Upcoming Elections
Albania Local – June 30, 2019
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, AP: “Albania’s president criticized election officials Tuesday for ruling in favor of holding municipal elections he tried to cancel, alleging “political pressure and blackmail” influenced the decision.”
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, headed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 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.
Kerin Hope, Financial Times: “Mitsotakis buoyed by Greeks’ desire for change after Syriza era. Opposition leader favoured to oust Tsipras as prime minister in July 7 election”
Zoe Alipranti, London School of Economics’ EUROPP: “Greek election preview: The end of the road for Syriza?”
Ioanna Mandrou, Kathimerini: “Twenty parties and coalitions will be running in Greece’s snap general elections on July 7, out of a total of 24 which submitted a request to participate, the Supreme Court announced on Wednesday.”
AFP: “Migrant issue looms large on ‘weary’ Samos for Greek elections”
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.
Marton Dunai, Reuters: “Liberal wins Budapest primary to face Orban’s Fidesz in mayoral election. The first formal primary in Hungary’s history, for Budapest’s mayoral election, wrapped up on Wednesday as the opposition joined forces to try to wrest political leadership in the capital from Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party.”
Caroline Mortimer, Euronews: “Hungarian political party offers punching bags for Budapest residents as part of election campaign”
Zsuzsanna Szelényi, The Guardian: “I was once Orbán’s ally. I despair at what he has done to Hungary”
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.
Ryland James, AFP: “Merkel’s party debates the unthinkable — power sharing with the far-right. As power shifts, some CDU politicians push for tie-ups with AfD on a regional level, while others look at ways to ban any attempt to cooperate with anti-migrant party”
Anton Stoyanov, The Mayor EU: “The interesting cases in last month’s German local elections”
Poland Parliamentary – Expected October/November 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Poland’s right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) came to power in the 2015 elections, winning a majority, a first for a Polish political party in a free election. The party has been criticized for its increasingly authoritarian tendencies, but it nonetheless won a massive victory in this year’s European Parliament elections. The country is highly polarized, and upcoming parliamentary elections will be crucial in determining the country’s future course.
Claudia Ciobanu, Balkan Insight: “‘’Foreign ideology’: Poland’s populists target LGBT rights”
Reuters: “Polish government to ‘repolonise’ media in next term, deputy PM says”
Past Elections
Denmark Parliamentary – June 5, 2019
Reuters: “Denmark on Wednesday became the third Nordic country this year to form a leftist government after Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen finalised terms for a one-party minority government, making her the country’s youngest-ever prime minister.”
DW: “Frederiksen said her government will rely on support from four other left-of-center parties, including the Socialist People’s Party and the Social-Liberal Party. Part of their deal includes enacting legislation that will cut Denmark’s carbon dioxide emissions by 70% over the next decade.”
Belgium Parliamentary – May 26, 2019
Euronews: “Divided Belgium: Greens, socialists and nationalist parties struggle to form government”
European Parliament – May 23-26, 2019
Lili Bayer, Jacopo Bariagazzi, and Maïa de la Baume, Politico: “9 (more) center-right candidates for Commission chief. If the European People’s Party can’t get Manfred Weber through, what’s Plan B?”
Spain Snap Parliamentary – April 28, 2019
Belén Carreño and Ingrid Melender, Reuters: “Spain’s Sanchez Will Go Ahead With PM Confirmation Vote, Risking New Election:”
Finland Parliamentary – April 14, 2019
Teivo Teivainen interview, World Politics Review: “Can Finland’s New Center-Left Government Keep the Far Right at Bay?”
Europe This Week – June 26, 2019
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Last Updated: July 3, 2019 by 21votes
June 26, 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
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, AP: “Albania’s president criticized election officials Tuesday for ruling in favor of holding municipal elections he tried to cancel, alleging “political pressure and blackmail” influenced the decision.”
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, headed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 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.
Kerin Hope, Financial Times: “Mitsotakis buoyed by Greeks’ desire for change after Syriza era. Opposition leader favoured to oust Tsipras as prime minister in July 7 election”
Zoe Alipranti, London School of Economics’ EUROPP: “Greek election preview: The end of the road for Syriza?”
Ioanna Mandrou, Kathimerini: “Twenty parties and coalitions will be running in Greece’s snap general elections on July 7, out of a total of 24 which submitted a request to participate, the Supreme Court announced on Wednesday.”
AFP: “Migrant issue looms large on ‘weary’ Samos for Greek elections”
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.
Marton Dunai, Reuters: “Liberal wins Budapest primary to face Orban’s Fidesz in mayoral election. The first formal primary in Hungary’s history, for Budapest’s mayoral election, wrapped up on Wednesday as the opposition joined forces to try to wrest political leadership in the capital from Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party.”
Caroline Mortimer, Euronews: “Hungarian political party offers punching bags for Budapest residents as part of election campaign”
Zsuzsanna Szelényi, The Guardian: “I was once Orbán’s ally. I despair at what he has done to Hungary”
Poland Parliamentary - Expected October/November 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Poland’s right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) came to power in the 2015 elections, winning a majority, a first for a Polish political party in a free election. The party has been criticized for its increasingly authoritarian tendencies, but it nonetheless won a massive victory in this year’s European Parliament elections. The country is highly polarized, and upcoming parliamentary elections will be crucial in determining the country’s future course.
Claudia Ciobanu, Balkan Insight: “‘’Foreign ideology’: Poland’s populists target LGBT rights”
Reuters: “Polish government to ‘repolonise’ media in next term, deputy PM says”
Denmark Parliamentary - June 5, 2019
Reuters: “Denmark on Wednesday became the third Nordic country this year to form a leftist government after Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen finalised terms for a one-party minority government, making her the country’s youngest-ever prime minister.”
DW: “Frederiksen said her government will rely on support from four other left-of-center parties, including the Socialist People’s Party and the Social-Liberal Party. Part of their deal includes enacting legislation that will cut Denmark’s carbon dioxide emissions by 70% over the next decade.”
Belgium Parliamentary - May 26, 2019
Euronews: “Divided Belgium: Greens, socialists and nationalist parties struggle to form government”
European Parliament - May 23-26, 2019
Lili Bayer, Jacopo Bariagazzi, and Maïa de la Baume, Politico: “9 (more) center-right candidates for Commission chief. If the European People’s Party can’t get Manfred Weber through, what’s Plan B?”
Spain Snap Parliamentary - April 28, 2019
Belén Carreño and Ingrid Melender, Reuters: “Spain’s Sanchez Will Go Ahead With PM Confirmation Vote, Risking New Election:”
Finland Parliamentary - April 14, 2019
Teivo Teivainen interview, World Politics Review: “Can Finland’s New Center-Left Government Keep the Far Right at Bay?”
Upcoming Elections
Albania Local – June 30, 2019
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, AP: “Albania’s president criticized election officials Tuesday for ruling in favor of holding municipal elections he tried to cancel, alleging “political pressure and blackmail” influenced the decision.”
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, headed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 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.
Kerin Hope, Financial Times: “Mitsotakis buoyed by Greeks’ desire for change after Syriza era. Opposition leader favoured to oust Tsipras as prime minister in July 7 election”
Zoe Alipranti, London School of Economics’ EUROPP: “Greek election preview: The end of the road for Syriza?”
Ioanna Mandrou, Kathimerini: “Twenty parties and coalitions will be running in Greece’s snap general elections on July 7, out of a total of 24 which submitted a request to participate, the Supreme Court announced on Wednesday.”
AFP: “Migrant issue looms large on ‘weary’ Samos for Greek elections”
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.
Marton Dunai, Reuters: “Liberal wins Budapest primary to face Orban’s Fidesz in mayoral election. The first formal primary in Hungary’s history, for Budapest’s mayoral election, wrapped up on Wednesday as the opposition joined forces to try to wrest political leadership in the capital from Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party.”
Caroline Mortimer, Euronews: “Hungarian political party offers punching bags for Budapest residents as part of election campaign”
Zsuzsanna Szelényi, The Guardian: “I was once Orbán’s ally. I despair at what he has done to Hungary”
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.
Ryland James, AFP: “Merkel’s party debates the unthinkable — power sharing with the far-right. As power shifts, some CDU politicians push for tie-ups with AfD on a regional level, while others look at ways to ban any attempt to cooperate with anti-migrant party”
Anton Stoyanov, The Mayor EU: “The interesting cases in last month’s German local elections”
Poland Parliamentary – Expected October/November 2019
Freedom House Rating: Free – Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Poland’s right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) came to power in the 2015 elections, winning a majority, a first for a Polish political party in a free election. The party has been criticized for its increasingly authoritarian tendencies, but it nonetheless won a massive victory in this year’s European Parliament elections. The country is highly polarized, and upcoming parliamentary elections will be crucial in determining the country’s future course.
Claudia Ciobanu, Balkan Insight: “‘’Foreign ideology’: Poland’s populists target LGBT rights”
Reuters: “Polish government to ‘repolonise’ media in next term, deputy PM says”
Past Elections
Denmark Parliamentary – June 5, 2019
Reuters: “Denmark on Wednesday became the third Nordic country this year to form a leftist government after Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen finalised terms for a one-party minority government, making her the country’s youngest-ever prime minister.”
DW: “Frederiksen said her government will rely on support from four other left-of-center parties, including the Socialist People’s Party and the Social-Liberal Party. Part of their deal includes enacting legislation that will cut Denmark’s carbon dioxide emissions by 70% over the next decade.”
Belgium Parliamentary – May 26, 2019
Euronews: “Divided Belgium: Greens, socialists and nationalist parties struggle to form government”
European Parliament – May 23-26, 2019
Lili Bayer, Jacopo Bariagazzi, and Maïa de la Baume, Politico: “9 (more) center-right candidates for Commission chief. If the European People’s Party can’t get Manfred Weber through, what’s Plan B?”
Spain Snap Parliamentary – April 28, 2019
Belén Carreño and Ingrid Melender, Reuters: “Spain’s Sanchez Will Go Ahead With PM Confirmation Vote, Risking New Election:”
Finland Parliamentary – April 14, 2019
Teivo Teivainen interview, World Politics Review: “Can Finland’s New Center-Left Government Keep the Far Right at Bay?”
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, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Spain