Upcoming Elections
Albania Local – June 30, 2019 (possibly cancelled)
Freedom House Rating: Partly Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Albania is in the middle of a tense political standoff between Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialists and the main opposition center-right Democratic Party, led by Lulzim Basha. All but two MPs from the Democratic Party and one from the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) surrendered their parliamentary mandates in February, and have led a series of protests marred by violence. The opposition demands Rama’s resignation and new elections, and announced plans to boycott and disrupt the local elections. President Ilir Meta cancelled the June 30 local elections and called on parties to reduce political tensions. Rama has said Meta did not have the authority to cancel the polls, and has publicly rejected the opposition’s demands. The Election Commission is continuing to prepare for the elections. Albania is a candidate for EU membership.
Llazar Semini, Associated Press: “Albanian police said Wednesday they arrested five opposition supporters for allegedly damaging ballot boxes and documents to prevent upcoming municipal elections, while the government proposed punishing people convicted of election interference by prohibiting them to leave the country.”
Benet Koleka, Reuters: “In 14 towns run by opposition mayors, supporters and municipal police members have been involved in scuffles with state police since Tuesday [June 18].”
Al Jazeera: “PM Edi Rama on elections: ‘Albania is not ready to join the EU’: Prime Minister Edi Rama discusses Albania’s political crisis and why he thinks the country is not ready to join the EU.”
Gazmend Kapllani, Balkan Insight: “Albania’s current disarray is rooted in its failure to come to terms with its bloody past – which has created a climate of cynicism and impunity that is still eating the soul of the nation.”
Rudina Hajdari, U.S. News and World Report: “Albania Should Not Tolerate Democracy Negotiated Through Violence. The country needs its allies, including the U.S., to help fight autocracy and corruption.”
OSCE Interim Report: “The Central Election Commission (CEC) continues preparations for the elections.”
Greece Snap Parliamentary – July 7, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
After Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ left-wing populist Syriza suffered heavy losses during the European Parliament and local elections in May, Tsipras called a snap election. Elections were originally scheduled for October of this year. The center-right New Democracy won the most votes in the European elections and won key mayoral contests, and is projected to win the parliamentary polls. Syriza’s coalition partner, the far-right Independent Greeks (Anel), announced that they would not run candidates after winning less than one percent in the European elections.
Philip Chrysopoulos, Greek Reporter: “Yanis Varoufakis was the surprise of the recent European parliamentary elections, with his party, called “Democracy in Europe Movement 2025” (DiEM25), coming only a few votes shy of snatching a seat. On Thursday, the eccentric economist announced the candidates who will represent his party in Greece’s national elections on July 7.”
Katheimerini: “Panagiotis Pikrammenos, a retired judge who briefly served as caretaker prime minister at the peak of Greece’s economic crisis in 2012, is to top the nationwide party list of center-right New Democracy, ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed Wednesday.”
Austria Snap Parliamentary – September 29, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Austria’s government fell in a no-confidence vote – the first in Austria’s history – in May following 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. New elections will take place in September.
Franz-Stefan Gady, Foreign Affairs: “The Fall of Sebastian Kurz? After a Shocking Scandal, Austria’s Conservative Wunderkind Is Down but Not Out”
State elections in Vorarlberg, Austria’s westernmost state, have been moved from September 22 to October 13, 2019.
Germany State Elections – September 1, 2019 (Saxony and Brandenburg) and October 27, 2019 (Thuringia)
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Germany has a federal system with 16 Länder (states) that each have their own constitution, parliament (Landtag) and state government. The states have autonomy over internal policy, but do not have their own tax authority, and political parties are quite centralized at the federal level. Three states in the east hold elections this year: Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia. Brandenburg is currently governed by a coalition of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the populist Left (die Linke). Saxony has a grand coalition of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD). The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to do well in all three state elections in the east this year. AfD won the most votes in Brandenburg in the European Parliament elections this year. It beat CDU in Saxony, and came close in Thuringia.
However, AfD did not succeed in winning its first mayoral contest. In a closely-watched mayoral election in Görlitz (nicknamed Görliwood because many films have been shot there), in Saxony, when CDU, the Greens, and SPD teamed up to defeat the AfD candidate in the runoff.
Rachel Loxton, TheLocal.de: “Ahead of a state election on September 1st, the survey, by Infratest dimap on behalf of regional broadcaster RBB 24, saw the AfD score 21 percent of the vote [in Brandenburg]. That’s an increase of two percentage points compared to the last poll in April.”
DW: “East Germany’s Görlitz elects CDU mayor over AfD challenger in runoff vote: Germany’s populist AfD party lost a key mayoral race in Görlitz, where all mainstream parties united behind a Romanian-born CDU candidate Octavian Ursu. AfD’s Sebastian Wippel said his own result was still ‘great.’”
Hungary Local – October 2019
Freedom House Rating: Partly Free (downgraded from Free this year) – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian. Nonetheless, the party has been on a winning streak. In the April 2018 parliamentary elections, Fidesz won a third supermajority, and the party won 52 percent of the vote in this year’s European Parliament elections. While the party has historically been a member of the center-right European People’s Party, it has in recent years become populist and nationalist, but with left-wing economic policies. Orbán has pushed the idea of “illiberal democracy.” The local elections will not change the national government, but if the opposition can unite and put in a strong showing, it will reduce Fidesz’s stranglehold on the country’s politics.
Hungary Today: “The leftist Democratic Coalition (DK) has called on Hungary’s opposition parties and civil organisations to find joint mayoral candidates for the upcoming municipal elections in as many localities as possible by midsummer.”
Dorián Elek, Emerging Europe: “Will Budapest’s primaries help unite Hungary’s opposition?”
Balázs Jarábik and Dániel Bartha, Euractiv: “Despite of securing a place among the very few European leaders with a landslide victory under their belts in the European Parliamentary election, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán is not celebrating.”
Bulgaria Local – October 27, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
In the European elections in May, both the governing center-right GERB party and the main opposition Socialist Party ran on a pro-European platform, despite some members of both parties wanting to take a more Eurosceptic tone. As a result, GERB won, followed by the Socialists. The Volya party, which partners with Marine Le Pen in the European Parliament, did not win any seats. However, turnout was very low – 30 percent. Bulgaria is beginning to emerge from a long stretch of chaotic politics characterized by a series of early elections and caretaker governments, but a number of problems remain.
Spasimir Domaradzki, Visegrad Insight: “Bulgaria’s Enduring Status Quo and Political Recidivism: The EP Elections Proved That Bulgaria’s Political Class Lacks Vision and Drive”
Croatia Presidential – December 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
In the 2014-2015 elections, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović from the center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) narrowly defeated independent (former Social Democrat) incumbent Ivo Josipović in the runoff to become Croatia’s first female president. She is expected to run for a second term, but has not announced her candidacy yet. Several other candidates have also expressed interest. Because Croatia is a parliamentary system, the president does not have executive authority. HDZ currently heads Croatia’s government. Croatia’s next parliamentary elections are due by December 23, 2020.
Claudia Patricolo, Emerging Europe: “The leader of Croatia’s Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zoran Milanović has confirmed that he will run for president in elections due to take place in December.”
Sven Milekic, Balkan Insight: “Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s announcement that he will run for the presidency this year means that Croatians have another inadequate option in an already pitiful line-up of nationalists, populists, wannabe comedians and potential autocrats.”
United Kingdom Parliamentary – May 5, 2022 (early elections possible)
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy; A Commonwealth Realm
Following Prime Minister Theresa May’s resignation at the end of May as Conservative Party leader, the Tories are holding a leadership election. The winner will become Prime Minister. The initial field of 10 candidates has been whittled down to four after several rounds of voting by Conservative MPs. Tomorrow, MPs will hold more rounds of votes, eliminating the lowest scorer, until two remain. The 160,000 Conservative Party members will then vote in the final round to choose the winner. Former London mayor Boris Johnson, a bombastic Brexiteer, is the front-runner, and almost certain to make it to the final round, but it’s far from clear who will be his opponent.
Emilio Casalicchio, Politico: “Insurgent Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart has been knocked out of the race to be the next prime minister following a vote by party MPs. The international development secretary had enlivened the contest with a quirky campaign and a better-than-expected performance despite starting as a rank outsider.”
Europe This Week – June 19, 2019
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Last Updated: July 2, 2019 by 21votes
June 19, 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.
Albania Local - June 30, 2019 (possibly cancelled)
Freedom House Rating: Partly Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Albania is in the middle of a tense political standoff between Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialists and the main opposition center-right Democratic Party, led by Lulzim Basha. All but two MPs from the Democratic Party and one from the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) surrendered their parliamentary mandates in February, and have led a series of protests marred by violence. The opposition demands Rama’s resignation and new elections, and announced plans to boycott and disrupt the local elections. President Ilir Meta cancelled the June 30 local elections and called on parties to reduce political tensions. Rama has said Meta did not have the authority to cancel the polls, and has publicly rejected the opposition’s demands. The Election Commission is continuing to prepare for the elections. Albania is a candidate for EU membership.
Llazar Semini, Associated Press: “Albanian police said Wednesday they arrested five opposition supporters for allegedly damaging ballot boxes and documents to prevent upcoming municipal elections, while the government proposed punishing people convicted of election interference by prohibiting them to leave the country.”
Benet Koleka, Reuters: “In 14 towns run by opposition mayors, supporters and municipal police members have been involved in scuffles with state police since Tuesday [June 18].”
Al Jazeera: “PM Edi Rama on elections: ‘Albania is not ready to join the EU’: Prime Minister Edi Rama discusses Albania’s political crisis and why he thinks the country is not ready to join the EU.”
Gazmend Kapllani, Balkan Insight: “Albania’s current disarray is rooted in its failure to come to terms with its bloody past – which has created a climate of cynicism and impunity that is still eating the soul of the nation.”
Rudina Hajdari, U.S. News and World Report: “Albania Should Not Tolerate Democracy Negotiated Through Violence. The country needs its allies, including the U.S., to help fight autocracy and corruption.”
OSCE Interim Report: “The Central Election Commission (CEC) continues preparations for the elections.”
Greece Snap Parliamentary - July 7, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
After Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ left-wing populist Syriza suffered heavy losses during the European Parliament and local elections in May, Tsipras called a snap election. Elections were originally scheduled for October of this year. The center-right New Democracy won the most votes in the European elections and won key mayoral contests, and is projected to win the parliamentary polls. Syriza’s coalition partner, the far-right Independent Greeks (Anel), announced that they would not run candidates after winning less than one percent in the European elections.
Philip Chrysopoulos, Greek Reporter: “Yanis Varoufakis was the surprise of the recent European parliamentary elections, with his party, called “Democracy in Europe Movement 2025” (DiEM25), coming only a few votes shy of snatching a seat. On Thursday, the eccentric economist announced the candidates who will represent his party in Greece’s national elections on July 7.”
Katheimerini: “Panagiotis Pikrammenos, a retired judge who briefly served as caretaker prime minister at the peak of Greece’s economic crisis in 2012, is to top the nationwide party list of center-right New Democracy, ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed Wednesday.”
Austria Snap Parliamentary - September 29, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Austria’s government fell in a no-confidence vote – the first in Austria’s history – in May following 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. New elections will take place in September.
Franz-Stefan Gady, Foreign Affairs: “The Fall of Sebastian Kurz? After a Shocking Scandal, Austria’s Conservative Wunderkind Is Down but Not Out”
State elections in Voralberg, Austria’s westernmost state, have been moved from September 22 to October 13, 2019.
Germany State Elections - September 1, 2019 (Saxony and Brandenburg) and October 27, 2019 (Thuringia)
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Germany has a federal system with 16 Länder (states) that each have their own constitution, parliament (Landtag) and state government. The states have autonomy over internal policy, but do not have their own tax authority, and political parties are quite centralized at the federal level. Three states in the east hold elections this year: Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia. Brandenburg is currently governed by a coalition of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the populist Left (die Linke). Saxony has a grand coalition of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD). The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to do well in all three state elections in the east this year. AfD won the most votes in Brandenburg in the European Parliament elections this year. It beat CDU in Saxony, and came close in Thuringia.
However, AfD did not succeed in winning its first mayoral contest. In a closely-watched mayoral election in Görlitz (nicknamed Görliwood because many films have been shot there), in Saxony, when CDU, the Greens, and SPD teamed up to defeat the AfD candidate in the runoff.
Rachel Loxton, TheLocal.de: “Ahead of a state election on September 1st, the survey, by Infratest dimap on behalf of regional broadcaster RBB 24, saw the AfD score 21 percent of the vote [in Brandenburg]. That’s an increase of two percentage points compared to the last poll in April.”
DW: “East Germany’s Görlitz elects CDU mayor over AfD challenger in runoff vote: Germany’s populist AfD party lost a key mayoral race in Görlitz, where all mainstream parties united behind a Romanian-born CDU candidate Octavian Ursu. AfD’s Sebastian Wippel said his own result was still ‘great.’”
Hungary Local - October 2019
Freedom House Rating: Partly Free (downgraded from Free this year) – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian. Nonetheless, the party has been on a winning streak. In the April 2018 parliamentary elections, Fidesz won a third supermajority, and the party won 52 percent of the vote in this year’s European Parliament elections. While the party has historically been a member of the center-right European People’s Party, it has in recent years become populist and nationalist, but with left-wing economic policies. Orbán has pushed the idea of “illiberal democracy.” The local elections will not change the national government, but if the opposition can unite and put in a strong showing, it will reduce Fidesz’s stranglehold on the country’s politics.
Hungary Today: “The leftist Democratic Coalition (DK) has called on Hungary’s opposition parties and civil organisations to find joint mayoral candidates for the upcoming municipal elections in as many localities as possible by midsummer.”
Dorián Elek, Emerging Europe: “Will Budapest’s primaries help unite Hungary’s opposition?”
Balázs Jarábik and Dániel Bartha, Euractiv: “Despite of securing a place among the very few European leaders with a landslide victory under their belts in the European Parliamentary election, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán is not celebrating.”
Bulgaria Local - October 27, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
In the European elections in May, both the governing center-right GERB party and the main opposition Socialist Party ran on a pro-European platform, despite some members of both parties wanting to take a more Eurosceptic tone. As a result, GERB won, followed by the Socialists. The Volya party, which partners with Marine Le Pen in the European Parliament, did not win any seats. However, turnout was very low – 30 percent. Bulgaria is beginning to emerge from a long stretch of chaotic politics characterized by a series of early elections and caretaker governments, but a number of problems remain.
Spasimir Domaradzki, Visegrad Insight: “Bulgaria’s Enduring Status Quo and Political Recidivism: The EP Elections Proved That Bulgaria’s Political Class Lacks Vision and Drive”
Croatia Presidential - December 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
In the 2014-2015 elections, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović from the center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) narrowly defeated independent (former Social Democrat) incumbent Ivo Josipović in the runoff to become Croatia’s first female president. She is expected to run for a second term, but has not announced her candidacy yet. Several other candidates have also expressed interest. Because Croatia is a parliamentary system, the president does not have executive authority. HDZ currently heads Croatia’s government. Croatia’s next parliamentary elections are due by December 23, 2020.
Claudia Patricolo, Emerging Europe: “The leader of Croatia’s Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zoran Milanović has confirmed that he will run for president in elections due to take place in December.”
Sven Milekic, Balkan Insight: “Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s announcement that he will run for the presidency this year means that Croatians have another inadequate option in an already pitiful line-up of nationalists, populists, wannabe comedians and potential autocrats.”
United Kingdom Parliamentary - May 5, 2022 (early elections possible)
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy; A Commonwealth Realm
Following Prime Minister Theresa May’s resignation at the end of May as Conservative Party leader, the Tories are holding a leadership election. The winner will become Prime Minister. The initial field of 10 candidates has been whittled down to four after several rounds of voting by Conservative MPs. Tomorrow, MPs will hold more rounds of votes, eliminating the lowest scorer, until two remain. The 160,000 Conservative Party members will then vote in the final round to choose the winner. Former London mayor Boris Johnson, a bombastic Brexiteer, is the front-runner, and almost certain to make it to the final round, but it’s far from clear who will be his opponent.
Emilio Casalicchio, Politico: “Insurgent Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart has been knocked out of the race to be the next prime minister following a vote by party MPs. The international development secretary had enlivened the contest with a quirky campaign and a better-than-expected performance despite starting as a rank outsider.”
Upcoming Elections
Albania Local – June 30, 2019 (possibly cancelled)
Freedom House Rating: Partly Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Albania is in the middle of a tense political standoff between Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialists and the main opposition center-right Democratic Party, led by Lulzim Basha. All but two MPs from the Democratic Party and one from the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) surrendered their parliamentary mandates in February, and have led a series of protests marred by violence. The opposition demands Rama’s resignation and new elections, and announced plans to boycott and disrupt the local elections. President Ilir Meta cancelled the June 30 local elections and called on parties to reduce political tensions. Rama has said Meta did not have the authority to cancel the polls, and has publicly rejected the opposition’s demands. The Election Commission is continuing to prepare for the elections. Albania is a candidate for EU membership.
Llazar Semini, Associated Press: “Albanian police said Wednesday they arrested five opposition supporters for allegedly damaging ballot boxes and documents to prevent upcoming municipal elections, while the government proposed punishing people convicted of election interference by prohibiting them to leave the country.”
Benet Koleka, Reuters: “In 14 towns run by opposition mayors, supporters and municipal police members have been involved in scuffles with state police since Tuesday [June 18].”
Al Jazeera: “PM Edi Rama on elections: ‘Albania is not ready to join the EU’: Prime Minister Edi Rama discusses Albania’s political crisis and why he thinks the country is not ready to join the EU.”
Gazmend Kapllani, Balkan Insight: “Albania’s current disarray is rooted in its failure to come to terms with its bloody past – which has created a climate of cynicism and impunity that is still eating the soul of the nation.”
Rudina Hajdari, U.S. News and World Report: “Albania Should Not Tolerate Democracy Negotiated Through Violence. The country needs its allies, including the U.S., to help fight autocracy and corruption.”
OSCE Interim Report: “The Central Election Commission (CEC) continues preparations for the elections.”
Greece Snap Parliamentary – July 7, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
After Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ left-wing populist Syriza suffered heavy losses during the European Parliament and local elections in May, Tsipras called a snap election. Elections were originally scheduled for October of this year. The center-right New Democracy won the most votes in the European elections and won key mayoral contests, and is projected to win the parliamentary polls. Syriza’s coalition partner, the far-right Independent Greeks (Anel), announced that they would not run candidates after winning less than one percent in the European elections.
Philip Chrysopoulos, Greek Reporter: “Yanis Varoufakis was the surprise of the recent European parliamentary elections, with his party, called “Democracy in Europe Movement 2025” (DiEM25), coming only a few votes shy of snatching a seat. On Thursday, the eccentric economist announced the candidates who will represent his party in Greece’s national elections on July 7.”
Katheimerini: “Panagiotis Pikrammenos, a retired judge who briefly served as caretaker prime minister at the peak of Greece’s economic crisis in 2012, is to top the nationwide party list of center-right New Democracy, ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed Wednesday.”
Austria Snap Parliamentary – September 29, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Austria’s government fell in a no-confidence vote – the first in Austria’s history – in May following 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. New elections will take place in September.
Franz-Stefan Gady, Foreign Affairs: “The Fall of Sebastian Kurz? After a Shocking Scandal, Austria’s Conservative Wunderkind Is Down but Not Out”
State elections in Vorarlberg, Austria’s westernmost state, have been moved from September 22 to October 13, 2019.
Germany State Elections – September 1, 2019 (Saxony and Brandenburg) and October 27, 2019 (Thuringia)
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Germany has a federal system with 16 Länder (states) that each have their own constitution, parliament (Landtag) and state government. The states have autonomy over internal policy, but do not have their own tax authority, and political parties are quite centralized at the federal level. Three states in the east hold elections this year: Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia. Brandenburg is currently governed by a coalition of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the populist Left (die Linke). Saxony has a grand coalition of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD). The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to do well in all three state elections in the east this year. AfD won the most votes in Brandenburg in the European Parliament elections this year. It beat CDU in Saxony, and came close in Thuringia.
However, AfD did not succeed in winning its first mayoral contest. In a closely-watched mayoral election in Görlitz (nicknamed Görliwood because many films have been shot there), in Saxony, when CDU, the Greens, and SPD teamed up to defeat the AfD candidate in the runoff.
Rachel Loxton, TheLocal.de: “Ahead of a state election on September 1st, the survey, by Infratest dimap on behalf of regional broadcaster RBB 24, saw the AfD score 21 percent of the vote [in Brandenburg]. That’s an increase of two percentage points compared to the last poll in April.”
DW: “East Germany’s Görlitz elects CDU mayor over AfD challenger in runoff vote: Germany’s populist AfD party lost a key mayoral race in Görlitz, where all mainstream parties united behind a Romanian-born CDU candidate Octavian Ursu. AfD’s Sebastian Wippel said his own result was still ‘great.’”
Hungary Local – October 2019
Freedom House Rating: Partly Free (downgraded from Free this year) – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian. Nonetheless, the party has been on a winning streak. In the April 2018 parliamentary elections, Fidesz won a third supermajority, and the party won 52 percent of the vote in this year’s European Parliament elections. While the party has historically been a member of the center-right European People’s Party, it has in recent years become populist and nationalist, but with left-wing economic policies. Orbán has pushed the idea of “illiberal democracy.” The local elections will not change the national government, but if the opposition can unite and put in a strong showing, it will reduce Fidesz’s stranglehold on the country’s politics.
Hungary Today: “The leftist Democratic Coalition (DK) has called on Hungary’s opposition parties and civil organisations to find joint mayoral candidates for the upcoming municipal elections in as many localities as possible by midsummer.”
Dorián Elek, Emerging Europe: “Will Budapest’s primaries help unite Hungary’s opposition?”
Balázs Jarábik and Dániel Bartha, Euractiv: “Despite of securing a place among the very few European leaders with a landslide victory under their belts in the European Parliamentary election, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán is not celebrating.”
Bulgaria Local – October 27, 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
In the European elections in May, both the governing center-right GERB party and the main opposition Socialist Party ran on a pro-European platform, despite some members of both parties wanting to take a more Eurosceptic tone. As a result, GERB won, followed by the Socialists. The Volya party, which partners with Marine Le Pen in the European Parliament, did not win any seats. However, turnout was very low – 30 percent. Bulgaria is beginning to emerge from a long stretch of chaotic politics characterized by a series of early elections and caretaker governments, but a number of problems remain.
Spasimir Domaradzki, Visegrad Insight: “Bulgaria’s Enduring Status Quo and Political Recidivism: The EP Elections Proved That Bulgaria’s Political Class Lacks Vision and Drive”
Croatia Presidential – December 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
In the 2014-2015 elections, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović from the center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) narrowly defeated independent (former Social Democrat) incumbent Ivo Josipović in the runoff to become Croatia’s first female president. She is expected to run for a second term, but has not announced her candidacy yet. Several other candidates have also expressed interest. Because Croatia is a parliamentary system, the president does not have executive authority. HDZ currently heads Croatia’s government. Croatia’s next parliamentary elections are due by December 23, 2020.
Claudia Patricolo, Emerging Europe: “The leader of Croatia’s Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zoran Milanović has confirmed that he will run for president in elections due to take place in December.”
Sven Milekic, Balkan Insight: “Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s announcement that he will run for the presidency this year means that Croatians have another inadequate option in an already pitiful line-up of nationalists, populists, wannabe comedians and potential autocrats.”
United Kingdom Parliamentary – May 5, 2022 (early elections possible)
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy; A Commonwealth Realm
Following Prime Minister Theresa May’s resignation at the end of May as Conservative Party leader, the Tories are holding a leadership election. The winner will become Prime Minister. The initial field of 10 candidates has been whittled down to four after several rounds of voting by Conservative MPs. Tomorrow, MPs will hold more rounds of votes, eliminating the lowest scorer, until two remain. The 160,000 Conservative Party members will then vote in the final round to choose the winner. Former London mayor Boris Johnson, a bombastic Brexiteer, is the front-runner, and almost certain to make it to the final round, but it’s far from clear who will be his opponent.
Emilio Casalicchio, Politico: “Insurgent Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart has been knocked out of the race to be the next prime minister following a vote by party MPs. The international development secretary had enlivened the contest with a quirky campaign and a better-than-expected performance despite starting as a rank outsider.”
The Year Ahead: Europe
Albania local (June 30); Greece snap parliamentary (July 7); Germany, Brandenburg and Saxony states (September 1); Norway local (September 9); Portugal, Madeiran regional (September 22); Austria snap parliamentary (September 29); Hungary local (October); Finland Åland regional parliament and local (October); Portugal parliamentary (October 6); Austria Vorarlberg state (October 13); Switzerland Federal Assembly (October 20); Bulgaria local (October 27); Germany Thuringia state (October 27); Poland parliamentary (November); Romania presidential (November 3); Croatia presidential (December); Slovakia parliamentary (March 2020); Serbia parliamentary, provincial, local (March or April 2020); Poland presidential (May 2020); Iceland presidential (June 2020)
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Category: This Week Tags: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, United Kingdom