May 19, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Europe, usually posted on Wednesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
The medieval Paphos Castle on the southern coast of Cyprus. It was originally Byzantine, and has also been rebuilt and held by crusaders and the Ottomans. Cyprus heads to the polls this month. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Paul167 (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Upcoming Europe Elections
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Cyprus is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 23, 2021. The center-right DISY – currently in the majority – will face off against the center-left AKEL, the main opposition party (with a number of smaller parties also competing). Cyprus is a presidential system (the only full presidential system in the EU), so these elections will function as more of a test for the parties ahead of the 2023 presidential election. The current president is President Nicos Anastasiades (from DISY). This is all happening in the context of the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean crisis. More
Kyriacos Iacovides, Cyprus Mail (May 17, 2021): Plethora of new groupings contesting 2021 elections
Germany Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 5, 2021, and Bundestag Elections: September 26, 2021 (plus other state elections throughout the year)
Germany is due to hold several sets of elections next year, culminating in the September 26, 2021 federal parliamentary elections that will determine who succeeds Angela Merkel as chancellor. Additionally, five states hold elections. The year 2021 is thus a “Superwahljahr” (Super election year) in Germany.
Federal
Sascha Döring, Jacobin (May 19, 2021): Germany’s Greens Are Neoliberals With Bicycles
DW (May 19, 2021): CDU’s Laschet says Germany must uphold NATO commitments
Imanuel Marcus, Berlin Spectator (May 19, 2021): Germany: Minister Giffey Resigns Because of Plagiarism Scandal, but Clings to Candidacy in Berlin
Kayleigh Madjar, Taipei Times with Channel News Asia (May 19, 2021): German party cuts ‘one China’ from election platform
Loveday Morris, Washington Post (May 13, 2021): Germany’s rising Green Party echoes many U.S. policies. That could rattle pipeline plans from Russia.
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021 and Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
France holds regional elections on June 13, 2021, with a second round on June 20. These come ahead of next year’s presidential and legislative elections, where President Emmanuel Macron potentially faces a formidable challenge from the far-right. More
Liz Alderman and Constant Méheut, New York Times (May 19, 2021): Going Green, or Greenwashing? A Proposed Climate Law Divides France.
Gabrielle Debinski, GZERO (May 19, 2021): Will Marine Le Pen’s rebrand help her win?
Chloé Morin, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s IPS Journal (May 17, 2021): Who will save the French Left?
Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times (May 16, 2021): On the Scrappy Fringes of French Politics, Marine Le Pen Tries to Rebrand
AP, Bloomberg (May 13, 2021): Muslim veil stands in the way of French local elections candidate
Finland Local Elections: June 13, 2021 (postponed from April)
Finland is holding municipal elections on June 13, 2021, delayed from April due to COVID-19. Following the 2019 parliamentary elections, a left-leaning coalition came into government nationally. More
YLE (May 14, 2021): A really simple guide to Finland’s 2021 local elections
Bulgaria Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Bulgaria is holding fresh parliamentary elections on July 11 after no party formed a government following the April 4 elections. In those polls, PM Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB won the most seats, but lost ground and failed to win a majority. New parties running against the establishment did surprisingly well – in fact, a party called There Is Such a People, led by TV star Stanislav Trifonov, came in second and ruled out forming a coalition with GERB. Trifonov’s main platform was anti-corruption – indeed, corruption was the biggest issue in the election. More
Reuters (May 19, 2021): Bulgaria’s GERB party keeps small lead ahead of July snap poll
ING (May 18, 2021): Bulgaria: Solid growth despite messy politics
Krassen Nikolov, Euractiv (May 13, 2021): Caretaker government will not change Bulgaria’s policy towards North Macedonia
Denitsa Koseva, bne Intellinews (May 12, 2021): Bulgaria’s caretaker government sets rule of law, transparent snap election as top priorities
Iceland Parliamentary Elections: September 25, 2021
Iceland holds elections for the Althing, its parliament (which has a strong claim to be the oldest parliament in the world), September 25, 2021. The current government is a broad coalition of the Left-Green Movement, the conservative Independence Party, and the agrarian Progressive Party. More
Andie Sophia Fontaine, Reykjavík Grapevine (May 14, 2021): Poll: Conservatives Dip; Progressives And Pirates See Gains
Czech Republic Parliamentary Elections: October 8-9, 2021
The Czech Republic has scheduled parliamentary elections for October 8-9, 2021. The current prime minister, controversial billionaire Andrej Babiš, came to power following the 2017 parliamentary elections. His populist ANO party won a plurality, but not majority, of seats, and he has had a turbulent tenure in office. More
Prague Morning (May 16, 2021): Will the Czech Pirates Sink the Czech Government?
Radio Prague International (May 13, 2021): Opposition parties to initiate no-confidence motion in Babiš minority government
Estonia Municipal Elections: October 17, 2021
Estonia – a poster child for a successful post-communist transition to democracy – will hold municipal elections on October 17, 2021. More
Baltic News Network (May 19, 2021): Estonia’s EKRE populists become second most popular party
ERR News (May 14, 2021): AK: Parties’ local elections campaigning starts next month
Denmark Regional and Municipal Elections: November 16, 2021
Denmark is holding regional and municipal elections on November 16, 2021. The current government consists of the Social Democrats, with confidence and supply from several other left-of-center parties, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. This government came to power following the 2019 elections, which saw the defeat of Lars Løkke Rasmussen‘s center-right coalition. The Social Democrats currently hold the most seats on local councils throughout the country, and control the governments of Copenhagen and the second-biggest city, Aarhus.
In addition, Greenland held hold snap parliamentary elections on April 6, 2021 after the government coalition fractured following disagreements over a China-backed rare earth minerals mining project at Kvanefjeld in the south. The long-dominant Siumut (Forward), which backed the project, lost to the left-wing green Inuit Ataqatigiit, which opposes the mine.
Greenland remains part of Denmark but has autonomy over domestic policy, although there is growing support for eventual independence. In these elections, pro-independence parties increased their vote share. More
RFE/RL (May 17, 2021): Blinken Meets With Danish PM At Start Of Diplomatic Trip Focused On Future Of Arctic
Greenland
Vivienne Walt, Time (May 19, 2021): The U.S. Has Had a Military Presence in Greenland Since 1941. A Young New Leader Wants Much More
Yohei Ishikawa, Ryo Nakamura, and Tsukasa Hadano, Nikkei Asia (May 19, 2021): US, Russia and China seek edge as battle for Arctic heats up
Paul Goble, Jamestown Foundation (May 13, 2021): Greenland Likely to Be Cockpit of Arctic Conflict Between Russia and the West
Slovenia Parliamentary Elections: By June 5, 2022 – snap elections possible
Slovenia is due to hold elections in June 2022, but snap elections are possible. The current government is a conservative minority coalition headed by populist Janez Janša. It came to power in January 2020 after the center-left minority government of Marjan Šarec collapsed.
AFP (May 20, 2021): Slovenia PM faces impeachment vote ahead of EU presidency
Anja Vladisavljevic, Balkan Insight (May 18, 2021): Slovenian Ruling Coalition Fails to Secure Parliamentary Majority
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: By Spring 2022 (or earlier)
Hungary is due to hold parliamentary elections by Spring 2022, although snap elections are possible. Prime Minster Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian, to the concern of many both in Hungary and in the international community.
Lili Bayer, Politico (May 19, 2021): Meet the candidates vying to defeat Viktor Orbán
TheMayor.eu (May 18, 2021): Budapest takes stand against construction of Chinese university campus
bne Intellinews (May 17, 2021): Budapest’s liberal mayor enters race to be opposition PM candidate in 2022
DW (May 15, 2021): Hungary’s Viktor Orban faces challenge from Budapest mayor
Past Europe Elections
Croatia Local Elections (Runoffs May 30, 2021): May 16, 2021
Croatia held local elections for on May 16, and will hold runoffs in some places on May 30, 2021. These elections got a bit of a shakeup when Milan Bandic, the mayor of Zagreb, died in February after a combined 20 years in office (according to some reports, he was the world’s longest-serving mayor). Although Bandic had a devoted following, he was also controversial, and embroiled in a number of scandals. A former communist, he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) when Croatia began holding multiparty elections in 1990, but later broke off to start his own party.
Meanwhile, HDZ, the main conservative party, won last year’s parliamentary elections, after losing the January 2020 presidential election. Tomislav Tomašević from the green-left Možemo! appears to be leading the vote count for mayor of Zagreb.
Marcus Tanner, Balkan Insight (May 19, 2021): In Electing a Leftist Mayor, Croatia Follows European Trends
TheMayor.eu (May 19, 2021): 70 Croatian cities have elected mayors in the first round of voting
HINA (May 16, 2021): NGO Says Elections Proceeding Peacefully, but with Numerous Voter Complaints
United Kingdom Local Elections (including Mayor of London and Scottish and Welsh parliaments): May 6, 2021
The United Kingdom (UK) held local elections on May 6, 2021. Voters will elected various local councils, plus the mayor of London, plus Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Overall, the Conservatives made gains on councils, but Labour’s Sadiq Khan was re-elected mayor of London. Labour also held onto its working majority in the Welsh parliament.
The Scottish elections were particularly high-stakes because if the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) has been demanding another referendum on independence. The SNP won the most seats, but failed to win a majority, making it harder to insist on a new referendum.
In addition, the Conservatives won a parliamentary election in Hartlepool, a longtime Labour stronghold, a sign of a possible realignment of British politics as the Tories make gains in the Labour heartland. Some analysts have said that Labour is going through a post-Brexit identity crisis. More
Kate Devlin, The Independent (May 18, 2021): Keir Starmer tells Labour MPs party has to ‘modernise’ to win again
Sky News (May 15, 2021): Sir Keir Starmer slumps 17 points behind PM in new poll – and a third of Labour voters want him to quit
BBC (May 15, 2021): Alex Salmond’s Alba party to contest 2022 council elections
David J. Scheffer and Madeline Babin, Council on Foreign Relations (May 13, 2021): What’s Next for Scotland’s Independence Movement?
Albania Parliamentary Elections: April 25, 2021
Albania held parliamentary elections on April 25, 2021 in a tense political climate with several violent incidents. Since communism collapsed in 1990, Albania has held competitive elections and several transitions of power between political parties. The elections were close, and the incumbent Socialist Party won a third term in office, defeating the main opposition center-right Democratic Party. More
Reuters (May 19, 2021): U.S. bars entry to former Albanian president Berisha due to corruption
Llazar Semini, AP (May 18, 2021): Albanian President Calls Impeachment Probe Committee Illegal
Zeljko Trkanjec, Euractive (May 18, 2021): Opposition Democratic Party to elect new leader
Valerie Hopkins, Financial Times (May 13, 2021): Albania is ‘growing up’, says twice re-elected premier Edi Rama
Austria Snap Parliamentary Elections: September 29, 2019
Austria’s government fell in a no-confidence vote – the first in Austria’s history – in May 2019 nfollowing the “Ibiza-gate” scandal involving the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), which had been part of the coalition headed by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache was filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza offering state contracts in exchange for money to a woman who claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch.
Austria held snap elections in September 2019. ÖVP won the most seats, and the FPÖ saw a 10 percent loss in its vote share. Ultimately, ÖVP formed a coalition with the Greens, and Kurz once again became chancellor.
Austria is due to hold a presidential election by April 2022, but the role is largely ceremonial, with the chancellor instead holding most executive power.
Matthew Karnitschnig, Politico (May 19, 2021): The House of Kurz scandal, explained
Philip Oltermann, The Guardian (May 14, 2021): Austrian chancellor’s future in doubt over ‘Ibizagate’ lying claim
Derek Scally, Irish Times (May 13, 2021): Austrian chancellor who declared war on sleaze facing perjury charges
Spain, Snap Regional Elections in Madrid: May 4, 2021 and Catalonia
Madrid held early regional elections on May 4, following the collapse of the government coalition consisting of the conservative Popular Party and the liberal Citizens Party. These elections took place in a highly polarized environment, as conservative incumbent Isabel Díaz Ayuso from the Popular Party faced against leftist firebrand Pablo Inglesias. The Popular Party won the most seats, but fell short of a majority and will likely govern in coalition with the far-right Vox. Meanwhile, Citizens failed to meet the 5 percent threshold and thus lost all its seats, and the Socialists (who currently run Spain’s federal government) had a historically low vote share.
In addition, the region of Catalonia held elections on February 14, 2021. Pro-independence parties won a majority of the seats and have recently formed a government.
Madrid
The Times of London (May 14, 2021): Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Iron Lady of Madrid, sets her sights on Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez
Catalonia
AFP (May 17, 2021): Separatist parties agree on new Catalan government
Netherlands Parliamentary Elections: March 17, 2021
Netherlands held parliamentary elections on March 17, 2020. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right VVD once again won the most seats, but negotiations continue to decide which parties will make up the next government. More
DutchNews.NL (May 14, 2021): Dutch fringe party offered Russian money before election: EenVandaag
Europe Elections in 2021 and 2022
Croatia Local Elections: May 16, 2021
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Latvia Local Elections: June 5, 2021
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 6, 2021
Finland Municipal Elections: June 13, 2021
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021
Bulgaria Fresh Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Norway Parliamentary Elections: September 13, 2021
Iceland Parliamentary Elections: September 25, 2021
Germany Bundestag Elections, plus state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and probably Thuringia: September 26, 2021
Austria, Upper Austria State and Municipal Elections: September 26, 2021
Czech Republic Parliamentary Elections: October 8-9, 2021
Italy Municipal Elections, plus regional elections in Calabria: October 10-11, 2021
Estonia Local Elections: October 17, 2021
North Macedonia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Portugal Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Bulgaria Presidential Election: October/November 2021 (due)
Denmark Regional and Municipal Elections: November 16, 2021
Kosovo Local Elections: Due in 2021
Serbia Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: March/April 2022
France Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
Austria Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: April 2022 (due)
Slovenia Parliamentary Elections: By June 5, 2022
Malta Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Sweden Parliamentary Elections: September 11, 2022
Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2022 (due)
Latvia Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Slovenia Presidential Election: October/November 2022 (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.
Africa This Week: May 24, 2021
Last Updated: June 1, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
May 24, 2021
Your weekly roundup 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
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Somaliland has scheduled its long-overdue parliamentary and local elections for May 31, 2021. Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections.
Somaliland celebrates 30 years of de facto independence in May 2021. More
Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (May 22, 2021): Somaliland celebrates 30 years of self-rule
Ethiopia General Elections: June 5, 2021 (Postponed indefinitely)
Ethiopia will hold general elections on June 21, 2021, after several postponements. These elections are taking place in the context of increasing ethnic violence that has reached crisis levels. More
The East African (May 24, 2021): Ethiopia plans June 21 poll, but Tigray crisis sticks out like a sore thumb
David M. Herszenhorn, Politico (May 21, 2021): Ethiopia expels journalist who reported on atrocities in Tigray
Reuters (May 20, 2021): Ethiopia to hold delayed elections on June 21 – vote board
Mauritius Municipal Elections: Due by June 2021 (delay possible)
Mauritius is due to hold municipal elections in June 2021. The country is generally considered a free democracy that has seen multiple peaceful transitions of power following competitive elections, but politics are dominated by a handful of powerful families. However, recent protests have raised the political temperature, and some have raised concerns about authoritarian backsliding. More
Jessica Fjeld, Milan Meetarbhan, Adam Nagy, and Shreya Tewari, Slate (May 20, 2021): Mauritius Is Considering an Unprecedented Attack on Online Freedom
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia has scheduled general elections for August 12, 2021. Zambia used to be a model democracy in the region, with regular, competitive elections and a vibrant civil society. However, under Edgar Lungu, elected in 2015 to complete the term of Michael Sata (who died in office), Zambia began to regress toward authoritarianism. The 2016 elections were marred by political violence and allegations of vote-rigging but ultimately judged credible. However, there are fears that Lungu could try to rig the 2021 elections. More
Africanews (May 19, 2021): Zambia opposition leader Hichilema cleared to run for president
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
South Africa will hold local elections on October 27, 2021. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. More
Anna Maree, The Africa Report (May 25, 2021): South Africa: Democratic Alliance turns away from black leadership
James Hamill, World Politics Review (May 24, 2021): South Africa’s Ramaphosa Disappoints on Human Rights
Jan Gerber, News24 (May 22, 2021): DA will have ‘none of’ postponing October’s municipal elections
Wayne Sussman, Daily Maverick (May 20, 2021): ANC holds most of the pieces of the political puzzle ahead of 27 October local government polls
Suné Payne, Daily Maverick (May 19, 2021): Smooth run at the polls on big by-election day for South Africa
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
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.
Melissa Bell, Barbara Wojazer and Caitlin Hu, CNN (May 25, 2021): Mali’s vice president ousts president and prime minister from office, assumes power
The Economist (May 25, 2021): The leaders of Mali’s coup last August do it again
AFP (May 25, 2021): Mali strongman sacks transition leaders, vows elections ‘in 2022’
Kenya General Elections: August 9, 2022
Kenya is due to hold general elections on August 9, 2022. The last elections, in August 2017, were disputed, and the presidential poll was re-run in October 2017. President Uhuru Kenyatta won re-election after opposition leader Raila Odinga encouraged his supporters to boycott the re-run. Kenyan politics is highly polarized with a strong ethnic component.
Andres Schipani, Financial Times (May 22, 2021): Kenya court ruling sets stage for election battles: President’s constitutional overhaul defied by judges amid fears of worsening ethnic violence
Nic Cheeseman, The Africa Report (May 21, 2021): Can the courts protect democracy in Africa?
Duncan Miriri, Reuters (May 19, 2021): Kenya set to appoint first female chief justice at sensitive moment
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due) and Local Elections: Overdue, no date set
Angola, which has never held free elections, and has been ruled by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a former armed group, since independence in 1976, is due to hold legislative elections in August 2022. In addition, the country is overdue to hold its first-ever local elections. These elections have already been delayed multiple times (most recently in September 2020), and no date has been set. Meanwhile, COVID-19 provides an excuse for additional delays. In short, it is unclear when – or whether – the local elections will actually happen. More
Antonio Cascais, DW (May 24, 2021): Angola: Opposition unites against the government
Nigeria Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 23, 2023 (following Anambra State gubernatorial election in November 2021)
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, holds elections in February 2023, but potential 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.
Anambra State, in the country’s southeast, holds a gubernatorial election in November 2021.
Emmanuel Akinwotu, The Guardian (May 24, 2021): Nigerian president’s vow to end violence lies in tatters as insurgencies grow
Jude Michael, The Africa Report (May 21, 2021): Nigeria: Who will inherit President Buhari’s bloc vote in 2023?
Jess Craig, Foreign Policy (May 20, 2021): Separatist Movements in Nigeria and Cameroon Are Joining Forces
Somalia Presidential Election: Postponed
Somalia was supposed to hold an indirect presidential election on February 8, 2021, following indirect parliamentary elections in December 2020. However, the elections have been delayed, and 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 believe 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. More
Edith M. Lederer, AP (May 25, 2021): Somalia minister says agreement reached on delayed elections
Sinan Hanioglu, Foreign Brief (May 20, 2021): Somali government officials to discuss elections
Chrispin Mwakideu, DW (May 20, 2021): What is behind Kenya and Somalia’s dicey relations?
Sudan General Elections: Late 2022 (proposed)
Sudan is supposed to hold general elections in late 2022. In April 2019, nonviolent demonstrations ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. Subsequently, military officers and civilian leaders reached an agreement to share power until elections in 2022.
Jérôme Tubiana, Foreign Affairs (May 25, 2021): Darfur Is Bleeding Again: Sudan’s New Government Confronts Old Problems
Reuters (May 23, 2021): Woman on Sudan’s ruling council quits, saying civilians are being ignored
Past Africa Elections
Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021
Benin helda presidential election on April 11, 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon won a second term after largely keeping the opposition off the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
Matthieu Millecamps, Jeune Afrique (May 23, 2021 – in French): Benin: Patrice Talon wants to turn the page on the elections
Katarina Hoije, Bloomberg (May 19, 2021): Benin Falls in Ranking of Civic Freedoms Amid Regional Backslide
Chad Presidential Election: April 11, 2020 and Parliamentary and Local Elections: October 24, 2021
Chad held a presidential election on April 11, 2021. President Idriss Déby, seized power in a rebellion in 1990, won a sixth term. However, on April 20, he was killed by rebels.
Although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. Long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections had been set for October 24, 2021 and local elections for April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times. However, Deby’s death could lead to further delays – the military has said it plans to rule the country for 18 months. More
France24/AFP (May 21, 2021 – in French): Chad: African Union demands transition “in 18 months” but does not sanction junta
Paul-Simon Handy and Félicité Djilo, ISS Africa (May 20, 2021): ISS: Chad: a test case for Central Africa’s difficult transitions
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Rajen Harshé, Observer Research Foundation (May 23, 2021): Uganda: Museveni’s re-election and its regional and international implications
Luke Melchiorre, African Arguments (May 19, 2021): “Our Liberation is a Matter of Now”: An Interview with Bobi Wine
Africa Elections in 2021 and 2022
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Gambia Constitutional Referendum: June 5, 2021
Mauritius Local Elections: June 2021 (due – delay likely)
Kenya Constitutional Referendum: June/July 2021 (delay or cancellation likely)
Sao Tome and Principe Presidential Election: July 18, 2021
Zambia Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: August 12, 2021
South Africa Municipal Elections: October 27, 2021
Cabo Verde Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
Angola Local Elections: Overdue, might possibly happen in 2021
Senegal Local Elections: January 23, 2021
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
Burkina Faso Local Elections: May 2022 (due)
Republic of Congo Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Lesotho Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Senegal Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Kenya Presidential and Legislative Elections: August 9, 2022
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due)
Sao Tome and Principe Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Equatorial Guinea Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Sudan General Elections: Late 2022 (due)
Ethiopia General Elections: Postponed indefinitely
Somalia Elections: Postponed indefinitely
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: May 22, 2021
Last Updated: June 1, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
May 22, 2021
Your weekly roundup 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
Peru Presidential Runoff: June 6, 2021
Peru held general elections for April 11, 2021. These elections are coming on the heels of snap legislative elections that took place on January 26, 2020, and in the context of political turmoil – including the impeachment of President Martín Vizcarra and the subsequent “week of three presidents” – and an economic crisis brought on by COVID-19.
The presidential runoff will pit socialist Pedro Castillo against right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who is currently in prison for various crimes (Keiko is also currently facing criminal charges). Castillo came out of nowhere to win the first round. However, none of the 18 candidates received more votes than the number of blank ballots cast – a sign of voters’ deep frustration. More
Al Jazeera (May 24, 2021): At least 14 killed in Peru attack before presidential election
Anatoly Kurmanaev and Mitra Taj, New York Times (May 24, 2021): Peru Massacre Revives Trauma of Maoist Violence Ahead of Polarized Vote
Will Freeman, World Politics Review (May 20, 2021): Either Way, Peru’s Election Is Bad News for Anti-Graft Efforts
Mexico Legislative and Gubernatorial Elections: June 6, 2021
Mexico holds midterm legislative elections on June 6, 2021. These elections will be a key test for left-wing populist firebrand Andrés Manuel López Obrador (frequently called AMLO) ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In addition, 15 of Mexico’s 31 states will hold gubernatorial elections. More
Jude Webber, Financial Times (May 22, 2021): Mexico’s political murders put focus on rising violence
Cyntia Aurora Barrera Diaz, Bloomberg (May 22, 2021): Candidates Shot, Kidnapped, Tied With Noose as Mexico Vote Nears
Manuel Suarez-Mier, Asia Times (May 22, 2021): Mexico’s demolition derby: AMLO breaks all the laws
León Krauze, Washington Post (May 19, 2021): Opinion: Mexico’s president decries U.S. ‘interventionism’ as part of his ongoing fight against oversight
Chase Harrison and Carin Zissis, AS/COA (May 18, 2021): Explainer: Making Sense of Mexico’s Massive Midterms
Haiti Parliamentary Elections: September 19, 2021 and Presidential Election: Due in November 2021 (delays possible)
Haiti plans to hold long-overdue legislative elections on September 19, 2021, and also has a presidential election due later this year. However, the country is currently in a political crisis related to allegations of fraud followed Haiti’s presidential 2015 election. The international community, including the United States government, has called on Haiti’s officials to set a date for elections and end the crisis.
Haiti plans to hold a constitutional referendum on June 27, although the United States has raised concerns that it would just cause more political turmoil while helping President Jovenel Moise consolidate power. More
Monique Clesca, Americas Quarterly (May 20, 2021): Haiti’s Critical Weeks Ahead
Sarah Marsh, Reuters (May 19, 2021): Colombia’s police advises Haiti on tackling kidnapping crisis
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: October 24, 2021 (delay to November 14 possible)
Argentina is due to hold midterm legislative elections on October 24, 2021, but the polls could be postponed to November. Furthermore, although most of Argentina’s 23 provinces hold elections at the same time as the presidential election, a few are due to hold elections in 2021. These elections are happening in the context of an economic crisis, which the leftist government and COVID-19 have exacerbated. More
Eduardo Levy Yeyati, Americas Quarterly (May 18, 2021): Teach Your Children: Behind Argentina’s Quiet Rebellion
Nicaragua General Elections: November 7, 2021
Nicaragua holds general elections on November 7, 2021. President Daniel Ortega, who has been in power for 20 years, will seek another term, and under his rule, Nicaragua has become increasingly authoritarian, with rule of law and fundamental freedoms under assault.
Reuters (May 20, 2021): Nicaragua opens probe into presidential hopeful Chamorro
Carrie Kahn, NPR (May 20, 2021): Ortega Targets Opposition Figures As Nicaraguan Elections Approach
AP (May 20, 2021): Nicaragua police raid NGO and news outlet offices
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Chile holds presidential and legislative elections in November (with presidential primaries on July 4). These elections follow the May 2021 local elections, and importantly, elections to the Constitutional Assembly.
Incumbent president Sebastian Pinera, from the center-right Chile Vamos coalition, is not running for another term. He currently has low approval ratings, posing a challenge for his party’s candidate (who will be chosen in the July primary election). Moreover, the conservatives failed to secure even one third of the Constitutional Assembly.
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. More
Robert Funk, Global Americans (May 21, 2021): Chile’s Constitutional Convention elections: institutional uncertainty and the long shadow of October 2019
Jennifer M. Piscopo and Peter M. Siavelis, Americas Quarterly (May 20, 2021): Chile’s Constitution Writers Are Very New to Politics
AFP (May 20, 2021): Women fall victim to their own success in Chile vote
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald (May 19, 2021): Leftists scored big victory in Chile, but Venezuela’s Maduro is celebrating too soon
BNAmericas (May 19, 2021): Chile constitution rewrite: What Moody’s will be monitoring
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela has scheduled regional and local elections for 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.
Honduras General Elections: November 28, 2021
Honduras holds presidential and legislative elections on November 28, 2021, following the March 14 primaries. These elections are taking place in the context of polarization and a crisis of legitimacy sparked in part by increasing authoritarianism. The 2017 elections were turbulent, with at least 30 people dying in protests over allegations of fraud, and many believe that there is potential for fraud in the upcoming elections. More
Michael Stott, Kathrin Hille, and Demetri Sevastopulo, Financial Times (May 19, 2021): US to send vaccines to Latin America after Taiwan ally warns of pivot to China
Laura Gottesdiener and Drazen Jorgic, Reuters (May 19, 2021): Partisan politics in Honduras fuels exodus, migrants say
The Rio Times (May 20, 2021): Maduro calls for elections as the only way to solve Venezuela’s crisis
Frida Ghitis, World Politics Review (May 20, 2021): Venezuela’s Opposition Shifts Gears on Talks With Maduro
Inés Santaeulalia and Florantonia Singer, El País (May 19, 2021): Apathy, sanctions, Biden: the stakes creating momentum in Venezuela’s long-running crisis
Colombia Presidential and Legislative Elections: Spring 2022 (due)
Colombia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in spring 2022. Conservative Ivan Duque, elected president in 2018, is constitutionally barred from running for re-election. One of the frontrunners to replace him is former left-wing guerilla Gustavo Petro, who placed second in 2018. The country has been rocked by riots in recent weeks. The proximate cause was a tax bill, but the protests have grown – and grown violent – and dozens have died.
Kiron K. Skinner, Ph.D., David R. Shedd, and James Jay Carafano, Heritage Foundation (May 21, 2021): Why Is Joe Biden Ignoring Colombia?
City Paper Bogota (May 20, 2021): President Duque names Marta Lucía Ramírez as Colombia’s Foreign Minister
Erika Moreno, Washington Post (May 19, 2021): Colombia’s protesters want human rights reforms. The country’s human rights agency may not be much help.
Nelson Bocanegra, Reuters (May 19, 2021): Colombia protests stretch into fourth week, demonstrators vow to carry on
Santiago Torrado, El País (May 19, 2021 – in Spanish): Gustavo Petro joins the protesters in Colombia
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: 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 are searching for a third candidate to challenge both Bolsonaro and Lula. More
Tom Phillips, The Guardian (May 21, 2021): ‘Brazil is a global pariah’: Lula on his plot to end reign of ‘psychopath’ Bolsonaro
Lisandra Paraguassu, Reuters (May 21, 2021): Brazil’s Lula meets centrist Cardoso in anti-Bolsonaro move
Gustavo Ribeiro, The Brazilian Report (May 19, 2021 – podcast): Explaining Brazil #152: A president without a party
Past Americas Elections
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. His authoritarianism has grown since the legislative elections, and he has taken a number of actions that some have described as a “self-coup.” More
AP (May 21, 2021): U.S. steers El Salvador funding away from government
Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez and Steven Levitsky, Washington Post (May 20, 2021): El Salvador’s president launched a ‘self-coup.’ Watch for creeping corruption and authoritarianism.
Al Jazeera (May 18, 2021): Five of Salvadoran president’s allies accused of corruption: US
Americas Elections in 2021 and 2022
Mexico Midterm Legislative Elections and Some Gubernatorial Elections: June 6, 2021
Peru Presidential Runoff: June 6, 2021
Aruba Parliamentary Elections: June 25, 2021
Haiti Constitutional Referendum: June 27, 2021
Saint Lucia Parliamentary Elections: June 2021 (due – delays possible)
Haiti Presidential and Legislative Elections: September 19, 2021
Paraguay Municipal Elections: October 10, 2021
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: October 24, 2021 (could be delayed to November 14, 2021)
Nicaragua Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 7, 2021
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Honduras Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 28, 2021
Guyana Local Elections: Due in 2021
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022
Colombia Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Bahamas Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
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: May 21, 2021
Last Updated: June 1, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
May 21, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Asia and the 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
Vietnam Legislative Elections: May 23, 2021
Vietnam, a one-party communist state, is due to hold legislative elections on May 23, 2021. For the most part, only candidates from the Communist Party of Vietnam and those who support it are able to run. In addition, dissidents face arrest and assault. More
AFP (May 21, 2021): Vietnam’s first openly gay candidate seeks change with parliament run
James Pearson, Reuters (May 20, 2021): Fewer independents vie for Vietnam’s Communist Party-dominated assembly
Mu Sochua, The Diplomat (May 19, 2021): Vietnam’s National Assembly Vote: A Futile Gesture
Mongolia Presidential Election: June 9, 2021
Mongolia, a free though imperfect democracy, has scheduled its presidential election for June 9, 2021, following parliamentary elections in June 2020 and local elections in October 2020. However, concerns have recently been raised about freedom and democracy. More
Enkhbaigali Byambasuren, The Diplomat (May 18, 2021): Is Mongolia Heading Toward One-Party Rule? A constitutional and legislative crisis resulted in a hunger strike ahead of the June presidential election.
Nepal Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 12 and 19, 2021
Nepal will hold snap elections in November 2021, following a protracted political crisis. 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. More
Binaj Gurubacharya, AP (May 21, 2021): Nepal president dissolves Parliament; elections in November
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 19, 2021
Hong Kong plans to hold 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
Jeffie Lam, South China Morning Post (May 22, 2021): Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, the last major opposition group standing, faces existential dilemma
The Economist (May 20, 2021): China’s Communist Party chips away at Hong Kong business houses
Shibani Mahtani and Theodora Yu, Washington Post (May 19, 2021): With Netflix, gym sessions and red wine, a Hong Kong activist prepares for prison
Tim Hamlett, Hong Kong Free Press (May 19, 2021): Poll position: the personal reasons why I may hesitate to vote in Hong Kong
Selina Cheng, Hong Kong Free Press (May 18, 2021): New leader of Hong Kong’s 400,000 Catholics says church will ‘passively cooperate’ in city politics
Philippines Presidential Election: 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. Meanwhile, a broad coalition of opposition figures have formed 1Sambayan (One Nation) in the hopes of defeating Duterte’s allies with a united front.
Mong Palatino, The Diplomat (May 17, 2021): Can a United Opposition Defeat Duterte at the 2022 Philippine Elections?
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.
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (May 21, 2021): Key Cambodian Opposition Figure Defects From Banned CNRP: Prime Minister Hun Sen’s strategy for fracturing the opposition is slowly bearing fruit.
Radio Free Asia (May 20, 2021): Deputy Leader of Cambodia’s Banned Opposition Jumps Ship to Join New Party
Nikkei Asia (May 20, 2021): Cambodia’s Hun Sen: ‘If I don’t rely on China, who will I rely on?’
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Samoa (Election re-run that had been set for May 21 was cancelled)
Samoa held general elections on April 9, 2021, and the post-election situation has been rather eventful. A new opposition party, Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST, “Faith in the one true God”), posed a new challenge to the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which has been in power since 1982. Ultimately, both FAST and HRPP got equal numbers of seats, with an independent MP breaking the tie and agreeing to support FAST. However, the plot continues to thicken as HRPP was given an additional female MP since the party did not meet its quota for women.
As a result of the deadlock, the prime minister has called new elections for May 21, but a court decided to block the new elections, reinstate the results, and overturn the decision to give HRPP an additional MP. As a result, FAST was declared the winner of the elections.
These elections are taking place in the context of controversy over proposed changes to the county’s constitutional framework and judiciary, involving questions of Samoan identity. More
Julia Hollingsworth, CNN (May 24, 2021): Pacific island swears in its first female PM in a tent after she is locked out of Parliament
Nick Perry, AP (May 23, 2021): Samoa in crisis as elected leader locked out of Parliament
The Economist (May 20, 2021): Samoa’s long-serving prime minister is struggling to cling to power
Jonathan Barrett, Reuters (May 20, 2021): Samoa to scrap China-backed port project under new leader
Nick Perry, The Diplomat (May 18, 2021): Court Clears Way for Samoa to Get Its First Woman Leader
Burma General Elections: November 8, 2020
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 will take place within two years. More
Al Jazeera (May 21, 2021): Myanmar considers dissolving Aung San Suu Kyi’s party
The Irrawaddy (May 20, 2021): Myanmar Junta Scraps Charges Against Pro-Military, Ultranationalist Party Bosses
Kiribati Presidential Election: June 22, 2020
Kiribati held a presidential election on June 22, 2020 in which Taneti Maamau was re-elected. Maamau is pro-China, having switched Kiribati’s diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China during his first term in office.
China has been working to expand its economic and military influence in the Pacific, pumping investment through the Belt and Road Initiative, raising concerns about debt-trap diplomacy. The current economic and diplomatic efforts could be part of a larger plan to establish a military base, challenging the United States and Australia (although Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made some moves in response, such as establishing a $1.5 billion infrastructure fund for the region). While Vanuatu is often cited as the most likely site of a base, Kiribati previously hosted a Chinese satellite tracking facility.
John Power, South China Morning Post (May 21, 2021): Kiribati’s China-backed airstrip upgrade fuels political divisions in Pacific nation
Fumi Matsumoto, Nikkei Asia (May 19, 2021): China extends South Pacific reach by funding runway project: Kiribati, in sea lane between US and Australia, eyes upgrade for planned resort
Asia/Pacific Elections in 2021 and 2022
Samoa Parliamentary Elections Take 2: May 21, 2021 (Cancelled following court decision)
Vietnam Parliamentary Elections: May 23, 2021
Mongolia Presidential Election: June 9, 2021
Macau Legislative Elections: September 12, 2021
Japan Parliamentary Elections: By October 2021 (snap elections possible)
Timor-Leste Municipal Elections: October 2021 (due)
Nepal Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 12 and 19, 2021
Tonga General Elections: By November 30, 2021
Hong Kong Legislative Council Elections: December 19, 2021
Sri Lanka Early Provincial Elections: Late 2021 (proposed)
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
TImor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Philippines Presidential and Legislative Elections: May 9, 2022
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022
Nauru Parliamentary Elections: August 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Himachal Pradesh: October 2022 (due)
Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Gujarat: December 2022 (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: May 20, 2021
Last Updated: May 29, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
May 20, 2021
Your weekly roundup 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
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Armenia is holding snap parliamentary elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ani Mejlumyan, Eurasianet (May 19, 2021): In Armenian elections, Karabakh is on the ballot
OC Media/Global Voices (May 18, 2021): Armenian parliament dissolved, paving way for June elections
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Moldova is holding snap parliamentary elections on July 11, which pro-Europe center-right president Maia Sandu had been trying to call for months. Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent, in the November 2020 presidential election However, no party currently has a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies are outnumbered by pro-Russian parties). The resulting political instability was reaching crisis levels. More
Dumitru Minzarari, Jamestown Foundation (May 19, 2021): Moldova’s Enduring Political Crisis: A Showcase for Russia’s New Model of Foreign Aggression
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight (May 18, 2021): Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine Pledge to Take Joint Path to EU
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Russia is due to hold parliamentary elections by September 19, 2021. Russian elections are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, the opposition has been making some gains in recent regional elections, helped by opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote,” a campaign of tactical voting, in which they developed a list of candidates the best chance of beating Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. Consequently, the Kremlin has launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition, including imprisoning Navalny. More
AFP (May 22, 2021): Russian Police Break Up Opposition Meeting
DW (May 18, 2021): Alexei Navalny: Russia moves a step closer to banning FBK from elections
Euronews (May 18, 2021): Russian MPs move a step closer to banning Navalny allies from elections
RFE/RL (May 18, 2021): Russian Lawmakers Back More Restrictive Civil Society Legislation
Georgia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Georgia is due to hold local elections in October 2021. These follow last year’s parliamentary elections, which took place in a climate of political tension, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. Tensions have exploded into a full-blown political crisis. Although the crisis has eased, tensions remain. More
Kakhaber Kemoklidze and Natia Seskuria, RUSI (May 20, 2021): Targeting Turkish–Georgian Relations: Russian Disinformation is Taking a Local Turn
Past Eurasia Elections
Belarus Presidential Election: August 9, 2020
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, incumbent Alexander 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 continue. More
BelTA – Belarus state media (May 21, 2021): No plans to amend election laws prior to referendum on Belarusian Constitution
RFE/RL (May 19, 2021): EU Slams Belarus For Shutting Independent News Site
RFE/RL (May 18, 2021): Lukashenka Signs Law Allowing Belarusian Police To Use Firearms Against Demonstrators
Eurasia Elections in 2021 and 2022
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Georgia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: Fall 2021 (expected)
Uzbekistan Presidential Election: October 24, 2021
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.
Europe This Week: May 19, 2021
Last Updated: May 28, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
May 19, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Europe, usually posted on Wednesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Europe Elections
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Cyprus is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 23, 2021. The center-right DISY – currently in the majority – will face off against the center-left AKEL, the main opposition party (with a number of smaller parties also competing). Cyprus is a presidential system (the only full presidential system in the EU), so these elections will function as more of a test for the parties ahead of the 2023 presidential election. The current president is President Nicos Anastasiades (from DISY). This is all happening in the context of the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean crisis. More
Kyriacos Iacovides, Cyprus Mail (May 17, 2021): Plethora of new groupings contesting 2021 elections
Germany Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 5, 2021, and Bundestag Elections: September 26, 2021 (plus other state elections throughout the year)
Germany is due to hold several sets of elections next year, culminating in the September 26, 2021 federal parliamentary elections that will determine who succeeds Angela Merkel as chancellor. Additionally, five states hold elections. The year 2021 is thus a “Superwahljahr” (Super election year) in Germany.
Federal
Sascha Döring, Jacobin (May 19, 2021): Germany’s Greens Are Neoliberals With Bicycles
DW (May 19, 2021): CDU’s Laschet says Germany must uphold NATO commitments
Imanuel Marcus, Berlin Spectator (May 19, 2021): Germany: Minister Giffey Resigns Because of Plagiarism Scandal, but Clings to Candidacy in Berlin
Kayleigh Madjar, Taipei Times with Channel News Asia (May 19, 2021): German party cuts ‘one China’ from election platform
Loveday Morris, Washington Post (May 13, 2021): Germany’s rising Green Party echoes many U.S. policies. That could rattle pipeline plans from Russia.
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021 and Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
France holds regional elections on June 13, 2021, with a second round on June 20. These come ahead of next year’s presidential and legislative elections, where President Emmanuel Macron potentially faces a formidable challenge from the far-right. More
Liz Alderman and Constant Méheut, New York Times (May 19, 2021): Going Green, or Greenwashing? A Proposed Climate Law Divides France.
Gabrielle Debinski, GZERO (May 19, 2021): Will Marine Le Pen’s rebrand help her win?
Chloé Morin, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s IPS Journal (May 17, 2021): Who will save the French Left?
Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times (May 16, 2021): On the Scrappy Fringes of French Politics, Marine Le Pen Tries to Rebrand
AP, Bloomberg (May 13, 2021): Muslim veil stands in the way of French local elections candidate
Finland Local Elections: June 13, 2021 (postponed from April)
Finland is holding municipal elections on June 13, 2021, delayed from April due to COVID-19. Following the 2019 parliamentary elections, a left-leaning coalition came into government nationally. More
YLE (May 14, 2021): A really simple guide to Finland’s 2021 local elections
Bulgaria Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Bulgaria is holding fresh parliamentary elections on July 11 after no party formed a government following the April 4 elections. In those polls, PM Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB won the most seats, but lost ground and failed to win a majority. New parties running against the establishment did surprisingly well – in fact, a party called There Is Such a People, led by TV star Stanislav Trifonov, came in second and ruled out forming a coalition with GERB. Trifonov’s main platform was anti-corruption – indeed, corruption was the biggest issue in the election. More
Reuters (May 19, 2021): Bulgaria’s GERB party keeps small lead ahead of July snap poll
ING (May 18, 2021): Bulgaria: Solid growth despite messy politics
Krassen Nikolov, Euractiv (May 13, 2021): Caretaker government will not change Bulgaria’s policy towards North Macedonia
Denitsa Koseva, bne Intellinews (May 12, 2021): Bulgaria’s caretaker government sets rule of law, transparent snap election as top priorities
Iceland Parliamentary Elections: September 25, 2021
Iceland holds elections for the Althing, its parliament (which has a strong claim to be the oldest parliament in the world), September 25, 2021. The current government is a broad coalition of the Left-Green Movement, the conservative Independence Party, and the agrarian Progressive Party. More
Andie Sophia Fontaine, Reykjavík Grapevine (May 14, 2021): Poll: Conservatives Dip; Progressives And Pirates See Gains
Czech Republic Parliamentary Elections: October 8-9, 2021
The Czech Republic has scheduled parliamentary elections for October 8-9, 2021. The current prime minister, controversial billionaire Andrej Babiš, came to power following the 2017 parliamentary elections. His populist ANO party won a plurality, but not majority, of seats, and he has had a turbulent tenure in office. More
Prague Morning (May 16, 2021): Will the Czech Pirates Sink the Czech Government?
Radio Prague International (May 13, 2021): Opposition parties to initiate no-confidence motion in Babiš minority government
Estonia Municipal Elections: October 17, 2021
Estonia – a poster child for a successful post-communist transition to democracy – will hold municipal elections on October 17, 2021. More
Baltic News Network (May 19, 2021): Estonia’s EKRE populists become second most popular party
ERR News (May 14, 2021): AK: Parties’ local elections campaigning starts next month
Denmark Regional and Municipal Elections: November 16, 2021
Denmark is holding regional and municipal elections on November 16, 2021. The current government consists of the Social Democrats, with confidence and supply from several other left-of-center parties, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. This government came to power following the 2019 elections, which saw the defeat of Lars Løkke Rasmussen‘s center-right coalition. The Social Democrats currently hold the most seats on local councils throughout the country, and control the governments of Copenhagen and the second-biggest city, Aarhus.
In addition, Greenland held hold snap parliamentary elections on April 6, 2021 after the government coalition fractured following disagreements over a China-backed rare earth minerals mining project at Kvanefjeld in the south. The long-dominant Siumut (Forward), which backed the project, lost to the left-wing green Inuit Ataqatigiit, which opposes the mine.
Greenland remains part of Denmark but has autonomy over domestic policy, although there is growing support for eventual independence. In these elections, pro-independence parties increased their vote share. More
RFE/RL (May 17, 2021): Blinken Meets With Danish PM At Start Of Diplomatic Trip Focused On Future Of Arctic
Greenland
Vivienne Walt, Time (May 19, 2021): The U.S. Has Had a Military Presence in Greenland Since 1941. A Young New Leader Wants Much More
Yohei Ishikawa, Ryo Nakamura, and Tsukasa Hadano, Nikkei Asia (May 19, 2021): US, Russia and China seek edge as battle for Arctic heats up
Paul Goble, Jamestown Foundation (May 13, 2021): Greenland Likely to Be Cockpit of Arctic Conflict Between Russia and the West
Slovenia Parliamentary Elections: By June 5, 2022 – snap elections possible
Slovenia is due to hold elections in June 2022, but snap elections are possible. The current government is a conservative minority coalition headed by populist Janez Janša. It came to power in January 2020 after the center-left minority government of Marjan Šarec collapsed.
AFP (May 20, 2021): Slovenia PM faces impeachment vote ahead of EU presidency
Anja Vladisavljevic, Balkan Insight (May 18, 2021): Slovenian Ruling Coalition Fails to Secure Parliamentary Majority
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: By Spring 2022 (or earlier)
Hungary is due to hold parliamentary elections by Spring 2022, although snap elections are possible. Prime Minster Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian, to the concern of many both in Hungary and in the international community.
Lili Bayer, Politico (May 19, 2021): Meet the candidates vying to defeat Viktor Orbán
TheMayor.eu (May 18, 2021): Budapest takes stand against construction of Chinese university campus
bne Intellinews (May 17, 2021): Budapest’s liberal mayor enters race to be opposition PM candidate in 2022
DW (May 15, 2021): Hungary’s Viktor Orban faces challenge from Budapest mayor
Past Europe Elections
Croatia Local Elections (Runoffs May 30, 2021): May 16, 2021
Croatia held local elections for on May 16, and will hold runoffs in some places on May 30, 2021. These elections got a bit of a shakeup when Milan Bandic, the mayor of Zagreb, died in February after a combined 20 years in office (according to some reports, he was the world’s longest-serving mayor). Although Bandic had a devoted following, he was also controversial, and embroiled in a number of scandals. A former communist, he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) when Croatia began holding multiparty elections in 1990, but later broke off to start his own party.
Meanwhile, HDZ, the main conservative party, won last year’s parliamentary elections, after losing the January 2020 presidential election. Tomislav Tomašević from the green-left Možemo! appears to be leading the vote count for mayor of Zagreb.
Marcus Tanner, Balkan Insight (May 19, 2021): In Electing a Leftist Mayor, Croatia Follows European Trends
TheMayor.eu (May 19, 2021): 70 Croatian cities have elected mayors in the first round of voting
HINA (May 16, 2021): NGO Says Elections Proceeding Peacefully, but with Numerous Voter Complaints
United Kingdom Local Elections (including Mayor of London and Scottish and Welsh parliaments): May 6, 2021
The United Kingdom (UK) held local elections on May 6, 2021. Voters will elected various local councils, plus the mayor of London, plus Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Overall, the Conservatives made gains on councils, but Labour’s Sadiq Khan was re-elected mayor of London. Labour also held onto its working majority in the Welsh parliament.
The Scottish elections were particularly high-stakes because if the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) has been demanding another referendum on independence. The SNP won the most seats, but failed to win a majority, making it harder to insist on a new referendum.
In addition, the Conservatives won a parliamentary election in Hartlepool, a longtime Labour stronghold, a sign of a possible realignment of British politics as the Tories make gains in the Labour heartland. Some analysts have said that Labour is going through a post-Brexit identity crisis. More
Kate Devlin, The Independent (May 18, 2021): Keir Starmer tells Labour MPs party has to ‘modernise’ to win again
Sky News (May 15, 2021): Sir Keir Starmer slumps 17 points behind PM in new poll – and a third of Labour voters want him to quit
BBC (May 15, 2021): Alex Salmond’s Alba party to contest 2022 council elections
David J. Scheffer and Madeline Babin, Council on Foreign Relations (May 13, 2021): What’s Next for Scotland’s Independence Movement?
Albania Parliamentary Elections: April 25, 2021
Albania held parliamentary elections on April 25, 2021 in a tense political climate with several violent incidents. Since communism collapsed in 1990, Albania has held competitive elections and several transitions of power between political parties. The elections were close, and the incumbent Socialist Party won a third term in office, defeating the main opposition center-right Democratic Party. More
Reuters (May 19, 2021): U.S. bars entry to former Albanian president Berisha due to corruption
Llazar Semini, AP (May 18, 2021): Albanian President Calls Impeachment Probe Committee Illegal
Zeljko Trkanjec, Euractive (May 18, 2021): Opposition Democratic Party to elect new leader
Valerie Hopkins, Financial Times (May 13, 2021): Albania is ‘growing up’, says twice re-elected premier Edi Rama
Austria Snap Parliamentary Elections: September 29, 2019
Austria’s government fell in a no-confidence vote – the first in Austria’s history – in May 2019 nfollowing the “Ibiza-gate” scandal involving the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), which had been part of the coalition headed by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache was filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza offering state contracts in exchange for money to a woman who claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch.
Austria held snap elections in September 2019. ÖVP won the most seats, and the FPÖ saw a 10 percent loss in its vote share. Ultimately, ÖVP formed a coalition with the Greens, and Kurz once again became chancellor.
Austria is due to hold a presidential election by April 2022, but the role is largely ceremonial, with the chancellor instead holding most executive power.
Matthew Karnitschnig, Politico (May 19, 2021): The House of Kurz scandal, explained
Philip Oltermann, The Guardian (May 14, 2021): Austrian chancellor’s future in doubt over ‘Ibizagate’ lying claim
Derek Scally, Irish Times (May 13, 2021): Austrian chancellor who declared war on sleaze facing perjury charges
Spain, Snap Regional Elections in Madrid: May 4, 2021 and Catalonia
Madrid held early regional elections on May 4, following the collapse of the government coalition consisting of the conservative Popular Party and the liberal Citizens Party. These elections took place in a highly polarized environment, as conservative incumbent Isabel Díaz Ayuso from the Popular Party faced against leftist firebrand Pablo Inglesias. The Popular Party won the most seats, but fell short of a majority and will likely govern in coalition with the far-right Vox. Meanwhile, Citizens failed to meet the 5 percent threshold and thus lost all its seats, and the Socialists (who currently run Spain’s federal government) had a historically low vote share.
In addition, the region of Catalonia held elections on February 14, 2021. Pro-independence parties won a majority of the seats and have recently formed a government.
Madrid
The Times of London (May 14, 2021): Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Iron Lady of Madrid, sets her sights on Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez
Catalonia
AFP (May 17, 2021): Separatist parties agree on new Catalan government
Netherlands Parliamentary Elections: March 17, 2021
Netherlands held parliamentary elections on March 17, 2020. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right VVD once again won the most seats, but negotiations continue to decide which parties will make up the next government. More
DutchNews.NL (May 14, 2021): Dutch fringe party offered Russian money before election: EenVandaag
Europe Elections in 2021 and 2022
Croatia Local Elections: May 16, 2021
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Latvia Local Elections: June 5, 2021
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 6, 2021
Finland Municipal Elections: June 13, 2021
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021
Bulgaria Fresh Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Norway Parliamentary Elections: September 13, 2021
Iceland Parliamentary Elections: September 25, 2021
Germany Bundestag Elections, plus state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and probably Thuringia: September 26, 2021
Austria, Upper Austria State and Municipal Elections: September 26, 2021
Czech Republic Parliamentary Elections: October 8-9, 2021
Italy Municipal Elections, plus regional elections in Calabria: October 10-11, 2021
Estonia Local Elections: October 17, 2021
North Macedonia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Portugal Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Bulgaria Presidential Election: October/November 2021 (due)
Denmark Regional and Municipal Elections: November 16, 2021
Kosovo Local Elections: Due in 2021
Serbia Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: March/April 2022
France Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
Austria Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: April 2022 (due)
Slovenia Parliamentary Elections: By June 5, 2022
Malta Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Sweden Parliamentary Elections: September 11, 2022
Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2022 (due)
Latvia Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Slovenia Presidential Election: October/November 2022 (due)
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