Upcoming Elections
Kazakhstan Snap Presidential – June 9, 2019
AFP: “Kazakhs go to the polls on Sunday to elect their first new leader in 30 years, although ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev’s influence will likely continue as his handpicked successor heads for all but certain victory. Career diplomat and interim President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 66, is running for the country’s ruling party with enthusiastic backing from Nazarbayev, who stepped down from the presidency in March.”
Mihra Rittmann, Human Rights Watch: “But the prospect of a genuine transition is an illusion. Given the short campaign period, restrictions on opposition activism and independent media, and the resources available to the leading party candidate, this election is unlikely to be different from past elections, which independent observers found to be neither free nor fair. The government remains as authoritarian as ever.”
The geopolitical dimension
AFP: “A fluent speaker of English and Chinese as well as Russian and Kazakh, Tokayev is perfectly positioned to balance the interests of the country’s two giant geopolitical neighbours, while keeping the West engaged.”
Paddy Ryan, Spectator USA: “Once host to the ancient Silk Road, the overland caravan highway that brought Chinese goods westward and siphoned Western currency reserves off to the Far East — history rhymes even if it doesn’t repeat itself — Kazakhstan is reestablishing itself as a vital link in global commerce. China’s interest in reviving the route has made Kazakhstan a centerpiece of the Belt-Road Initiative, the ‘buckle’ of the Silk Road Economic Belt.”
Ukraine Snap Parliamentary – July 21, 2019
Janek Lasocki, Atlantic Council’s Ukraine Alert: “Ukraine’s recent presidential election demonstrates that the country needs an effective independent public broadcaster more than ever. An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians get their news from TV, but all of the country’s biggest channels are owned by oligarchs.”
RFE/RL: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promised to hold a referendum on NATO membership — a move strongly opposed by Moscow — as the country embarks on a path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.”
Roman Olearchyk and Michael Peel, Financial Times: “Ukraine’s new president Volodymyr Zelensky has used his first trip to Brussels to reassure Kiev’s western backers by distancing himself from a controversial oligarch and attacking Russia’s ‘imperial” ambitions.’”
Past Elections
Moldova Parliamentary – February 24, 2019
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight: “The pro-European political bloc ACUM and the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, held talks on Tuesday about the possibility of establishing a new parliamentary majority in Moldova after almost three months of political deadlock. The
negotiations started after US, EU and Russian officials visited Moldova on Monday.”
Eurasia This Week – June 6, 2019
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Last Updated: June 19, 2019 by 21votes
June 6, 2019
Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore Europe on Wednesdays. Click the map pins.
Kazakhstan Snap Presidential - June 9, 2019
AFP: “Kazakhs go to the polls on Sunday to elect their first new leader in 30 years, although ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev’s influence will likely continue as his handpicked successor heads for all but certain victory. Career diplomat and interim President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 66, is running for the country’s ruling party with enthusiastic backing from Nazarbayev, who stepped down from the presidency in March.”
Mihra Rittmann, Human Rights Watch: “But the prospect of a genuine transition is an illusion. Given the short campaign period, restrictions on opposition activism and independent media, and the resources available to the leading party candidate, this election is unlikely to be different from past elections, which independent observers found to be neither free nor fair. The government remains as authoritarian as ever.”
The geopolitical dimension
AFP: “A fluent speaker of English and Chinese as well as Russian and Kazakh, Tokayev is perfectly positioned to balance the interests of the country’s two giant geopolitical neighbours, while keeping the West engaged.”
Paddy Ryan, Spectator USA: “Once host to the ancient Silk Road, the overland caravan highway that brought Chinese goods westward and siphoned Western currency reserves off to the Far East — history rhymes even if it doesn’t repeat itself — Kazakhstan is reestablishing itself as a vital link in global commerce. China’s interest in reviving the route has made Kazakhstan a centerpiece of the Belt-Road Initiative, the ‘buckle’ of the Silk Road Economic Belt.”
Ukraine Snap Parliamentary - July 21, 2019
Janek Lasocki, Atlantic Council’s Ukraine Alert: “Ukraine’s recent presidential election demonstrates that the country needs an effective independent public broadcaster more than ever. An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians get their news from TV, but all of the country’s biggest channels are owned by oligarchs.”
RFE/RL: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promised to hold a referendum on NATO membership — a move strongly opposed by Moscow — as the country embarks on a path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.”
Roman Olearchyk and Michael Peel, Financial Times: “Ukraine’s new president Volodymyr Zelensky has used his first trip to Brussels to reassure Kiev’s western backers by distancing himself from a controversial oligarch and attacking Russia’s ‘imperial” ambitions.’”
Moldova Parliamentary - February 24, 2019
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight: “The pro-European political bloc ACUM and the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, held talks on Tuesday about the possibility of establishing a new parliamentary majority in Moldova after almost three months of political deadlock. The negotiations started after US, EU and Russian officials visited Moldova on Monday.”
Upcoming Elections
Kazakhstan Snap Presidential – June 9, 2019
AFP: “Kazakhs go to the polls on Sunday to elect their first new leader in 30 years, although ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev’s influence will likely continue as his handpicked successor heads for all but certain victory. Career diplomat and interim President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 66, is running for the country’s ruling party with enthusiastic backing from Nazarbayev, who stepped down from the presidency in March.”
Mihra Rittmann, Human Rights Watch: “But the prospect of a genuine transition is an illusion. Given the short campaign period, restrictions on opposition activism and independent media, and the resources available to the leading party candidate, this election is unlikely to be different from past elections, which independent observers found to be neither free nor fair. The government remains as authoritarian as ever.”
The geopolitical dimension
AFP: “A fluent speaker of English and Chinese as well as Russian and Kazakh, Tokayev is perfectly positioned to balance the interests of the country’s two giant geopolitical neighbours, while keeping the West engaged.”
Paddy Ryan, Spectator USA: “Once host to the ancient Silk Road, the overland caravan highway that brought Chinese goods westward and siphoned Western currency reserves off to the Far East — history rhymes even if it doesn’t repeat itself — Kazakhstan is reestablishing itself as a vital link in global commerce. China’s interest in reviving the route has made Kazakhstan a centerpiece of the Belt-Road Initiative, the ‘buckle’ of the Silk Road Economic Belt.”
Ukraine Snap Parliamentary – July 21, 2019
Janek Lasocki, Atlantic Council’s Ukraine Alert: “Ukraine’s recent presidential election demonstrates that the country needs an effective independent public broadcaster more than ever. An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians get their news from TV, but all of the country’s biggest channels are owned by oligarchs.”
RFE/RL: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promised to hold a referendum on NATO membership — a move strongly opposed by Moscow — as the country embarks on a path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.”
Roman Olearchyk and Michael Peel, Financial Times: “Ukraine’s new president Volodymyr Zelensky has used his first trip to Brussels to reassure Kiev’s western backers by distancing himself from a controversial oligarch and attacking Russia’s ‘imperial” ambitions.’”
Past Elections
Moldova Parliamentary – February 24, 2019
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight: “The pro-European political bloc ACUM and the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, held talks on Tuesday about the possibility of establishing a new parliamentary majority in Moldova after almost three months of political deadlock. The
negotiations started after US, EU and Russian officials visited Moldova on Monday.”
The Year Ahead: Eurasia
On deck: Kazakhstan snap presidential (June 9); Moldova local (due by June 16 but date not set yet – opposition believes they will be delayed); Ukraine snap parliamentary (July 21); Kazakhstan local (September); Russia local (September 8); Ukraine local (October); Belarus parliamentary (November 17); Uzbekistan parliamentary (December 19); Azerbaijan local (December 27); Tajikistan parliamentary (March)
A voter in Ukraine. The country returns to the polls next month – a few months early – to elect Parliament. Photo credit: Sandro Weltin/©Council of Europe
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Category: This Week Tags: Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine