina, Deccan Herald (August 27, 2022): Explained: Why Nepal has put on hold Gorkhas recruitment under India’s Agnipath scheme

Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)

Radio New Zealand (September 2, 2022): Fiji government passes controversial electoral bill

Thailand General Elections: By March 23, 2023 (earlier elections possible)

Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Bloomberg (August 30, 2022): Here Are Pro-Military Contenders to Replace Prayuth as Thai PM

Malaysia General Elections and State Elections: May 2023 (due – general elections likely to be called earlier)

Rozanna Latiff, Reuters (September 1, 2022): Malaysia’s former first lady Rosmah sentenced to 10 years in jail for graft

The Star/Asia News Network (August 31, 2022): 6 opposition-held Malaysian states to sit out if polls held this year

Financial Times (August 30, 2022): Mahathir Mohamad urges Asean to move towards China after US’s Taiwan ‘provocation’

Rashvinjeet S Bedi, Channel News Asia (August 30, 2022): Malaysia polls likely to be held later this year, say analysts as political parties gear up for campaign

Jonathan Head, BBC (August 27, 2022): Najib Razak: The verdict that sent Malaysia’s untouchable ex-PM to prison

Philip J. Heijmans and Ravil Shirodkar, Bloomberg (August 26, 2022): Malaysia’s Anwar Expects Boost From Najib Ruling as Vote Looms

Cambodia Parliamentary Elections: July 30, 2023 (due)

AFP (September 1, 2022): Cambodian opposition figure faces French defamation trial: Longstanding Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy will face a French court on Thursday in defamation cases brought against him by top officials in his home country.

Voice of America (August 31, 2022): How an Opposition Candidate Won Office, and Lost Everything

Radio Free Asia (August 26, 2022): UN official says Cambodia faces ‘severe’ human rights issues

Burma Parliamentary Elections: By August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup)

Oliver Slow, BBC (September 2, 2022): Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi given three more years for ‘election fraud’

Nicola Smith, The Telegraph (September 2, 2022): Vicky Bowman, Britain’s former ambassador to Myanmar, jailed for immigration offences: The diplomat and her husband were arrested last week and have now been sentenced to prison on ‘politically motivated’ charges

The Irrawaddy (August 30, 2022): Myanmar Junta Imposes New Restrictions on Political Parties

Radio Free Asia (August 29, 2022): Authorities crushed at least 15 protests by political prisoners since Myanmar coup

Solomon Islands General Elections: April 2024 (due)

Stephen Dziedzic and Annika Burgess, ABC News Australia (September 2, 2022): Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare fast-tracks bill to amend constitution and delay elections

AFP (August 31, 2022): Solomon Islands suspends all naval visits

Defense Post with AFP (August 29, 2022): Solomon Islands Refuses to Allow US Ship to Make Port Call

Past Asia/Pacific Elections

Papua New Guinea General Elections: July 4-22, 2022

Radio New Zealand (September 2, 2022): Minister heads to PNG after nods to possible new security deal

Theresa Meki, East Asia Forum (September 2, 2022): Where are the women in PNG’s parliament?

South Korea Local Elections: June 1, 2022, following Presidential Election: March 9, 2022

Kim Tong-Hyung, AP (August 28, 2022): Outspoken lawmaker picked to lead South Korean opposition: Firebrand lawmaker Lee Jae-myung has been elected to lead South Korea’s main opposition party, months after his narrow presidential defeat to conservative opponent Yoon Suk Yeol left the liberals in disarray

Philippines General Elections (Presidential, Legislative, and Local): May 9, 2022

Rappler (September 1, 2022): Barangay, SK polls have not been postponed

Rappler (August 29, 2022 – video): WATCH: How Philippine dynasties delivered for Marcos

Hong Kong Chief Executive Election: May 8, 2022 (indirect)

Kelly Ho, Hong Kong Free Press (September 1, 2022): Hong Kong court adjourns discussion of national security case against two of 47 democrats

Nono Shen, Canadian Press (August 26, 2022): Activists face arrest but push on with ‘Hong Kong parliament’ plan, hatched in Canada

Regional News and Analysis

Aamer Madhani, AP (September 2, 2022): Biden to host Pacific Island summit with wary eye on China

Bilal Ahmad Tantray, The Diplomat (September 1, 2022): Where are South Asia’s Green Parties?

Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2022 and 2023

Japan, Gubernatorial Election in Okinawa: September 11, 2022

Nauru Parliamentary Elections: September 24, 2022

New Zealand Local Elections: October 8, 2022

Australia, Tasmania Local Elections: October 25, 2022

Timor-Leste Local Elections: October 2022 (due)

Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)

Taiwan Local Elections: November 26, 2022

India, State Elections in Himachal Pradesh: November 2022 (due)

Australia, South Australia Local Elections; November 11, 2022

Australia, Victoria State Elections: November 26, 2022

India, State Elections in Gujarat: December 2022 (due)

India, State Elections in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland: February 2023 (due)

Thailand General Elections: By March 23, 2023 (earlier elections possible)

Australia, New South Wales State Elections: March 25, 2023

Micronesia Parliamentary Elections: March 7, 2023

Malaysia General Elections and State Elections: May 2023 (due – general elections likely to be called earlier)

India, State Elections in Karnataka: May 2023 (due)

Cambodia Parliamentary Elections: July 30, 2023 (due)

Burma Parliamentary Elections: By August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup)

Maldives Presidential Election: September 2023 (due)

Tuvalu General Elections: September 2023 (due)

Singapore Presidential Election: September 2023 (expected – largely ceremonial role)

New Zealand General Elections: October 2023 (expected – due by January 2024)

Bhutan Parliamentary Elections: October 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)

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