August 1, 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 Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, which is meant to symbolize the unity of Pakistani people who come from various ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Yaarahmadd (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ongoing Middle East Elections
Lebanon Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament): Continuing
Lebanon’s fractious parliament is in the process of selecting a president. As part of Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, the president is always a Maronite Christian (and conversely, a Sunni serves as prime minister and a Shi’ite as speaker of the parliament).
The last parliamentary elections took place in May 2022 in the context of a political and economic crisis exacerbated by the August 2020 explosion in the port of Beirut. In those elections, Hezbollah and its allies lost their majority in parliament, and a number of independents won seats.
The fragmented parliament has not been able to pick a new president, leaving a vacuum following the end of Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022.
Maya Gebeily at Reuters notes: “The leadership crisis reflects divisions among the ruling elite that has been unable to install a president or fully empowered cabinet for over a year, while leaving the financial crisis to fester, largely unaddressed, since 2019.”
Maya Gebeily, Reuters (July 28, 2023): Lebanon’s central bank faces uncertainty without appointment of new governor
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Pakistan General Elections: By November 10, 2023 (early elections possible)
Pakistan is due to hold elections later this year amid political turmoil and multiple crises. Shweta Sharma at The Independent says: “Analysts say there are hopes that the election can bring an end to a period of deep political uncertainty since [former PM Imran] Khan was ousted in a vote of no confidence, as well as install a government with the mandate to tackle one of South Asia’s worst economic crises, exacerbated by last year’s devastating floods.”
Shweta Sharma, The Independent (August 1, 2023): Fears of more political violence as Pakistan prepares for elections – with or without Imran Khan
AP (July 31, 2023): Pakistan buries dead after 54 killed in a bombing at pro-Taliban cleric’s election rally
Anwarullah Khan and Riaz Khan at the AP note: “The bombing came hours before Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.”
AP (July 31, 2023): IS Behind Pro-Taliban Election Rally Bombing in Pakistan
Adnan Aamir, Nikkei Asia (July 26, 2023): Imran Khan tells Pakistan’s military to stay out of politics as election nears
Iraq Regional Elections: December 18, 2023
Sinan Mahmoud at The National notes: “After the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, parliamentary and provincial council elections were introduced as the main pillar for democracy. Provincial councils play a vital role as the sub-national legislative authority, as well as devising localized development plans.”
Sinan Mahmoud, The National UAE (July 30, 2023): Iraq’s electoral commission extends party registration deadline for provincial polls
Palestinian Authority General Elections: Long Overdue
Palestinian Authority elections are long overdue. President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 18 of a four-year term. Elections were finally scheduled in 2021, but canceled at the last minute.
In 2007, Hamas gained control of Gaza, leading to a rift between it and the Palestinian Authority, headquartered in the West Bank and led by Abbas’s Fatah party.
Neville Teller, Jerusalem Post (August 1, 2023): Is unity between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority possible?
Qassam Muaddi, The New Arab (July 31, 2023): Why breaking the deadlock in Palestinian politics remains elusive
Al Jazeera (July 30, 2023): Palestinian rival governments form ‘reconciliation committee’: In latest attempt at reconciliation, Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh have met for rare face-to-face talks in Egypt.
Past Middle East Elections
Turkey General Elections: May 14, 2023
Kristina Jovanovski, The Media Line (July 30, 2023): Turkey’s constitutional conundrum: Erdogan’s ‘libertarian’ pledge raises alarm bells: The Turkish president’s desire to replace the post-coup constitution fuels concerns about autocracy and civil liberties
Martin Makaryan, Inkstick Media (July 28, 2023): Turkey’s Young People Wonder What’s Next As Erdoğan Starts Another Term
Regional Analysis
Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs (August 1, 2023): Is the Middle East’s Makeover a Mirage?
Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2023
Lebanon Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament): ongoing
United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Elections (indirect elections, advisory body with limited powers): October 7, 2023
Israel Local Elections: October 31, 2023
Pakistan General Elections: By November 10, 2023 (early elections possible)
Oman Consultative Assembly Elections (advisory body with limited power): October 2023 (due)
Iraq Regional Elections: December 18, 2023
Kurdistan (Iraq) Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 18, 2023 (delays possible)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Middle East
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Posted: August 1, 2023 by 21votes
August 1, 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.
Ongoing Middle East Elections
Lebanon Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament): Continuing
Lebanon’s fractious parliament is in the process of selecting a president. As part of Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, the president is always a Maronite Christian (and conversely, a Sunni serves as prime minister and a Shi’ite as speaker of the parliament).
The last parliamentary elections took place in May 2022 in the context of a political and economic crisis exacerbated by the August 2020 explosion in the port of Beirut. In those elections, Hezbollah and its allies lost their majority in parliament, and a number of independents won seats.
The fragmented parliament has not been able to pick a new president, leaving a vacuum following the end of Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022.
Maya Gebeily at Reuters notes: “The leadership crisis reflects divisions among the ruling elite that has been unable to install a president or fully empowered cabinet for over a year, while leaving the financial crisis to fester, largely unaddressed, since 2019.”
Maya Gebeily, Reuters (July 28, 2023): Lebanon’s central bank faces uncertainty without appointment of new governor
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Pakistan General Elections: By November 10, 2023 (early elections possible)
Pakistan is due to hold elections later this year amid political turmoil and multiple crises. Shweta Sharma at The Independent says: “Analysts say there are hopes that the election can bring an end to a period of deep political uncertainty since [former PM Imran] Khan was ousted in a vote of no confidence, as well as install a government with the mandate to tackle one of South Asia’s worst economic crises, exacerbated by last year’s devastating floods.”
Shweta Sharma, The Independent (August 1, 2023): Fears of more political violence as Pakistan prepares for elections – with or without Imran Khan
AP (July 31, 2023): Pakistan buries dead after 54 killed in a bombing at pro-Taliban cleric’s election rally
Anwarullah Khan and Riaz Khan at the AP note: “The bombing came hours before Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.”
AP (July 31, 2023): IS Behind Pro-Taliban Election Rally Bombing in Pakistan
Adnan Aamir, Nikkei Asia (July 26, 2023): Imran Khan tells Pakistan’s military to stay out of politics as election nears
Iraq Regional Elections: December 18, 2023
Sinan Mahmoud at The National notes: “After the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, parliamentary and provincial council elections were introduced as the main pillar for democracy. Provincial councils play a vital role as the sub-national legislative authority, as well as devising localized development plans.”
Sinan Mahmoud, The National UAE (July 30, 2023): Iraq’s electoral commission extends party registration deadline for provincial polls
Palestinian Authority General Elections: Long Overdue
Palestinian Authority elections are long overdue. President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 18 of a four-year term. Elections were finally scheduled in 2021, but canceled at the last minute.
In 2007, Hamas gained control of Gaza, leading to a rift between it and the Palestinian Authority, headquartered in the West Bank and led by Abbas’s Fatah party.
Neville Teller, Jerusalem Post (August 1, 2023): Is unity between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority possible?
Qassam Muaddi, The New Arab (July 31, 2023): Why breaking the deadlock in Palestinian politics remains elusive
Al Jazeera (July 30, 2023): Palestinian rival governments form ‘reconciliation committee’: In latest attempt at reconciliation, Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh have met for rare face-to-face talks in Egypt.
Past Middle East Elections
Turkey General Elections: May 14, 2023
Kristina Jovanovski, The Media Line (July 30, 2023): Turkey’s constitutional conundrum: Erdogan’s ‘libertarian’ pledge raises alarm bells: The Turkish president’s desire to replace the post-coup constitution fuels concerns about autocracy and civil liberties
Martin Makaryan, Inkstick Media (July 28, 2023): Turkey’s Young People Wonder What’s Next As Erdoğan Starts Another Term
Regional Analysis
Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs (August 1, 2023): Is the Middle East’s Makeover a Mirage?
Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2023
Lebanon Indirect Presidential Election (by parliament): ongoing
United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Elections (indirect elections, advisory body with limited powers): October 7, 2023
Israel Local Elections: October 31, 2023
Pakistan General Elections: By November 10, 2023 (early elections possible)
Oman Consultative Assembly Elections (advisory body with limited power): October 2023 (due)
Iraq Regional Elections: December 18, 2023
Kurdistan (Iraq) Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 18, 2023 (delays possible)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Category: This Week Tags: Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Turkey