Upcoming Elections in the News
Estonia Parliamentary – March 3, 2019
“E-stonia” is testing internet voting for use in the March parliamentary elections and the May European elections.
Professors Vassilis Petsinis and Stefano Braghiroli examine Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE), polling as the third most popular party in Estonia, and analyze its ideology, strategy, and potential links to militant groups.
Turkey Local – March 2019
Hurriyet Daily News reports: “The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has nominated Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, to run for Istanbul province in the upcoming local elections in March 2019, while announcing Mansur Yavaş, a former CHP mayoral candidate for 2014 elections, to run for Ankara, the country’s capital city.” Meral Akşener’s center-right İYİ Party will endorse both candidates. The governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) has announced Mehmet Özhaseki as its candidate for Ankara, but still has not announced a candidate for Istanbul.
Meanwhile, Voice of America reports that the police have been summoning leaders of the 2013 Gezi Park protests for additional questioning: “Opposition figures say the renewed crackdown is designed to polarize public opinion and rally support for Erdogan’s AK Party ahead of local elections in March, when it could face tight races in some of Turkey’s largest cities.”
France European Elections – May 26, 2019
The Yellow Vest movement is considering running candidates for the European Parliament. Bloomberg reports: “The limited amount of polling so far suggests a Yellow Vests campaign wouldn’t impact Macron’s party in selecting legislators for the European Parliament. Instead, it would splinter the populist opposition. Any decision is far away, partly because the movement is made up of local branches and partly because many participants reject any form of politics as usual—including cooperating with each other.”
Belgium Federal – May 26, 2019
The New York Times reports: “Belgium’s prime minister, under pressure from the right and left, submitted his resignation Tuesday in the face of a populist revolt over his migration policy, which opponents say threatens Belgian sovereignty.” None of Belgium’s political parties want snap elections, so it looks like the next elections will take place on the scheduled date of May 26, 2019, the same day as the European elections.
Greece European and Local – May 26, 2019 and Parliamentary – October 2019
Konstantinos Michalos, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called on Greek parties to put aside their ideological differences and form a grand coalition. Greece remains highly polarized ahead of next year’s elections, and the government faces constant calls for snap elections. Michalos said that a coalition would help stabilize the country.
Poland Parliamentary – November 2019
Warsaw-based writer Jo Harper explores the challenges Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party could face in next year’s elections.
Recent Elections in the News
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brussels-based scholar Damir Kurtagic unpacks Bosnian electoral politics in a piece in the Diplomatic Courier.
Balkan Insight reports: “Under strong local and international pressure, Bosnia’s Central Election Commission, CIK, on Tuesday adopted a decision fixing the country’s dysfunctional election law and enabling the establishment of a new government in the Federation entity, which it has lacked since last October’s elections.”
Sweden
Sweden still does not have a government following September’s elections, and no new attempts will be made to form one this year. The process faces deadlock because the center-right and center-left coalitions each have about 40 percent of parliament, and no one wants to form a coalition with the far-right populist Sweden Democrats. The Local Sweden explains the Swedish word “talmansrunda,” which is key to understanding the current political situation. Swedish officials are preparing for the possibility of snap elections, which Sweden’s constitution requires if a government cannot be formed.
Other Regional News and Views
Austria
Thousands took to the streets in Vienna on Saturday to protest the coalition between the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP) and far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), ahead of the one-year anniversary of the coalition taking power on December 18.
Montenegro
The Telegraph reports: “Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch, was yesterday accused by the United States of working with a former Kremlin intelligence officer to interfere in Montenegro’s 2016 elections. The alleged coup plot during Montenegro’s elections in 2016 remains, in the eyes of Kremlin critics, one of the most shocking examples of Russian election meddling.”
Serbia
Thousands protested again in Serbia, calling for reforms to improve the freedom and fairness of Serbia’s elections. Opposition parties presented a list of reforms. President Alexander Vucic said he would not agree to the proposals, and instead said he might call snap elections.
United Kingdom
Brexit chaos continues to reign. Stratfor outlines possible scenarios for how things could play out.
21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles.
Europe This Week – December 19, 2018
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Last Updated: December 27, 2018 by 21votes
Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. Wednesdays we explore Europe.
Estonia Parliamentary - March 3, 2019
“E-stonia” is testing internet voting for use in the March parliamentary elections and the May European elections.
Professors Vassilis Petsinis and Stefano Braghiroli examine Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE), polling as the third most popular party in Estonia, and analyze its potential links to militant groups.
Turkey Local - March 2019
Hurriyet Daily News reports: “The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has nominated Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, to run for Istanbul province in the upcoming local elections in March 2019, while announcing Mansur Yavaş, a former CHP mayoral candidate for 2014 elections, to run for Ankara, the country’s capital city.” Meral Akşener’s center-right İYİ Party will endorse both candidates. The governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) has announced Mehmet Özhaseki as its candidate for Ankara, but still has not announced a candidate for Istanbul.
Meanwhile, Voice of America reports that the police have been summoning leaders of the 2013 Gezi Park protests for additional questioning: “Opposition figures say the renewed crackdown is designed to polarize public opinion and rally support for Erdogan’s AK Party ahead of local elections in March, when it could face tight races in some of Turkey’s largest cities.”
France European Elections - May 26, 2019
The Yellow Vest movement is considering running candidates for the European Parliament. Bloomberg reports: “The limited amount of polling so far suggests a Yellow Vests campaign wouldn’t impact Macron’s party in selecting legislators for the European Parliament. Instead, it would splinter the populist opposition. Any decision is far away, partly because the movement is made up of local branches and partly because many participants reject any form of politics as usual—including cooperating with each other.”
Belgium Federal - May 26, 2019
The New York Times reports: “Belgium’s prime minister, under pressure from the right and left, submitted his resignation Tuesday in the face of a populist revolt over his migration policy, which opponents say threatens Belgian sovereignty.” None of Belgium’s political parties want snap elections, so it looks like the next elections will take place on the scheduled date of May 26, 2019, the same day as the European elections.
Greece European and Local - May 26, 2019 and Parliamentary - October 2019
Konstantinos Michalos, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called on Greek parties to put aside their ideological differences and form a grand coalition. Greece remains highly polarized ahead of next year’s elections, and the government faces constant calls for snap elections. Michalos said that a coalition would help stabilize the country.
Poland Parliamentary - November 2019
Warsaw-based writer Jo Harper explores the challenges Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party could face in next year’s elections.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brussels-based scholar Damir Kurtagic unpacks Bosnian electoral politics in a piece in the Diplomatic Courier.
Balkan Insight reports: “Under strong local and international pressure, Bosnia’s Central Election Commission, CIK, on Tuesday adopted a decision fixing the country’s dysfunctional election law and enabling the establishment of a new government in the Federation entity, which it has lacked since last October’s elections.”
Sweden
Sweden still does not have a government following September’s elections, and no new attempts will be made to form one this year. The process faces deadlock because the center-right and center-left coalitions each have about 40 percent of parliament, and no one wants to form a coalition with the far-right populist Sweden Democrats. The Local Sweden explains the Swedish word “talmansrunda,” which is key to understanding the current political situation. Swedish officials are preparing for the possibility of snap elections, which Sweden’s constitution requires if a government cannot be formed.
Austria
Thousands took to the streets in Vienna on Saturday to protest the coalition between the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP) and far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), ahead of the one-year anniversary of the coalition taking power on December 18.
Montenegro
The Telegraph reports: “Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch, was yesterday accused by the United States of working with a former Kremlin intelligence officer to interfere in Montenegro’s 2016 elections. The alleged coup plot during Montenegro’s elections in 2016 remains, in the eyes of Kremlin critics, one of the most shocking examples of Russian election meddling.”
Serbia
Thousands protested again in Serbia, calling for reforms to improve the freedom and fairness of Serbia’s elections. Opposition parties presented a list of reforms. President Alexander Vucic said he would not agree to the proposals, and instead said he might call snap elections.
United Kingdom
Brexit chaos continues to reign. Stratfor outlines possible scenarios for how things could play out.
Upcoming Elections in the News
Estonia Parliamentary – March 3, 2019
“E-stonia” is testing internet voting for use in the March parliamentary elections and the May European elections.
Professors Vassilis Petsinis and Stefano Braghiroli examine Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE), polling as the third most popular party in Estonia, and analyze its ideology, strategy, and potential links to militant groups.
Turkey Local – March 2019
Hurriyet Daily News reports: “The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has nominated Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, to run for Istanbul province in the upcoming local elections in March 2019, while announcing Mansur Yavaş, a former CHP mayoral candidate for 2014 elections, to run for Ankara, the country’s capital city.” Meral Akşener’s center-right İYİ Party will endorse both candidates. The governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) has announced Mehmet Özhaseki as its candidate for Ankara, but still has not announced a candidate for Istanbul.
Meanwhile, Voice of America reports that the police have been summoning leaders of the 2013 Gezi Park protests for additional questioning: “Opposition figures say the renewed crackdown is designed to polarize public opinion and rally support for Erdogan’s AK Party ahead of local elections in March, when it could face tight races in some of Turkey’s largest cities.”
France European Elections – May 26, 2019
The Yellow Vest movement is considering running candidates for the European Parliament. Bloomberg reports: “The limited amount of polling so far suggests a Yellow Vests campaign wouldn’t impact Macron’s party in selecting legislators for the European Parliament. Instead, it would splinter the populist opposition. Any decision is far away, partly because the movement is made up of local branches and partly because many participants reject any form of politics as usual—including cooperating with each other.”
Belgium Federal – May 26, 2019
The New York Times reports: “Belgium’s prime minister, under pressure from the right and left, submitted his resignation Tuesday in the face of a populist revolt over his migration policy, which opponents say threatens Belgian sovereignty.” None of Belgium’s political parties want snap elections, so it looks like the next elections will take place on the scheduled date of May 26, 2019, the same day as the European elections.
Greece European and Local – May 26, 2019 and Parliamentary – October 2019
Konstantinos Michalos, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called on Greek parties to put aside their ideological differences and form a grand coalition. Greece remains highly polarized ahead of next year’s elections, and the government faces constant calls for snap elections. Michalos said that a coalition would help stabilize the country.
Poland Parliamentary – November 2019
Warsaw-based writer Jo Harper explores the challenges Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party could face in next year’s elections.
Recent Elections in the News
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brussels-based scholar Damir Kurtagic unpacks Bosnian electoral politics in a piece in the Diplomatic Courier.
Balkan Insight reports: “Under strong local and international pressure, Bosnia’s Central Election Commission, CIK, on Tuesday adopted a decision fixing the country’s dysfunctional election law and enabling the establishment of a new government in the Federation entity, which it has lacked since last October’s elections.”
Sweden
Sweden still does not have a government following September’s elections, and no new attempts will be made to form one this year. The process faces deadlock because the center-right and center-left coalitions each have about 40 percent of parliament, and no one wants to form a coalition with the far-right populist Sweden Democrats. The Local Sweden explains the Swedish word “talmansrunda,” which is key to understanding the current political situation. Swedish officials are preparing for the possibility of snap elections, which Sweden’s constitution requires if a government cannot be formed.
Other Regional News and Views
Austria
Thousands took to the streets in Vienna on Saturday to protest the coalition between the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP) and far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), ahead of the one-year anniversary of the coalition taking power on December 18.
Montenegro
The Telegraph reports: “Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch, was yesterday accused by the United States of working with a former Kremlin intelligence officer to interfere in Montenegro’s 2016 elections. The alleged coup plot during Montenegro’s elections in 2016 remains, in the eyes of Kremlin critics, one of the most shocking examples of Russian election meddling.”
Serbia
Thousands protested again in Serbia, calling for reforms to improve the freedom and fairness of Serbia’s elections. Opposition parties presented a list of reforms. President Alexander Vucic said he would not agree to the proposals, and instead said he might call snap elections.
United Kingdom
Brexit chaos continues to reign. Stratfor outlines possible scenarios for how things could play out.
21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles.
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Category: This Week Tags: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, France, Greece, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom