Recent Elections in the News
Bahrain
Bahrain elected a record number of women to their legislature in the second round of elections on Sunday. Now there are six women. The story has been all over the regional press. However, the elections were neither free nor fair and took place without the participation of major opposition groups. Bahrain remains an authoritarian state, one of the most repressive in the region (a region full of police states). Another example of authoritarian regimes touting “women’s advancement” in order to strengthen their hand (Bahrain, a constitutional monarchy, is actually is the opposite of the type of authoritarian regime described in the article, but it is interesting even so).
Kurdistan, Iraq
Jerusalem Post reports: “Nechirvan Barzani, who has served as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, was nominated for President of the region on Monday. Masrour Barzani, the head of the regional security council was also nominated as Prime Minister, a position he will likely receive because his political party is the largest in the KRG. The transition is important for the Kurdish autonomous region as it seeks to reach out to countries in the region and improve its economic standing and stability. The Kurdistan Democratic Party held a meeting in Erbil, the capital of the KRG, on Sunday to nominate members for the leadership of the region. They are seeking to form a government and cabinet after the September 30 elections.”
Other Regional News and Views
Tunisia
Shadi Hamid and Sharan Grewal on Tunisia’s imperfect but inspiring democracy: “It may not be a model, but it is, and can continue to be, an inspiration. And this is why—merely by existing—Tunisia represents both an exception and a threat to a new but ever-authoritarian Middle East. It’s no mistake that the only Arab Spring democracy is the one where people are protesting Mohammed bin Salman. Tunisia is the near-opposite of Saudi Arabia.”
Lebanon
Politics in Lebanon seem to be heating up.
21votes doesn’t necessarily endorse all of the views contained in all of the linked articles.
Middle East – December 4, 2018
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Last Updated: April 24, 2022 by 21votes
Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore the Middle East and North Africa on Tuesdays. Click the map pins.
Bahrain
Bahrain elected a record number of women to their legislature in the second round of elections on Sunday. Now there are six women. The story has been all over the regional press. However, the elections were neither free nor fair and took place without the participation of major opposition groups. Bahrain remains an authoritarian state, one of the most repressive in the region (a region full of police states). Another example of authoritarian regimes touting “women’s advancement” in order to strengthen their hand (Bahrain, a constitutional monarchy, is actually is the opposite of the type of authoritarian regime described in the article, but it is interesting even so).
Kurdistan, Iraq
Jerusalem Post reports: “Nechirvan Barzani, who has served as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, was nominated for President of the region on Monday. Masrour Barzani, the head of the regional security council was also nominated as Prime Minister, a position he will likely receive because his political party is the largest in the KRG. The transition is important for the Kurdish autonomous region as it seeks to reach out to countries in the region and improve its economic standing and stability. The Kurdistan Democratic Party held a meeting in Erbil, the capital of the KRG, on Sunday to nominate members for the leadership of the region. They are seeking to form a government and cabinet after the September 30 elections.”
Tunisia
Shadi Hamid and Sharan Grewal on Tunisia’s imperfect but inspiring democracy: “It may not be a model, but it is, and can continue to be, an inspiration. And this is why—merely by existing—Tunisia represents both an exception and a threat to a new but ever-authoritarian Middle East. It’s no mistake that the only Arab Spring democracy is the one where people are protesting Mohammed bin Salman. Tunisia is the near-opposite of Saudi Arabia.”
Lebanon
Politics in Lebanon seem to be heating up.
Recent Elections in the News
Bahrain
Bahrain elected a record number of women to their legislature in the second round of elections on Sunday. Now there are six women. The story has been all over the regional press. However, the elections were neither free nor fair and took place without the participation of major opposition groups. Bahrain remains an authoritarian state, one of the most repressive in the region (a region full of police states). Another example of authoritarian regimes touting “women’s advancement” in order to strengthen their hand (Bahrain, a constitutional monarchy, is actually is the opposite of the type of authoritarian regime described in the article, but it is interesting even so).
Kurdistan, Iraq
Jerusalem Post reports: “Nechirvan Barzani, who has served as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, was nominated for President of the region on Monday. Masrour Barzani, the head of the regional security council was also nominated as Prime Minister, a position he will likely receive because his political party is the largest in the KRG. The transition is important for the Kurdish autonomous region as it seeks to reach out to countries in the region and improve its economic standing and stability. The Kurdistan Democratic Party held a meeting in Erbil, the capital of the KRG, on Sunday to nominate members for the leadership of the region. They are seeking to form a government and cabinet after the September 30 elections.”
Other Regional News and Views
Tunisia
Shadi Hamid and Sharan Grewal on Tunisia’s imperfect but inspiring democracy: “It may not be a model, but it is, and can continue to be, an inspiration. And this is why—merely by existing—Tunisia represents both an exception and a threat to a new but ever-authoritarian Middle East. It’s no mistake that the only Arab Spring democracy is the one where people are protesting Mohammed bin Salman. Tunisia is the near-opposite of Saudi Arabia.”
Lebanon
Politics in Lebanon seem to be heating up.
21votes doesn’t necessarily endorse all of the views contained in all of the linked articles.
Category: This Week Tags: Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia