July 18, 2023

A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in the greater Middle East and North Africa, usually posted on Tuesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week.

The Saladin Citadel in Cairo, Egypt. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Ahmed L. Badawy (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Upcoming Middle East Elections

UAE Federal National Council Elections: October 7, 2023 (consultative body with little real power)

Waheed Abbas, Khaleej Times (July 17, 2023): UAE elections: All you need to know about FNC polls in 2023

Iraq Kurdistan Regional Elections: and Provincial Elections

Dana Taib Menmy, The New Arab (July 12, 2023): Scorching summer heat in Iraq sparks fears of low voter turnout for provincial elections

Pakistan General Elections: By November 10, 2023 (early elections possible)

Munir Ahmed, AP (July 17, 2023): Dozens of followers of Pakistan’s Imran Khan quit his party and launch their own ahead of elections

Ismail Dilawar and Kamran Haider, Bloomberg (July 13, 2023): Pakistan’s Coalition Government to Step Down Next Month

Egypt Presidential Election: April 2024

Al Jazeera (July 11, 2023): Egyptians launch online campaign for Gamal Mubarak as president

Palestinian Authority General Elections: Long Overdue

Shira Rubin, Washington Post (July 12, 2023): The Palestinian Authority, teetering on collapse, is tested in Jenin

Dov Waxman, The Conversation (July 14, 2023): The Conversation: Palestinian Authority faces legitimacy crisis

Lebanon Presidential Election: Ongoing

United States Department of State (July 17, 2023): Joint Statement on Lebanon

Past Middle East Elections

Turkey General Elections: May 14, 2023

Grady Wilson, Atlantic Council (July 14, 2023): With re-election behind him, Erdogan is turning toward the West

Karl Ritter and Andrew Wilks, AP (July 12, 2023): Turkey’s Erdogan says lawmakers will take up ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership in October

Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2023

Turkey and Pakistan are due to hold elections that determine who runs the government. In addition, long-overdue elections in the Palestinian Authority and Libya could take place in 2023, but don’t hold your breath.

Lebanon Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament): ongoing

United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Elections (indirect elections, advisory body with limited powers): October 7, 2023

Pakistan General Elections: October 12, 2023 (due – snap elections possible)

Israel Local Elections: October 2023 (due)

Oman Consultative Assembly Elections (advisory body with limited power): October 2023 (due)

Iraq Regional Elections: November 6, 2023

Kurdistan (Iraq) Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 18, 2023

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