December 24, 2021
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. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
St. Joseph Cathedral in Kuching, capital of Malaysia’s Sarawak state. Sarawak held state elections this month. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Chipmunk (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Bangladesh Partial Local Elections: January 5, 2022 and Parliamentary Elections: By December 2023
Some of Bangladesh’s towns hold local elections in the coming months. Bangladesh last held general elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) in December 2018 amid political violence and harassment of the opposition. The next polls are due in December 2022 or early 2023. The Awami League (AL) has been in power since 2009 and is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
On the geopolitical front, Bangladesh has risen in importance in recent years in the midst of high economic growth. More
AFP (December 16, 2021): Bangladesh marks 50 years since liberation war victory
Asif Muztaba Hassan, The Diplomat (December 16, 2021): Bangladesh at 50: On the Path to Becoming a Middle Power
Ali Riaz, New Age Bangladesh (December 16, 2021): Three issues at centre of Bangladesh politics
Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy (December 16, 2021): Why Did the United States Just Sanction Bangladesh? Action against an elite paramilitary force comes just weeks after Washington emphasized a deepening partnership with Dhaka
Faisal Mahmud, Al Jazeera (December 15, 2021): Are sanctions on RAB a shift in US policy towards Bangladesh?
Ali Riaz, Carnegie Endowment (December 9, 2021): How Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act Is Creating a Culture of Fear
Nepal National Assembly Elections: January 26, 2022 (voting for 1/3 of upper house)
Nepal holds elections for a third of the National Assembly, the upper house of the bicameral parliament, on January 26, 2022.
Nepal had planned to hold snap elections for the lower house in November 2021, following a protracted political crisis, but now the snap elections have been cancelled, and the current thinking is that the parliamentary elections will take place when they are due in 2023. For background: in December 2020, Nepal’s prime minister decided to dissolve parliament and call for new elections. However, on February 23, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, cancelling the snap elections. The government subsequently lost a confidence vote, sparking snap polls. However, the courts reversed the decision.
Nepal sits in the strategically-important Himalayas, and is a focus of competition between India and China. Although former prime minister KP Sharma Oli brought Nepal closer to China, his replacement, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who assumed office in July 2021, is seen as favoring closer ties to India. More
Binod Ghimire, Kathmandu Post (December 23, 2021): When should the local elections be held? Election Commission says by May next year. Political parties don’t seem to be prepared.
Achyut Wagle, The Wire India (December 21, 2021): Winds of Political Change As Nepali Congress Party ‘Elects’ New Leadership, Youth Get Priority: Many believe the inner-party democracy demonstrated by the oldest democratic party of Nepal will eventually result in deepening republican democracy in the country.
Yubaraj Shimire, Indian Express (December 17, 2021): Nepal defence minister quits after defeat in internal party election: Rijal had unsuccessfully contested for the post of general secretary from the panel opposed to Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahdur Deuba.
Santosh Sharma Poudel, The Diplomat (December 9, 2021): In Nepal, Calls Grow for the Restoration of a Hindu State: A resurgent Hindu nationalism in the former Hindu kingdom is drawing strength from India’s ruling BJP.
Nepali Times (December 6, 2021): Battle lines drawn for Nepal elections: Politicians and their parties position themselves for the 2023 polls, with secularism and monarchy topping the agenda.
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
Five Indian states are due to hold elections in early 2022. These elections will be a key test for the two biggest parties, PM Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress Party. Although there have been some concerns about Modi’s increasing authoritarianism, India remains an important partner in combatting China’s attempts to spread its political and economic influence around the world.
India’s next general elections are due by May 2024.
Bibhudatta Pradhan, Bloomberg (December 24, 2021): India Court Urges Modi, Election Body to Defer Local Polls
Kumar Shakti Shekhar, Times of India (December 9, 2021): Farmers’ protest called off: How it may impact upcoming assembly elections
Timor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Timor-Leste (also called East Timor) is due to hold a presidential election in March 2022. Since winning independence from Indonesia in a referendum 20 years ago, Timor-Leste has become a democracy rated Free by Freedom House, although some challenges remain.
Chris Barrett, Sydney Morning Herald (December 19, 2021): ‘Thousands pleading with me to run’: Jose Ramos-Horta eyes return as East Timor president
LUSA (December 11, 2021 – in Portuguese): Timor Socialist Party votes decisions on support in 2022 presidential elections
Bárbara Reis, Publico Portugal (December 9, 2021 – in Portuguese): A woman and independent, Milena Pires is candidate for President of Timor-Leste
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
South Korea holds its presidential election on March 9, 2021. Recently, the conservative opposition won special mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan by a landslide, just a year after President Moon Jae-in’s center-left Democratic Party swept the legislature. Moreover, Moon’s approval rating is tanking.
Hae Kyung Ahn, The Diplomat (December 24, 2021): A Bipartisan Consensus on South Korea’s Foreign Policy? The foreign policy platforms of the two leading candidates in South Korea’s upcoming presidential election are more alike than they are different.
Hyung-Jin Kim, AP (December 24, 2021): SKorea ex-President Park, jailed for corruption, is pardoned
Hyung-A Kim, East Asia Forum (December 5, 2021): Tough tests for South Korea’s next president
Philippines General Elections (Presidential, Legislative, and Local): May 9, 2022
Philippines holds general elections on May 9, 2022. In 2016, populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency, claiming to be an outsider. He has governed with an iron fist. Although he is banned from seeking a second term, critics fear that he will seek to consolidate illiberalism in the form of a handpicked successor. His daughter, Sara Duterte, will run for vice president as the running mate of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the notorious late former dictator.
Meanwhile, a broad coalition of opposition figures have formed 1Sambayan (One Nation) in the hopes of defeating Duterte’s allies with a united front. Boxing star Manny Pacquiao, a former Duterte ally, had been discussed as a possible presidential candidate for 1Sambayan, but the alliance ultimately decided to endorse current vice president Leni Robredo.
While the Philippines lacks significant hard power, it is located in a geopolitically crucial area. The country has been a key U.S. ally since World War II, but Duterte has flirted with moves to bring the Philippines closer to China and away from the United States during his tenure in office. However, the country has ultimately kept the defense pact with the U.S. in tact.
Reuters (December 18, 2021): Philippines’ election agency rejects bid to disqualify Marcos Jr
Mong Palatino, The Diplomat (December 17, 2021): Three Decades of Election Protests in the Philippines: Even compared to past Philippine elections, the upcoming presidential polls are shaping up as unusually divisive.
Reuters (December 15, 2021): Philippines’ Duterte quits senate race in new election twist
Richard Javad Heydarian, Al Jazeera (December 14, 2021): What is behind the resurgence of the Marcos dynasty? Former dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ son ‘Bongbong’ is on course to become the president of the Philippines in May 2022.
Jairo Bolledo, Rappler (December 11, 2021): At Biden’s Democracy Summit, Duterte vows ‘honest, peaceful, free’ 2022 PH elections
Mong Palatino, The Diplomat (December 3, 2021): Why the Fight for the Philippines Vice Presidency Matters: Whoever wins the number two slot could end up playing a significant political role in the next administration.
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022 and Parliamentary Elections: July 2023 (due)
Cambodia is due to hold local elections in 2022 and general elections in 2023. Although Cambodia has held elections in the past that had some element of competition, the 2018 election – neither free nor fair – signified the closing of Cambodia’s political space. They have been called “the death of democracy.”
The main pro-democracy opposition, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and banned from fielding candidates, and its leader, Sam Rainsy, was sent into exile, so its supporters boycotted the polls, resulting in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) taking 58 out of 62 seats in parliament, and allowing Prime Minister Hun Sen to consolidate even more power while extending his three decades in power.
Andrew Nachemson, Al Jazeera (December 23, 2021): A new Hun rises: Cambodia’s ruling party meets to plot its future: Cambodian People’s Party set to choose a future successor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest serving leaders.
Mark Tilly, Lowy Institute (December 20, 2021): Hun Sen’s all-encompassing rule of Cambodia: The strongman has anointed his son as successor – after an election, of course.
Radio Free Asia (December 14, 2021): Trial date set for Cambodia’s Kem Sokha: Opposition leader, arrested in 2017, faces charges of treason.
Markus Karbaum, The Diplomat (December 9, 2021): Cambodia’s Leadership Succession: One Small Step Further: Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed his eldest son Hun Manet as his successor. But he did not name a date – and many further questions remain unanswered.
AP (December 9, 2021): U.S. orders arms embargo on Cambodia, cites Chinese influence
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Australia’s federal parliamentary elections are due by 2022, but snap elections could happen. Meanwhile, several states hold elections in 2021. In the last general elections, in 2019, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Liberal Party won in a surprise result, after trailing in pre-election polls.
Tensions with China are rising as Australia’s federal government has cancelled several Belt and Road deals. More
Ben Wescott and Caitlin McGee, CNN (December 8, 2021): Australia, UK and Canada join US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Pew Research Center (December 7, 2021): Freedom, Elections, Voice: How People in Australia and the UK Define Democracy
Reuters (December 5, 2021): Analysis-Australian PM, Behind in Polls and Beset by Division, Faces Tough Road to Re-Election
Papua New Guinea General Elections: June/July 2022 (due)
Papua New Guinea is due to hold general elections in June or July 2022.
Michael Kabuni, Asia and the Pacific Policy Society (December 9, 2021): PNG security ahead of the 2022 election
Japan House of Councillors Elections: July 25, 2022 (half of upper house at stake)
Japan holds elections for half of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the bicameral parliament, on July 25, 2022. These follow general elections that took placeon October 31, a bit earlier than the November deadline. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics since 1955, won another term in office, despite somewhat decreased approval ratings in recent months.
The general elections followed the LDP’s September 29 leadership contest. Former prime minister Yoshihide Suga did not seek re-election. Foreign minister Fumio Kishida defeated vaccine czar Kono Taro in a runoff, as well as the hawkish former internal affairs minister Takaichi Sanae and former gender equality minister Noda Seiko.
Thisanka Siripala, The Diplomat (December 8, 2021): Can Japan’s Main Opposition Party Win Public Approval? The new leader of the CDP is focusing on a policy-based approach to rebuild after a crushing election loss.
Taiwan Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
Taiwan, a robust democracy, is due to hold local elections in November 2022.
The country held presidential and legislative elections in January 2020. President Tsai Ing-Wen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the legislative elections and Tsai herself was re-elected president. The DPP, established in 1986 during Taiwan’s transition to democracy, supports Taiwan’s independence. The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), founded by Sun Yat-Sen, favors closer ties to the mainland, which it ruled from 1925 to 1948. Relations with China are a dominant theme in Taiwan’s political debate.
Stratfor (December 21, 2021): In Taiwan, a Failed Referendum Presages More U.S. Trade — and More Chinese Ire
Reuters (December 13, 2021): Factbox: Taiwan’s referendums and what’s up for a vote
Matthew Strong, Taiwan News (December 3, 2021): Taiwan sets Jan. 9 for recall vote of rock star legislator
Thailand General Elections: By March 23, 2023 (earlier elections possible)
Thailand is due to hold general elections by March 23, 2023, but early elections are possible. In addition, various types of local elections are taking place at various times. These elections are taking place in the context of unprecedented protests against the monarchy, and calls for unprecedented types of reforms. These protests have been going on for months. More
Kevin Hewison, East Asia Forum (December 24, 2021): Entrenching authoritarianism in Thailand
Neill Fronde, Thaiger (December 9, 2021): Opposition parties predict election between March and July 2022
Burma Parliamentary Elections: By August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup)
Burma, also called Myanmar, held general elections on November 8, 2020. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. However, on February 1, the military staged a coup, claiming election fraud (despite a lack of evidence). Protests against the coup continue. The military claims it will hold new elections by 2023. More
The Irrawaddy (December 17, 2021): Myanmar Junta Minister’s Masterminding of Violent Pro-Military Rallies Revealed
Siladitya Ray, Forbes (December 6, 2021): Deposed Myanmar Leader Suu Kyi Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For ‘Inciting Public Unrest’
Indonesia Presidential and Legislative Elections: April 2024 (due)
Indonesia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in April 2024. In Indonesia’s April 2019 elections – the biggest single day of voting in the history of the world – incumbent Joko Widodo (Jokowi), widely seen as a reformer, defeated challenger Prabowo Subianto for the presidency. Prabowo initially refused to accept the results, and rioting subsequently ensued. Prabowo ultimately did accept the results, but tensions remain, particularly regarding the role of religion in politics. More
Asmiati A. Malik, The Diplomat (December 13, 2021): Who Will Succeed Joko Widodo as Indonesia’s President? The elections are still two-and-a-half years away, but already the race to the Presidential Palace is heating up.
Malaysia, Early General Elections: To be called, following Melaka State Snap Elections: November 20, 2021 and Sarawak State Elections: December 18, 2021
Malaysia will likely call early general elections once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Meanwhile, several of Malaysia’s states are due to hold elections in the next year. Melaka (or Malacca – located on the Strait of Malacca, a key strategic choke point) held snap elections on November 20, which delivered a victory for the ruling coalition. In addition, Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, is due to hold state elections very shortly after the federal government lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency. In Malaysia’s federal system, state governments have significant powers to make laws for their own states, and the Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah have even more power than the 11 peninsular Malaysian states.
The country’s politics have been turbulent since the historic defeat of UMNO – which had ruled since 1957 – in the 2018 elections. UMNO is back in power but hanging on by a thread as Ismail Sabri Yaakob, from UMNO, became prime minister in August 2021, following protests and general chaos. He replaced Muhyiddin Yassin, who was only in office for 17 months (the shortest-ever tenure of a Malaysian prime minister). More
Union of Catholic Asian News (December 21, 2021): Ruling coalition holds Malaysia’s Christian-majority state: Christians make up about 42 percent of the population of Sarawak, the largest of the country’s 13 states
Anisah Shukry, Bloomberg (December 18, 2021): Malaysia’s Ruling Coalition Retains Sarawak in Key State Polls
Anisah Shukry, Bloomberg (December 17, 2021): Anwar-Led Opposition Faces Sliding Fortunes in Key Malaysia Poll
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (December 16, 2021): Malaysia Readies for Crucial Sarawak State Elections: The elections fall amidst an upswing in pro-autonomy sentiment in the eastern Malaysian state.
The Straits Times (December 13, 2021): Malaysia’s Mahathir says next election ‘last chance to clean up the country’
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 19, 2021
Hong Kong is holding elections to the Legislative Council on December 19, 2021, after more than a year’s delay. These elections are taking place in the context of Beijing’s determination to gut Hong Kong’s democracy. More
Zoe Strozewski, Newsweek (December 22, 2021): Hong Kong Sees Lowest Voter Turnout Since 1997 for China-Endorsed Elections
Nikkei Asia (December 22, 2021): Hong Kong ‘election’ takes its democracy closer to one-party China: Political charade only fuels distrust toward Beijing
Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic (December 20, 2021): Why Authoritarian Regimes Bother With Elections: Beijing rewrote the rules of Hong Kong’s recent elections, and the result among voters was apathy.
Erin Hale, Al Jazeera (December 15, 2021): Hong Kong gears up for ‘patriots-only’ poll amid boycott calls: Activists in Hong Kong call for a boycott of December 19 vote, saying the poll is a ‘selection’ and not an ‘election’.
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic (December 9, 2021): China Wants to Rule the World by Controlling the Rules
Reuters (December 9, 2021): Jimmy Lai and two other Hong Kong democracy activists found guilty over June 4 assembly
Tommy Walker, Voice of America (December 8, 2021): Hong Kong Stifles Journalists With Threats, Expulsions a Year After Sweeping Security Law
Solomon Islands General Elections: April 3, 2019
The Solomon Islands held elections on April 3, 2019. Manasseh Sogavare, who had previously served several tumultuous terms at different points, was elected prime minister again, ousting Rick Houenipwela, who himself had become prime minister when Sogavare was ousted in a no-confidence motion in 2017. Riots broke out after the elections. Subsequently, the Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, a very controversial decision.
Reuters (December 5, 2021): Solomon Islands Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote After Riots
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2021, 2022, and 2023
Bhutan Local Elections: December 22, 2021
Bangladesh Partial Local Elections: January 5, 2022
Nepal National Assembly Elections: January 26, 2022 (voting for 1/3 of upper house)
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
Australia, South Australia State Election: March 19, 2022
Timor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Nepal Provincial Elections: April or May 2022 (due)
Nepal General Elections: Spring 2022 (expected – due by March 2023, but early elections likely)
Philippines Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: May 9, 2022
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Papua New Guinea Parliamentary and Local Elections: June 25-July 8, 2022
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022
Japan House of Councillors Elections: July 25, 2022 (half of upper house at stake)
Vanuatu Presidential Election: July 2022 (due – indirect election, largely ceremonial role)
Australia, Tasmania State Elections: By Mid-2022
Malaysia Snap Elections: August 2022 or later (expected)
Nauru Parliamentary Elections: August 2022 (due)
New Zealand Local Elections: October 2022 (due)
Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Taiwan Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
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 2023
Malaysia State Elections: May 2023 (due)
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)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Middle East This Week: December 28, 2021
Last Updated: January 18, 2022 by 21votes Leave a Comment
December 28, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in the greater Middle East and North Africa, usually posted on Tuesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Libya Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: January 24, 2021 (delayed from December 2021 – additional delays possible)
Libya’s national elections are overdue and have been postponed due to the political crisis and civil war. However, in November 2020, Libyan stakeholders participating in UN-sponsored talks proposed December 24, 2021 for presidential and parliamentary elections. At this point, it looks like the elections are moving forward, with candidates declaring. However, delays are always possible.
Since the collapse of Muammar Qaddafi’s dictatorship in 2011, Libya has been in crisis. The country is important because of its oil resources, as well as its ports, which have become a springboard for migrants to Europe. As such, foreign powers remain heavily involved. More
Al Jazeera (December 24, 2021): Western powers urge Libya to set new election date ‘swiftly’
Jared Malsin, Wall Street Journal (December 22, 2021): Libya Delays Presidential Election Amid Concerns of Renewed Conflict: Election commission says it was impossible to develop a final list of candidates, proposes Jan. 24 for polls
Palestinian Authority Local Elections Phase 2: March 26, 2022
The Palestinian Authority is holding elections in two phases, the first of which took place on December 11, 2021, and the second of which is due on March 26, 2022. The PA has postponed its long overdue elections for the legislature and president, which had been scheduled for May 22 and July 31, respectively. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 16 of a four-year term. Similarly, the last Legislative Council elections took place in 2006.
Daoud Kuttab, Al-Monitor (December 15, 2021): Fatah wins small victory in Palestinian local elections
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 15, 2022
Lebanon has set parliamentary elections for May 15, 2022. The country has been in a political crisis and without a government since the port explosion in Beirut, in which 215 people died, 7,500 were injured, and 300,000 were left homeless. Moreover, Lebanon is in an economic crisis.
Reuters (December 27, 2021): Lebanon Sets May 15 Election Day for Parliamentary Polls
Reuters (December 25, 2021): Lebanon’s top Christian cleric issues elections plea
UN News (December 21, 2021): Guterres in Lebanon: Fair elections in 2022, an ‘essential opportunity’ for voices to be heard
Dave Gavlak, Voice of America (December 18, 2021): Lebanon’s March 2022 Parliamentary Elections: A Chance for Change?
Tunisia Constitutional Referendum: July 15, 2022 and Early Legislative Elections: December 17, 2022
Tunisia will hold a constitutional referendum and early elections in 2022, following protests sparked by President Kais Saied’s dismissal of the government, a move some deemed a coup.
Tunisia began transitioning to democracy in 2011, amid the Arab Spring protests, and in 2019, held the third national elections since the fall of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Political outsider and populist Kais Saied won the presidency. The results indicated a rejection of the main political parties and post-Ben Ali political ideologies (Islamism and secular liberalism). However, some concerns lingered about the democratic process.
Political and civil society actors hope that the early elections can return Tunisia to a democratic path.
Sarah Yerkes, Carnegie Endowment (December 21, 2021): The Tunisian President’s Election Plan Is Troubling. So Is the U.S. Response.
Heba Saleh, Financial Times (December 14, 2021): Tunisia’s populist president promises elections next year: Kais Saied tightens control of the north African country but has yet to reveal economic plan
AFP (December 13, 2021): Tunisia president extends parliament suspension, sets election in 1 year
Turkey General Elections: By June 18, 2023 (snap elections possible)
Turkey is due for general elections in June 2023, but there have been rumors of possible snap elections, and more than half of Turkish citizens want an early vote. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been in power since 2003, and although the party initially ran on a reformist platform, it has become increasingly authoritarian. A 2017 constitutional change, with passed very narrowly in a referendum, replaced the parliamentary system with a presidential system, and gave the presidency new powers.
Kareem Fahim, Washington Post (December 21, 2021): As Turkey’s economy suffers, Erdogan’s opponents step up efforts aimed at unseating him
Pakistan General Elections: By October 12, 2023
Pakistan is due to hold its next general elections by October 12, 2023.
Umair Jamal, The Diplomat (December 29, 2021): Tough Days Ahead for Pakistan’s Ruling Party: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s defeat in its traditional stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa does not bode well for its electoral prospects in other parts of the country.
Faseeh Mangi and Ismail Dilawar, Bloomberg (December 21, 2021): Pakistan’s Imran Khan Concedes Election Loss in Stronghold Area
Past Middle East Elections
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021
Iraq held early elections on October 10 (postponed from the original proposal of holding them on June 6, 2021, one year early) as a result of the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019. The country is also due to hold provincial (sometimes called governorate) elections.
The elections took place in the context of widespread protest and political instability. The political climate is violent and chaotic, with over 600 people killed since the start of the protests. Moreover, a number of political parties have announced plans to boycott the polls.
The Shi’ite firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, one of Iraq’s most influential politicians, had announced a boycott, but has reversed course and urged his followers to support the elections. He subsequently proceeded to win the elections. More
Ghassan Adnan and Stephen Kalin, Wall Street Journal (December 27, 2021): Iraq’s Top Court Endorses Election Results in Setback for Pro-Iran Faction: Decision paves the way for the formation of a new government dominated by a Shiite Muslim cleric
Dave Gavlak, Voice of America (December 26, 2021): In 2022, Iraq Expected to Struggle for Sovereignty Amid Tug of War
Afghanistan Presidential Election: September 28, 2019
Afghanistan held its last presidential election on September 28, 2019. Ashraf Ghani ultimately won re-election in a very tense vote and a tense four months in between the election and the final declaration of results, defeating his main rival, Abdullah Abdullan. The election took place amid attacks by the Taliban, which had ordered Afghans not to vote.
Following the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover of much of the country, the future of Afghan politics remains uncertain.
Al Jazeera (December 25, 2021): ‘No need’: Taliban dissolves Afghanistan election commission
Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2022 and 2023
Libya Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: January 24, 2021 (delayed from December 24, 2021 – additional delays possible)
Palestinian Authority Local Elections Phase 2: March 26, 2022
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 15, 2022
Tunisia Constitutional Referendum: July 25, 2022
Bahrain Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Tunisia Early Legislative Elections: December 17, 2022
Turkey Presidential and Legislative Elections: By June 18, 2023
Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Parliamentary Elections: September 2023
Pakistan General Elections: By October 12, 2023
Israel Local Elections: October 2023
Oman Consultative Assembly Elections: October 2023
United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Elections: October 2023 (indirect elections, advisory body with limited powers)
Egypt Local Elections: Due and discussed, but not scheduled
Oman Local Elections: Due, but postponed due to COVID-19
Palestinian Authority Presidential and Legislative Elections: Long overdue, postponed yet again, no date set
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Africa This Week: Deceber 27, 2021
Last Updated: January 18, 2022 by 21votes Leave a Comment
December 27, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Africa Elections
Somalia, Indirect Legislative Elections: Due, Indirect Presidential Election: February 8, 2022 (tentative – preceded by indirect legislative elections)
Somalia does not hold direct elections, but rather holds indirect elections in a clan-based system. Currently, an indirect presidential election is planned for October 10, delayed from February 8, 2021. The term of President Mohamed “Farmaajo” has expired, leaving Somalia in a political and constitutional crisis. In April 2021, Farmaajo sought to extend his term for two years, but parliament voted to reject the extension.
While the United States and the EU threatened sanctions, some analysts believed that the delay could pave the way for direct elections. However, critics dismiss this idea as a ruse to justify Farmaajo’s extension of his term. The parties reached a deal to hold the elections on October 10, 2021, but this has been pushed to February 8, 2022. Additional delays are possible.
Somalia’s strategic location means that instability has impact beyond its borders. More
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times (December 27, 2021): Somalia’s President Suspends Prime Minister Over Corruption Allegations: The premier, Mohamed Hussein Roble, defied the order to step down as tensions continued over long-delayed elections.
Larry Madowo, CNN (December 27, 2021): Fears of political violence rise as Somalia’s president and prime minister jockey for power
Reuters (December 27, 2021): We ‘strongly’ urge Somalia leaders to de-escalate tensions – U.S. Embassy
Senegal Local Elections: January 31, 2022, followed by legislative elections in 2022 and a presidential election in 2024
Senegal has set local elections – originally due in June 2019 but delayed several times – for January 31, 2022. Meanwhile, legislative elections are due in July 2022.
Long considered a stable democracy, backsliding has been taking place under President Macky Sall, who has been accused of prosecuting his political opponents on politically-motivated charges (Freedom House downgraded the country from Free to Partly Free in 2020). Consequently, Senegal saw violent protests in March 2021 following rape charges against former opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, and further protests in November 2021. Some are concerned that Sall could attempt to seek an unconstitutional third term, especially if his allies win another majority in the 2022 legislative elections.
A series of oil and gas discoveries starting in 2014 have set Senegal up to become a player in energy production. Sall is a former oil executive and thus has focused on beginning production. More
AP (December 16, 2021): Hundreds protest treatment of Senegal’s opposition
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following two coups – delays highly likely)
Mali has set presidential and legislative elections for February 27, 2022, following the August 2020 coup. In the coup, soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government. Before that, there will be a constitutional referendum on October 31, 2021 and local and regional elections on December 26.
On May 25, Mali had another coup, but leaders have stated that the elections will remain on the calendar for 2022. However, the situation remains fluid. Most recently, the government has said the elections would be delayed.
Reuters (December 25, 2021): Mali denies deployment of Russian mercenaries, says only ‘trainers’ present
Tim Lister and Sebastian Shukla, CNN (December 24, 2021): Arrival of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Mali condemned by European governments
Barbara Surk, AP (December 23, 2021): France: Russia is funding Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali
DW (December 22, 2021): Mali: West African bloc asks for post coup election plans from interim government: West African bloc ECOWAS said they hoped to have an election plan from Mali by the end of this year, after a meeting with the interim leaders. Mali’s authorities had previously said elections could be delayed.
Al Jazeera (December 15, 2021): French forces leave Mali’s Timbuktu after nearly nine years: French army says ‘will be present in a different way’ as former colonial power draws down its military presence in Mali.
RFI (December 13, 2021): West African bloc ECOWAS warns of sanctions if Mali misses election deadline
Gambia Legislative and Local Elections: April 2022 (due)
Gambia is due to hold legislative and local elections in April 2022. These follow the December 2021 presidential election, the first since it began its remarkable transition to democracy in 2016, when citizens removed dictator Yahya Jammeh – who had come to power in a coup and ruled for 22 years – peacefully, via the ballot box. In a surprising election result, opposition candidate Adama Barrow won the presidency with the backing of a coalition of seven opposition parties. However, the process of establishing democracy and recovering from Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship has not been easy. Jammeh sought to influence this election from exile (he is currently in Equatorial Guinea). Although Jammeh and Barrow had previously made a controversial pre-election deal, they abandoned it and Jammeh ultimately called on voters to oust Barrow, who nonetheless won re-election by a large margin.
However, even though international observers and Gambian civil society organizations have called the vote credible, some opposition candidates are challenging the results. More
DW (December 25, 2021): Gambia commission recommends ex-president Jammeh be tried: A commission in Gambia has suggested that former President Yahya Jammeh be brought before an international tribunal for crimes committed during his 22-year dictatorship.
Sait Matty Jaw, African Arguments (December 14, 2021): Why the people picked Barrow again in Gambia’s best-run elections ever
Al Jazeera (December 14, 2021): The Gambia opposition asks Supreme Court to annul poll results
Nigeria General Elections: February 18, 2023
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, holds general elections on February 18, 2023, but some states are due to hold gubernatorial elections before that, including Ekiti and Osun states in 2022.
In addition, potential 2023 candidates have already begun jockeying for position. Since the return to civilian rule, vote-rigging and violence have plagued elections. While the 2015 polls – which handed the opposition its first-ever victory – were considered credible, international and Nigerian observers found that the 2019 polls fell short. The country is in the midst of several security crises.
Africanews (December 21, 2021): Nigeria: President Buhari opposes a change in the electoral law
Cote d’Ivoire Local Elections: 2023 (proposed), followed by General Elections: 2025
Côte d’Ivoire’s president has proposed holding local elections early, in 2023. The country just completed a major election cycle that began in turbulent fashion when incumbent president Alasanne Ouattara sought and won a controversial third term. The opposition boycotted the presidential election. Protests followed, as well as arrests of opposition members.
However, during the March parliamentary elections, the situation calmed down a bit. Following discussions and the release of some opposition figures, the opposition participated in the legislative elections.
Former president Laurent Gbagbo cast a long shadow over the recent election cycle. He had been tried by the International Criminal Court following violence surrounding his refusal to accept his loss of the 2010 election. Gbagbo was ultimately acquitted, but an appeal against the acquittal kept him in Belgium until this year. He has now returned home.
Côte d’Ivoire is one of the largest economies in West Africa. It is the world’s biggest producer of cocoa and cashew nuts, and a net exporter of oil. However, since 1999, political struggles and two civil wars have created instability, and the political climate remains tense.
RFI (December 16, 2021 – in French): Côte d’Ivoire: resumption of political dialogue with the 2023 elections in the sights
Sudan General Elections: By 2024 (due – unclear following coup)
Sudan plans to hold general elections by 2024, the culmination of a five-year transition to democracy that began with the July 2019 removal of dictator Omar al-Bashir following several months of protests. Al-Bashir was removed in a military coup, and a junta ruled briefly, but entered into an agreement with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), a wide-ranging coalition of opposition groups, to transition the country to democracy. However, numerous challenges remain.
BBC (December 19, 2021): Sudan coup: Thousands protest on uprising anniversary
Guinea Elections: TBD, following coup
On September 5, 2021, Guinea’s president, Alpha Condé, fell in a military coup. Guinea’s political future remains uncertain, but regional and international bodies, as well as Guinean civil society and political groups, have urged elections.
Condé was re-elected in October 2020 amid violence. He sought and won a controversial third term, and for the third time, faced off against opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo. Both candidates claimed they won, but election officials declared Condé the winner. However, Diallo challenged the results, alleging fraud and prompting street protests leading to at least 10 deaths. The government arrested a number of opposition members following the election. More
Boubacar Diallo, AP (December 22, 2021): Guinea’s 2008 coup leader returns home from exile
AFP (December 14, 2021): West African bloc calls for election timetable from Guinea
AFP (December 19, 2021): Sudan braces for new protests three years after revolution
Africa Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Somalia, Indirect Legislative Elections: Ongoing
Senegal Local Elections: January 23, 2022
Somalia Indirect Presidential Election: February 8, 2022 (Tentative, following numerous delays – additional delays possible)
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup – delays possible)
Gambia Legislative and Local Elections: April 2022 (due)
Burkina Faso Local Elections: May 2022 (due)
Nigeria, Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti State: June 18, 2022
Nigeria, Gubernatorial Election in Osun State: July 16, 2022
Republic of Congo Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Senegal Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Kenya Presidential and Legislative Elections: August 9, 2022
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due)
Lesotho Parliamentary Elections: September 2022
Central African Republic Local Elections: September 2022 (due – delays possible)
Sao Tome and Principe Legislative Elections: October 2022 (due)
Somaliland Presidential Election: November 2022 (due)
Equatorial Guinea Legislative and Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
Chad General Elections: By December 2022 (tentative, post-coup)
South Sudan General Elections: December 2022 (tentative)
Nigeria General Elections: February 18, 2023
Nigeria Gubernatorial Elections in Most States: March 2023 (due)
Djibouti Legislative Elections: February 2023
Zimbabwe General Elections: July 2023
Eswatini Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (due)
Gabon Presidential Election: August 2023 (due)
Mauritania Parliamentary Elections: September 2023 (due)
Gabon Legislative Elections: October 2023 (due)
Liberia Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2023 (due)
Nigeria, Gubernatorial Elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States: November 2023 (due)
Madagascar Presidential Election: November 2023 (due)
Togo Legislative Elections: December 2023 (due)
Côte d’Ivoire Local Elections: 2023
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Americas This Week: December 25, 2021
Last Updated: January 13, 2022 by 21votes Leave a Comment
December 25, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in the Americas, usually posted on Saturdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Americas Elections
Mexico State and Local Elections: June 5, 2022, followed by Presidential Election: July 2024 (due)
Mexico’s next presidential election is due on July 2024. However, each year has some state and local elections. In June 2022, six states hold gubernatorial elections: Aguascalientes, Durango (also holding local elections), Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, and Tamaulipas.
The last elections were high-stakes midterm legislative elections, as well as gubernatorial elections in 15 of Mexico’s 31 states, and local elections, on June 6, 2021. In total, more than 21,000 offices are at stake – the biggest elections in Mexico’s history. The 2021 elections were a key test for left-wing populist firebrand Andrés Manuel López Obrador (frequently called AMLO) ahead of the 2024 presidential election, and he largely lost – his MORENA party did not get its majority in the legislature, and although MORENA won most of the state governorships, it lost control of most areas of Mexico City. AMLO, who has been governing in an increasingly authoritarian manner, wants to transform Mexico by jettisoning the market economy, but these election results have made it harder for him to do that.
Meanwhile, political violence is on the rise, with at least 88 politicians killed and hundreds of candidates targeted. More
Max De Haldevang, Bloomberg (December 20, 2021): Mexico’s AMLO Attacks Electoral Institute Over Referendum Delay
Brazil General Elections (Presidential, Legislative, State, and Local): October 2, 2022
Brazil holds general elections in October 2022. Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist firebrand president, is up for re-election. Former president Lula da Silva, himself a populist firebrand of the left-wing variety, will run against him. The country remains deeply polarized between right and left, although some third-way candidates plan to challenge both Bolsonaro and Lula.
As Latin America’s biggest economy, Brazil’s politics have an impact on the entire region and – increasingly – on the world stage. More
Reuters (December 14, 2021): Leftist Lula maintains dominant lead in Brazilian election, poll shows
Paraguay Presidential and Legislative Elections: April 2023 (due)
Paraguay held local elections on October 10, 2021. On June 20, many of the political parties held primary elections. The federal government is led by President Mario Abdo Benítez from the conservative Colorado Party, which also won a majority in the lower house of the legislature in the 2018 elections (no party holds a majority in the Senate). Colorado has been in power most of the time since the 1950s.
Paraguay returned to democracy in 1989, following the collapse of the 35-year dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, but a number of issues remain. These elections took place in the context of political violence and attacks on candidates. As a result, it is rated Partly Free by Freedom House.
Rio Times (December 21, 2021): Leftist parties and social organizations to form coalition ahead of elections in Paraguay: Several leftist parties and social organizations held a meeting on Sunday at the Plaza de la Democracia in Paraguay’s capital Asunción to form a coalition for the 2023 elections.
Haiti Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: Delayed
Haiti had planned to hold presidential and parliamentary elections this year in the midst of political and humanitarian crises, but the elections have now been delayed.
Haiti’s political crisis went into overdrive on July 7 with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Moïse had been governing by decree for over a year and stood accused by many of attempting to consolidate power through a controversial constitutional change (Moïse ultimately postponed the referendum).
Allegations of fraud followed Haiti’s presidential 2015 election, sparking a political crisis that remains ongoing. Some have called for the upcoming elections to be delayed, but the interim government has said they will take place this year (although the date could be moved, especially in the wake of a deadly earthquake on August 14 that left over 1,000 people dead).
Georges Fauriol, Global Americans (December 21, 2021): Haiti’s Problematic Electoral Dynamics
Past Americas Elections
Chile Presidential Runoff: December 19, 2021
Chile held a presidential runoff on December 19. Far-left socialist former student leader Gabriel Boric defeated Jose Antonio Kast, a far-right legislator. Although results of the July 18 presidential primaries seemed to indicate that voters seem to want a return to moderation, the center-right candidate from incumbent president Sebastián Pińera’s coalition did not even make the runoff. However, the legislative elections were a bit more complicated. Piñera’s Chile Podemos Más coalition will have the most seats in the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies is split nearly evenly between right and left-leaning members. These results will potentially constrain Boric’s ability to pursue a far-left agenda. All newly-elected officials take office in March 2022.
These elections are taking place in the context of a year of protests and riots, including violent looting, arson, and vandalism. Furthermore, an intense debate over the new constitution continues, and a referendum on the final draft will take place in late 2022. More
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald (December 20, 2021): Chile’s new leftist president could make history by keeping Cuba, Venezuela at arm’s length
Patricia Luna and Joshua Goodman, AP (December 19, 2021): Leftist millennial wins election as Chile’s next president
Lucinda Elliott and Michael Stott, Financial Times (December 16, 2021): The fight for the future of Chile
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela held regional and local elections on November 21, 2021. In December 2020, Venezuela held legislative elections despite members of the opposition and international community calling for a delay in order to ensure credible, fair elections. Ultimately, most of the opposition boycotted; however, opposition parties participated in the November 21 elections.
InSight Crime (December 20, 2021): A Seat at the Table: What New Governors in Venezuela Mean for Organized Crime
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021
Argentina held midterm legislative elections on November 14, along with a few sets of provincial elections on various dates. The ruling Peronists took a major hit, losing control of the legislature for the first time in decades.
Argentina’s 2021 elections – both provincial and legislative – are happening in the context of an economic crisis, which the leftist government and COVID-19 have exacerbated. In the 2019 presidential election, Peronist Alberto Fernández defeated center-right incumbent Mauricio Macri (the first defeat for an Argentine incumbent president), running on a ticket with populist firebrand Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015. Kirchner herself did not run for president because she was facing criminal charges related to misconduct during her time in office. Frente de Todos, the party formed by Kirchner and Fernández, currently holds a majority in the Senate and is the biggest party in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house.
Nick Burns, Americas Quarterly (December 20, 2021): In Argentina, Some See a Détente Among Leaders
Rosendo Fraga, Rio Times (December 13, 2021): Analysis: Is Peronism still the dominant political force in Argentina? Four consecutive defeats in mid-term elections raise the question of the true gravity of Peronism in today’s politics.
Nicaragua General Elections: November 7, 2021
Nicaragua held general elections on November 7, 2021. President Daniel Ortega, who has been in power for 20 years, sought and won another term after jailing his strongest opponents. Under Ortega’s rule, Nicaragua has become increasingly authoritarian, with rule of law and fundamental freedoms under assault.
Several opposition candidates were arrested before the election, including Cristiana Chamorro, who was seen by many as the opposition’s best chance of ousting Ortega (in fact, her mother, Violeta Chamorro, beat Ortega in the 1990 election, becoming Nicaragua’s first – and to date only – female president and ending 11 years of Sandinista rule).
Tiziano Breda and Ivan Briscoe, War on the Rocks (December 23, 2021: The Empire of the Anti-Imperialist: Dealing with Nicaragua’s Ortega
Lisa Schlein, Voice of America (December 15, 2021): UN Rights Chief Calls for Restoration of Democracy, Rule of Law in Nicaragua
El Salvador Legislative and Local Elections: February 28, 2021
El Salvador held legislative and local elections on February 28, 2021. Allies of populist president Nayib Bukele won in a landslide, allowing him to consolidate his hold on the country with a legislative majority. Critics note growing authoritarianism. More
Stephen G. McFarland, Americas Quarterly (December 15, 2021): From Bad to Worse: Nayib Bukele’s Split with Washington
Americas Elections Coming Up in 2022 and 2023
Barbados Snap Elections: January 19, 2022
Costa Rica Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 6, 2022
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022
Colombia Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Canada, Ontario Provincial Elections: June 2, 2022
Mexico State and Local Elections in Some States: June 5, 2022
Canada, Resort Village Elections in Manitoba: July 22, 2022
Chile Constitutional Referendum: Third Quarter 2022
Brazil General Elections (Presidential, Legislative, State, and Local): October 2, 2022
Peru Local and Regional Elections: October 2, 2022
Canada: Local Elections in Ontario: October 24, 2022
Canada: Local Elections in Manitoba: October 26, 2022
Canada: Local Elections in Prince Edward Island: November 7, 2022
Canada: Local Elections in Saskatchewan: November 9, 2022 (Rural Municipalities – even number divisions)
Canada: Local Elections in Northwest Territories: December 12, 2022
Guyana Local Elections: Overdue (date not set yet – preparations being made)
Grenada General Elections: By March 2023 (due)
Paraguay Presidenital and Legislative Elections: April 2023
Guatemala General Elections: June 2023 (expected)
Guatemala General Election Runoffs: August 2023 (expected)
Argentina Presidential and Legislative Elections: October or November 2023 (due)
Antigua and Barbuda General Elections: By 2023
Haiti Presidential and Legislative Elections: Delayed from November 7, 2021, no new date set
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Asia This Week: December 24, 2021
Last Updated: January 12, 2022 by 21votes Leave a Comment
December 24, 2021
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. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Bangladesh Partial Local Elections: January 5, 2022 and Parliamentary Elections: By December 2023
Some of Bangladesh’s towns hold local elections in the coming months. Bangladesh last held general elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) in December 2018 amid political violence and harassment of the opposition. The next polls are due in December 2022 or early 2023. The Awami League (AL) has been in power since 2009 and is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
On the geopolitical front, Bangladesh has risen in importance in recent years in the midst of high economic growth. More
AFP (December 16, 2021): Bangladesh marks 50 years since liberation war victory
Asif Muztaba Hassan, The Diplomat (December 16, 2021): Bangladesh at 50: On the Path to Becoming a Middle Power
Ali Riaz, New Age Bangladesh (December 16, 2021): Three issues at centre of Bangladesh politics
Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy (December 16, 2021): Why Did the United States Just Sanction Bangladesh? Action against an elite paramilitary force comes just weeks after Washington emphasized a deepening partnership with Dhaka
Faisal Mahmud, Al Jazeera (December 15, 2021): Are sanctions on RAB a shift in US policy towards Bangladesh?
Ali Riaz, Carnegie Endowment (December 9, 2021): How Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act Is Creating a Culture of Fear
Nepal National Assembly Elections: January 26, 2022 (voting for 1/3 of upper house)
Nepal holds elections for a third of the National Assembly, the upper house of the bicameral parliament, on January 26, 2022.
Nepal had planned to hold snap elections for the lower house in November 2021, following a protracted political crisis, but now the snap elections have been cancelled, and the current thinking is that the parliamentary elections will take place when they are due in 2023. For background: in December 2020, Nepal’s prime minister decided to dissolve parliament and call for new elections. However, on February 23, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, cancelling the snap elections. The government subsequently lost a confidence vote, sparking snap polls. However, the courts reversed the decision.
Nepal sits in the strategically-important Himalayas, and is a focus of competition between India and China. Although former prime minister KP Sharma Oli brought Nepal closer to China, his replacement, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who assumed office in July 2021, is seen as favoring closer ties to India. More
Binod Ghimire, Kathmandu Post (December 23, 2021): When should the local elections be held? Election Commission says by May next year. Political parties don’t seem to be prepared.
Achyut Wagle, The Wire India (December 21, 2021): Winds of Political Change As Nepali Congress Party ‘Elects’ New Leadership, Youth Get Priority: Many believe the inner-party democracy demonstrated by the oldest democratic party of Nepal will eventually result in deepening republican democracy in the country.
Yubaraj Shimire, Indian Express (December 17, 2021): Nepal defence minister quits after defeat in internal party election: Rijal had unsuccessfully contested for the post of general secretary from the panel opposed to Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahdur Deuba.
Santosh Sharma Poudel, The Diplomat (December 9, 2021): In Nepal, Calls Grow for the Restoration of a Hindu State: A resurgent Hindu nationalism in the former Hindu kingdom is drawing strength from India’s ruling BJP.
Nepali Times (December 6, 2021): Battle lines drawn for Nepal elections: Politicians and their parties position themselves for the 2023 polls, with secularism and monarchy topping the agenda.
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
Five Indian states are due to hold elections in early 2022. These elections will be a key test for the two biggest parties, PM Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress Party. Although there have been some concerns about Modi’s increasing authoritarianism, India remains an important partner in combatting China’s attempts to spread its political and economic influence around the world.
India’s next general elections are due by May 2024.
Bibhudatta Pradhan, Bloomberg (December 24, 2021): India Court Urges Modi, Election Body to Defer Local Polls
Kumar Shakti Shekhar, Times of India (December 9, 2021): Farmers’ protest called off: How it may impact upcoming assembly elections
Timor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Timor-Leste (also called East Timor) is due to hold a presidential election in March 2022. Since winning independence from Indonesia in a referendum 20 years ago, Timor-Leste has become a democracy rated Free by Freedom House, although some challenges remain.
Chris Barrett, Sydney Morning Herald (December 19, 2021): ‘Thousands pleading with me to run’: Jose Ramos-Horta eyes return as East Timor president
LUSA (December 11, 2021 – in Portuguese): Timor Socialist Party votes decisions on support in 2022 presidential elections
Bárbara Reis, Publico Portugal (December 9, 2021 – in Portuguese): A woman and independent, Milena Pires is candidate for President of Timor-Leste
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
South Korea holds its presidential election on March 9, 2021. Recently, the conservative opposition won special mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan by a landslide, just a year after President Moon Jae-in’s center-left Democratic Party swept the legislature. Moreover, Moon’s approval rating is tanking.
Hae Kyung Ahn, The Diplomat (December 24, 2021): A Bipartisan Consensus on South Korea’s Foreign Policy? The foreign policy platforms of the two leading candidates in South Korea’s upcoming presidential election are more alike than they are different.
Hyung-Jin Kim, AP (December 24, 2021): SKorea ex-President Park, jailed for corruption, is pardoned
Hyung-A Kim, East Asia Forum (December 5, 2021): Tough tests for South Korea’s next president
Philippines General Elections (Presidential, Legislative, and Local): May 9, 2022
Philippines holds general elections on May 9, 2022. In 2016, populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency, claiming to be an outsider. He has governed with an iron fist. Although he is banned from seeking a second term, critics fear that he will seek to consolidate illiberalism in the form of a handpicked successor. His daughter, Sara Duterte, will run for vice president as the running mate of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the notorious late former dictator.
Meanwhile, a broad coalition of opposition figures have formed 1Sambayan (One Nation) in the hopes of defeating Duterte’s allies with a united front. Boxing star Manny Pacquiao, a former Duterte ally, had been discussed as a possible presidential candidate for 1Sambayan, but the alliance ultimately decided to endorse current vice president Leni Robredo.
While the Philippines lacks significant hard power, it is located in a geopolitically crucial area. The country has been a key U.S. ally since World War II, but Duterte has flirted with moves to bring the Philippines closer to China and away from the United States during his tenure in office. However, the country has ultimately kept the defense pact with the U.S. in tact.
Reuters (December 18, 2021): Philippines’ election agency rejects bid to disqualify Marcos Jr
Mong Palatino, The Diplomat (December 17, 2021): Three Decades of Election Protests in the Philippines: Even compared to past Philippine elections, the upcoming presidential polls are shaping up as unusually divisive.
Reuters (December 15, 2021): Philippines’ Duterte quits senate race in new election twist
Richard Javad Heydarian, Al Jazeera (December 14, 2021): What is behind the resurgence of the Marcos dynasty? Former dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ son ‘Bongbong’ is on course to become the president of the Philippines in May 2022.
Jairo Bolledo, Rappler (December 11, 2021): At Biden’s Democracy Summit, Duterte vows ‘honest, peaceful, free’ 2022 PH elections
Mong Palatino, The Diplomat (December 3, 2021): Why the Fight for the Philippines Vice Presidency Matters: Whoever wins the number two slot could end up playing a significant political role in the next administration.
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022 and Parliamentary Elections: July 2023 (due)
Cambodia is due to hold local elections in 2022 and general elections in 2023. Although Cambodia has held elections in the past that had some element of competition, the 2018 election – neither free nor fair – signified the closing of Cambodia’s political space. They have been called “the death of democracy.”
The main pro-democracy opposition, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and banned from fielding candidates, and its leader, Sam Rainsy, was sent into exile, so its supporters boycotted the polls, resulting in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) taking 58 out of 62 seats in parliament, and allowing Prime Minister Hun Sen to consolidate even more power while extending his three decades in power.
Andrew Nachemson, Al Jazeera (December 23, 2021): A new Hun rises: Cambodia’s ruling party meets to plot its future: Cambodian People’s Party set to choose a future successor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest serving leaders.
Mark Tilly, Lowy Institute (December 20, 2021): Hun Sen’s all-encompassing rule of Cambodia: The strongman has anointed his son as successor – after an election, of course.
Radio Free Asia (December 14, 2021): Trial date set for Cambodia’s Kem Sokha: Opposition leader, arrested in 2017, faces charges of treason.
Markus Karbaum, The Diplomat (December 9, 2021): Cambodia’s Leadership Succession: One Small Step Further: Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed his eldest son Hun Manet as his successor. But he did not name a date – and many further questions remain unanswered.
AP (December 9, 2021): U.S. orders arms embargo on Cambodia, cites Chinese influence
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Australia’s federal parliamentary elections are due by 2022, but snap elections could happen. Meanwhile, several states hold elections in 2021. In the last general elections, in 2019, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Liberal Party won in a surprise result, after trailing in pre-election polls.
Tensions with China are rising as Australia’s federal government has cancelled several Belt and Road deals. More
Ben Wescott and Caitlin McGee, CNN (December 8, 2021): Australia, UK and Canada join US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Pew Research Center (December 7, 2021): Freedom, Elections, Voice: How People in Australia and the UK Define Democracy
Reuters (December 5, 2021): Analysis-Australian PM, Behind in Polls and Beset by Division, Faces Tough Road to Re-Election
Papua New Guinea General Elections: June/July 2022 (due)
Papua New Guinea is due to hold general elections in June or July 2022.
Michael Kabuni, Asia and the Pacific Policy Society (December 9, 2021): PNG security ahead of the 2022 election
Japan House of Councillors Elections: July 25, 2022 (half of upper house at stake)
Japan holds elections for half of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the bicameral parliament, on July 25, 2022. These follow general elections that took placeon October 31, a bit earlier than the November deadline. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics since 1955, won another term in office, despite somewhat decreased approval ratings in recent months.
The general elections followed the LDP’s September 29 leadership contest. Former prime minister Yoshihide Suga did not seek re-election. Foreign minister Fumio Kishida defeated vaccine czar Kono Taro in a runoff, as well as the hawkish former internal affairs minister Takaichi Sanae and former gender equality minister Noda Seiko.
Thisanka Siripala, The Diplomat (December 8, 2021): Can Japan’s Main Opposition Party Win Public Approval? The new leader of the CDP is focusing on a policy-based approach to rebuild after a crushing election loss.
Taiwan Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
Taiwan, a robust democracy, is due to hold local elections in November 2022.
The country held presidential and legislative elections in January 2020. President Tsai Ing-Wen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the legislative elections and Tsai herself was re-elected president. The DPP, established in 1986 during Taiwan’s transition to democracy, supports Taiwan’s independence. The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), founded by Sun Yat-Sen, favors closer ties to the mainland, which it ruled from 1925 to 1948. Relations with China are a dominant theme in Taiwan’s political debate.
Stratfor (December 21, 2021): In Taiwan, a Failed Referendum Presages More U.S. Trade — and More Chinese Ire
Reuters (December 13, 2021): Factbox: Taiwan’s referendums and what’s up for a vote
Matthew Strong, Taiwan News (December 3, 2021): Taiwan sets Jan. 9 for recall vote of rock star legislator
Thailand General Elections: By March 23, 2023 (earlier elections possible)
Thailand is due to hold general elections by March 23, 2023, but early elections are possible. In addition, various types of local elections are taking place at various times. These elections are taking place in the context of unprecedented protests against the monarchy, and calls for unprecedented types of reforms. These protests have been going on for months. More
Kevin Hewison, East Asia Forum (December 24, 2021): Entrenching authoritarianism in Thailand
Neill Fronde, Thaiger (December 9, 2021): Opposition parties predict election between March and July 2022
Burma Parliamentary Elections: By August 2023 (proposed – tentative, post-coup)
Burma, also called Myanmar, held general elections on November 8, 2020. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. However, on February 1, the military staged a coup, claiming election fraud (despite a lack of evidence). Protests against the coup continue. The military claims it will hold new elections by 2023. More
The Irrawaddy (December 17, 2021): Myanmar Junta Minister’s Masterminding of Violent Pro-Military Rallies Revealed
Siladitya Ray, Forbes (December 6, 2021): Deposed Myanmar Leader Suu Kyi Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For ‘Inciting Public Unrest’
Indonesia Presidential and Legislative Elections: April 2024 (due)
Indonesia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in April 2024. In Indonesia’s April 2019 elections – the biggest single day of voting in the history of the world – incumbent Joko Widodo (Jokowi), widely seen as a reformer, defeated challenger Prabowo Subianto for the presidency. Prabowo initially refused to accept the results, and rioting subsequently ensued. Prabowo ultimately did accept the results, but tensions remain, particularly regarding the role of religion in politics. More
Asmiati A. Malik, The Diplomat (December 13, 2021): Who Will Succeed Joko Widodo as Indonesia’s President? The elections are still two-and-a-half years away, but already the race to the Presidential Palace is heating up.
Malaysia, Early General Elections: To be called, following Melaka State Snap Elections: November 20, 2021 and Sarawak State Elections: December 18, 2021
Malaysia will likely call early general elections once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Meanwhile, several of Malaysia’s states are due to hold elections in the next year. Melaka (or Malacca – located on the Strait of Malacca, a key strategic choke point) held snap elections on November 20, which delivered a victory for the ruling coalition. In addition, Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, is due to hold state elections very shortly after the federal government lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency. In Malaysia’s federal system, state governments have significant powers to make laws for their own states, and the Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah have even more power than the 11 peninsular Malaysian states.
The country’s politics have been turbulent since the historic defeat of UMNO – which had ruled since 1957 – in the 2018 elections. UMNO is back in power but hanging on by a thread as Ismail Sabri Yaakob, from UMNO, became prime minister in August 2021, following protests and general chaos. He replaced Muhyiddin Yassin, who was only in office for 17 months (the shortest-ever tenure of a Malaysian prime minister). More
Union of Catholic Asian News (December 21, 2021): Ruling coalition holds Malaysia’s Christian-majority state: Christians make up about 42 percent of the population of Sarawak, the largest of the country’s 13 states
Anisah Shukry, Bloomberg (December 18, 2021): Malaysia’s Ruling Coalition Retains Sarawak in Key State Polls
Anisah Shukry, Bloomberg (December 17, 2021): Anwar-Led Opposition Faces Sliding Fortunes in Key Malaysia Poll
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (December 16, 2021): Malaysia Readies for Crucial Sarawak State Elections: The elections fall amidst an upswing in pro-autonomy sentiment in the eastern Malaysian state.
The Straits Times (December 13, 2021): Malaysia’s Mahathir says next election ‘last chance to clean up the country’
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 19, 2021
Hong Kong is holding elections to the Legislative Council on December 19, 2021, after more than a year’s delay. These elections are taking place in the context of Beijing’s determination to gut Hong Kong’s democracy. More
Zoe Strozewski, Newsweek (December 22, 2021): Hong Kong Sees Lowest Voter Turnout Since 1997 for China-Endorsed Elections
Nikkei Asia (December 22, 2021): Hong Kong ‘election’ takes its democracy closer to one-party China: Political charade only fuels distrust toward Beijing
Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic (December 20, 2021): Why Authoritarian Regimes Bother With Elections: Beijing rewrote the rules of Hong Kong’s recent elections, and the result among voters was apathy.
Erin Hale, Al Jazeera (December 15, 2021): Hong Kong gears up for ‘patriots-only’ poll amid boycott calls: Activists in Hong Kong call for a boycott of December 19 vote, saying the poll is a ‘selection’ and not an ‘election’.
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic (December 9, 2021): China Wants to Rule the World by Controlling the Rules
Reuters (December 9, 2021): Jimmy Lai and two other Hong Kong democracy activists found guilty over June 4 assembly
Tommy Walker, Voice of America (December 8, 2021): Hong Kong Stifles Journalists With Threats, Expulsions a Year After Sweeping Security Law
Solomon Islands General Elections: April 3, 2019
The Solomon Islands held elections on April 3, 2019. Manasseh Sogavare, who had previously served several tumultuous terms at different points, was elected prime minister again, ousting Rick Houenipwela, who himself had become prime minister when Sogavare was ousted in a no-confidence motion in 2017. Riots broke out after the elections. Subsequently, the Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, a very controversial decision.
Reuters (December 5, 2021): Solomon Islands Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote After Riots
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2021, 2022, and 2023
Bhutan Local Elections: December 22, 2021
Bangladesh Partial Local Elections: January 5, 2022
Nepal National Assembly Elections: January 26, 2022 (voting for 1/3 of upper house)
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
Australia, South Australia State Election: March 19, 2022
Timor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Nepal Provincial Elections: April or May 2022 (due)
Nepal General Elections: Spring 2022 (expected – due by March 2023, but early elections likely)
Philippines Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: May 9, 2022
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Papua New Guinea Parliamentary and Local Elections: June 25-July 8, 2022
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022
Japan House of Councillors Elections: July 25, 2022 (half of upper house at stake)
Vanuatu Presidential Election: July 2022 (due – indirect election, largely ceremonial role)
Australia, Tasmania State Elections: By Mid-2022
Malaysia Snap Elections: August 2022 or later (expected)
Nauru Parliamentary Elections: August 2022 (due)
New Zealand Local Elections: October 2022 (due)
Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Taiwan Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
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 2023
Malaysia State Elections: May 2023 (due)
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)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Eurasia This Week: December 16, 2021
Last Updated: January 12, 2022 by 21votes Leave a Comment
December 16, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Belarus Constitutional Referendum: February 2022 (proposed)
Belarus’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, has announced plans to hold a constitutional referendum in February 2022. Belarus’s elections and political processes are neither free nor fair.
The country las held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, Lukashenko declared victory. However, the opposition declared that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had in fact won. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in protest to demand free and fair elections, even in the face of assault and arrest by security forces. Protests and political defiance continue. More
AFP (December 14, 2021): Belarus: Opposition leader Tikhanovsky jailed for 18 years: Tikhanovsky’s wife, the self-exiled Belarus democracy icon Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, denounced the verdict as ‘revenge’.
RFE/RL (December 14, 2021): Veteran Chief Of Belarusian Election Commission Replaced Ahead Of Referendum
Voice of America (December 2, 2021): US, EU, UK and Canada Announce New Belarus Sanctions
Matthias Williams, Reuters (December 2, 2021): Belarusian KGB set up fake social media accounts to inflame migrant crisis, Meta says
Past Eurasia Elections
Moldova, De Facto Presidential Election in Transistria: December 12, 2021
Russia-backed breakaway authorities in Moldova’s Transnistria region held a so-called presidential election on December 12, 2021. Current leader Vadim Krasnoselsky won the contest. Transnistria declared independence in 1990 and Moldova subsequently lost control of the region, and there was a war in 1992.
Russia instigated and continues to perpetuate a frozen conflict in Transnistria, where 1,400 Russian troops are stationed – an obstacle to Moldova’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Additionally, Transnistria’s rampant organized crime and corruption threaten Moldova’s stability. Russia also stokes separatism in Gagauzia, a Turkic-speaking region of Moldova.
Russia has broadly stepped up its harassment of Moldova following the election of pro-Europe Maia Sandu to the presidency in 2020 and the victory of pro-Europe political parties in the July 2021 parliamentary elections.
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight (December 12, 2021): Moldova’s Breakaway Transnistria Re-Elects Leader in Dubious Poll: The Russian-backed breakaway region re-elected its existing leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky, in a poll that few countries – except Russia – bothered to observe and which Moldova declared illegitimate.
RFE/RL (December 12, 2021): Breakaway Authorities Stage Vote In Moldova’s Transdniester Region
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: November 28, 2021
Kyrgyzstan held parliamentary elections on November 28, 2021 – a re-run of the parliamentary elections that took place in October 2020. Those elections and allegations of fraud led to political turmoil, followed by a snap presidential election in January 2021 and a constitutional referendum (alongside local elections) in April 2021. The new constitution, which passed, grants the president vastly expanded powers. Its critics have dubbed it the “Khanstitution.” The political climate was tense heading into the October 2020 parliamentary elections. It subsequently exploded following said elections. More
Catherine Putz, The Diplomat (December 7, 2021): As the Dust Settles from Kyrgyzstan’s Election, What Next? As Kyrgyzstan’s new parliament takes shape, Japarov has the government he asked for. Now for the hard part: governing.
Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL (December 2, 2021): Assault On Kyrgyz Opposition Leader Adds Fuel To Complaints About Election Results
Uzbekistan Presidential Election: October 24, 2021
Uzbekistan held a presidential election on October 24, 2021. Elections in Uzbekistan are neither free nor fair, and political opposition is not able to operate freely in the country. Although some had hoped that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev would face a serious challenger this year, that did not happen. Instead, would-be challengers were either denied ballot access or dropped out. More
Sarvar Khalikov, Mykola Volkivskyi, Artem Oliinyk, and Prof. dr. hab. Joanna Cygler, New Eastern Europe (December 16, 2021): Is Uzbekistan’s re-elected President Mirziyoyev the key to sustainable development in Central Asia, including Afghanistan?
Catherine Putz, The Diplomat (December 7, 2021): Is It Time for the US to Press Uzbekistan on Human Rights? A group of U.S. Senators have asked the Biden administration to center human rights in the upcoming Strategic Partnership Dialogue with Uzbekistan.
Georgia Local Election Runoffs: October 30, 2021
Georgia held local elections on October 2, 2021 in a tense political climate, exacerbated by the arrest of former president Mikheil Saakashvili upon his return to the country on the eve of the vote. Runoffs will take place on October 30, including for the important role of mayor of Tbilisi, which the ruling Georgian Dream party failed to win in the first round. Ultimately, Georgian Dream did win the second round amid criticism from the opposition.
A recent uptick in violence against the LGBT community and journalists, perpetrated by far-right and pro-Kremlin forces, has fueled the wider debate about where Georgia is going, both culturally and geopolitically. More
Reuters (December 12, 2021): Georgia’s ex-president Saakashvili needs treatment abroad, doctor says
Agenda.ge (December 2, 2021): US Ambassador Degnan: rejected electoral bill ‘risks the tyranny of the majority’
Kazakhstan Legislative Elections: January 10, 2021
Kazakhstan held legislative elections for January 10, 2021. The country’s elections take place in the context of an authoritarian system in which critics of the government face harassment and arrest. As such, no genuine opposition has representation in the legislature. More
RFE/RL (December 15, 2021): No Holiday: Independence Day In Kazakhstan Means Jail For Critics
Eurasia Elections Coming Up in 2022 and 2023
Belarus Constitutional Referendum: By February 2022 (proposed)
Russia Regional Elections (some regions): September 2022 (due)
Turkmenistan Parliamentary and Local Elections: March 2023 (due)
Moldova Local Elections: October 2023 (due)
Ukraine Parliamentary Elections: By October 29, 2023 (due)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.