November 17, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in the greater Middle East and North Africa, usually posted on Tuesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Kuwait Towers, water towers that have come to symbolize modern Kuwait. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Paasikivi (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Kuwait Parliamentary Elections: December 5, 2020
Kuwait is holding parliamentary elections on December 5, 2020. As could be expected, COVID-19 and the government’s response is shaping public debate ahead of the elections. Meanwhile, populism is on the rise, exacerbated by the pandemic and falling oil prices. As a result, questions of citizenship look likely to play a role in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
All of this is happening in the context of the September 29 death of the emir, Sheikh Sabah, who had been emir since 2006 and prior to that was foreign minister for 40 years. More
Courtney Freer, Lawfare (November 15, 2020): How Politics at Home Shapes Kuwait’s Foreign Policy
Algeria Early Legislative Elections: Possibly in 2020
Algerian authorities have proposed holding early legislative elections before the end of 2020, following a constitutional referendum that took place on November 1, 2020. This is all happening in the context of the Hirak protest movement, in which Algerians protested weekly throughout the country for over a year (stopping only due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Protesters called for, among other things, democratic elections in Algeria. More
Rayane Anser, openDemocracy (November 13, 2020): How Algeria’s new regime won a referendum but lost legitimacy
Dalia Ghanem, Qantara (November 16, 2020): Tebboune’s ‘New Algeria’ looks a lot like the old Algeria
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: June 6, 2021 (tentative) and Provincial Elections (due)
Iraq’s government has proposed holding snap parliamentary elections on June 6, 2021, one year early, following the demands of protesters. However, parliament still has to pass a new electoral law and allocate a budget for the elections in order for them to actually happen. Therefore, the date remains tentative.
Iraq is also due to hold provincial (sometimes called governorate) elections this year, in which voters will elect provincial councils. Originally scheduled for December 2018, these elections have been delayed multiple times following controversial national elections in May 2018 (the first since the defeat of ISIS).
These elections are taking place in the context of widespread protest and political instability. More
Marsin Alshamary, Brookings Institution (November 13, 2020): Six months into his premiership, what has Mustafa al-Kadhimi done for Iraq?
Libya Local Elections (ongoing in various places) and Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: December 24, 2021 (tentative)
Libya’s national elections are overdue and have been postponed indefinitely due to the political crisis and civil war. However, in November 2020, Libyan stakeholders participating in UN-sponsored talks proposed December 24, 2021 for presidential and parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, some local elections have been taking place in various cities. More
UN News (November 14, 2020): Libyan elections to take place in December 2021: senior UN official
Past Middle East Elections
Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections: November 15, 2020
Gilgit-Baltistan, the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir, held elections for its legislative assembly on November 15, 2020. The elections took place in the context of the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, as well as increased Chinese presence due to Belt and Road. More
News18 India (November 16, 2020): Ruling PTI Takes Initial Lead in Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Election in Pakistan
Abubakar Siddique, Gandhara (November 16, 2020): Alleged Election Rigging Adds To Opposition Grievances In Pakistan
Jordan Parliamentary Elections: November 10, 2020
Jordan held parliamentary elections on November 10, 2020. Turnout was low, and both women and Islamist candidates saw poor results. More
Al Jazeera (November 12, 2020): Women, opposition lose seats in Jordan election
Osama Al Sharif, Al Monitor (November 12, 2020): Voter apathy, pandemic result in low turnout, riots in Jordanian election
Egypt Parliamentary Elections: October-November 2020
Egypt held elections for both houses of parliament this year. More
Reuters (November 15, 2020): Pro-Sisi Party in Commanding Position in Egypt’s Parliamentary Polls
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, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
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Middle East This Week: November 17, 2020
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Last Updated: November 26, 2020 by 21votes
November 17, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in the greater Middle East and North Africa, usually posted on Tuesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Kuwait Parliamentary Elections: December 5, 2020
Kuwait is holding parliamentary elections on December 5, 2020. As could be expected, COVID-19 and the government’s response is shaping public debate ahead of the elections. Meanwhile, populism is on the rise, exacerbated by the pandemic and falling oil prices. As a result, questions of citizenship look likely to play a role in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
All of this is happening in the context of the September 29 death of the emir, Sheikh Sabah, who had been emir since 2006 and prior to that was foreign minister for 40 years. More
Courtney Freer, Lawfare (November 15, 2020): How Politics at Home Shapes Kuwait’s Foreign Policy
Algeria Early Legislative Elections: Possibly in 2020
Algerian authorities have proposed holding early legislative elections before the end of 2020, following a constitutional referendum that took place on November 1, 2020. This is all happening in the context of the Hirak protest movement, in which Algerians protested weekly throughout the country for over a year (stopping only due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Protesters called for, among other things, democratic elections in Algeria. More
Rayane Anser, openDemocracy (November 13, 2020): How Algeria’s new regime won a referendum but lost legitimacy
Dalia Ghanem, Qantara (November 16, 2020): Tebboune’s ‘New Algeria’ looks a lot like the old Algeria
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: June 6, 2021 (tentative) and Provincial Elections (due)
Iraq’s government has proposed holding snap parliamentary elections on June 6, 2021, one year early, following the demands of protesters. However, parliament still has to pass a new electoral law and allocate a budget for the elections in order for them to actually happen. Therefore, the date remains tentative.
Iraq is also due to hold provincial (sometimes called governorate) elections this year, in which voters will elect provincial councils. Originally scheduled for December 2018, these elections have been delayed multiple times following controversial national elections in May 2018 (the first since the defeat of ISIS).
These elections are taking place in the context of widespread protest and political instability. More
Marsin Alshamary, Brookings Institution (November 13, 2020): Six months into his premiership, what has Mustafa al-Kadhimi done for Iraq?
Libya Local Elections (ongoing in various places) and Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: December 24, 2021 (tentative)
Libya’s national elections are overdue and have been postponed indefinitely due to the political crisis and civil war. However, in November 2020, Libyan stakeholders participating in UN-sponsored talks proposed December 24, 2021 for presidential and parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, some local elections have been taking place in various cities. More
UN News (November 14, 2020): Libyan elections to take place in December 2021: senior UN official
Past Middle East Elections
Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections: November 15, 2020
Gilgit-Baltistan, the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir, held elections for its legislative assembly on November 15, 2020. The elections took place in the context of the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, as well as increased Chinese presence due to Belt and Road. More
News18 India (November 16, 2020): Ruling PTI Takes Initial Lead in Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Election in Pakistan
Abubakar Siddique, Gandhara (November 16, 2020): Alleged Election Rigging Adds To Opposition Grievances In Pakistan
Jordan Parliamentary Elections: November 10, 2020
Jordan held parliamentary elections on November 10, 2020. Turnout was low, and both women and Islamist candidates saw poor results. More
Al Jazeera (November 12, 2020): Women, opposition lose seats in Jordan election
Osama Al Sharif, Al Monitor (November 12, 2020): Voter apathy, pandemic result in low turnout, riots in Jordanian election
Egypt Parliamentary Elections: October-November 2020
Egypt held elections for both houses of parliament this year. More
Reuters (November 15, 2020): Pro-Sisi Party in Commanding Position in Egypt’s Parliamentary Polls
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, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
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Category: This Week Tags: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan