December 7, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Central Accra, Ghana. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Muntaka Chasant (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Ghana Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 7, 2020
Ghana holds presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2020. Often cited as a success story for democratic transition, Ghana’s two main political parties, the center-right New Patriotic Party (NPP) and center-left National Democratic Congress (NDC), have alternated stints in power since Ghana began holding multiparty elections. More
Francis Kokutse, AP (December 7, 2020): Ghana votes for president in test of country’s stability
Stacey Knott, Voice of America (December 7, 2020): Voters in Ghana Choose Between Familiar Faces
David Pilling, Financial Times (December 6, 2020): Africa watches with envy at Ghana’s ‘boring’ presidential race
Luke Tyburski, Atlantic Council (December 4, 2020): Data remains a weak spot for African elections, but Ghana can lead the way
Liberia Senate Elections: December 8, 2020
Liberia will elect half of its Senate on December 8, 2020. The country’s 2017 election brought the first peaceful transition of power since 1944, but Liberia still faces some challenges as it seeks to consolidate democracy. More
Wescott Yeaw, Foreign Brief (December 8, 2020): Senate elections in Liberia to begin
AFP (December 6, 2020): Liberia referendum could pave way for contentious third term for President Weah
South Africa By-Elections: December 9, 2020
Wayne Sussman, Daily Maverick (December 7, 2020): High stakes at eleventh hour of 9 December municipal by-elections
Niger Local Elections: December 13, 2020 and Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 27, 2020 (Presidential Second Round: February 20, 2021)
Niger plans to hold long-delayed local elections on December 13, 2020. These elections were supposed to take place in May 2016, but have been postponed multiple times. Next, the country will hold presidential and legislative elections on December 27.
Niger’s constitution bars incumbent Mahamadou Issoufou from running for a third presidential term, and in that vein, and in contrast to some incumbents in the region, he is standing down. His party has nominated interior minister Mohamed Bazoum to be its presidential candidate. However, the constitutional court has barred opposition leader Hama Amadou from running. More
RFI (December 8, 2020 – in French): In Niger, observers are concerned in the run-up to general elections
DW (December 7, 2020 – in French): Niger: Presidential election campaign kicks off
RFI (December 4, 2020 – in French): Municipal elections in Niger: a desire for democracy despite the security situation
Central African Republic Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 27, 2020
The Central African Republic (CAR) has scheduled presidential and legislative elections for December 27, 2020. The upcoming elections are taking place in the context of a humanitarian crisis and a crisis of governance. The country has had multiparty elections since 1993, but a series of coups and instability have prevented democracy from flourishing. Meanwhile, Russia is heavily involved in the country’s politics. More
France24/Reuters (December 3, 2020): Central African Republic court rejects ex-president Bozizé’s election candidacy
Somalia Parliamentary Elections: December 1-27, 2020 and Presidential Election: February 8, 2021 (indirect)
Somalia has announced that indirect parliamentary elections will take place between December 1 and December 27, 2020, and the indirect presidential election will take place on February 8, 2021. Although some had hoped for direct elections, it didn’t work out this time, and these elections will continue to use the clan-based delegate system to choose parliament, which will then choose the president.
However, tensions are high, and some have called for a delay in order to lower the chances of violence. More
Abdullahi Abdille Shahow, World Politics Review (December 8, 2020): Fears of Al-Shabab Attacks Rise Ahead of Somalia’s Delayed Elections
Mohamed Sheikh Nor, The Africa Report (December 7, 2020): Somalia’s election impasse: Crisis or successful state-building?
Declan Walsh, New York Times (December 5, 2020): In Somalia, U.S. Troop Withdrawal Is Seen as Badly Timed
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda will hold presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986 and plans to seek a sixth term. For the upcoming elections, 37-year-old pop star Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, has emerged as a leading opposition candidate. Security forces remain in a pattern of intimidating and harassing the opposition, and political climate is tense. More
Africa Center for Strategic Studies (December 8, 2020): The Battle for the Soul of Uganda
Jonathan Kamoga, The East African (December 6, 2020): Violence, deaths continue ahead of Uganda elections
The Africa Report (December 2, 2020): Uganda: Bobi Wine suspends presidential campaign after violence
Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post (December 2, 2020): The Ugandan opposition leader survives an attack. The U.S. needs to take a stand.
Benin Presidential Election: March 2021
Benin is due to hold a presidential election in March 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon will likely run for a second term, and he could be the only candidate on the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
Jean-Luc Aplogan, RFI (December 8, 2020): Catholic Church intercedes with President Talon on sponsorships for the presidential election
Ethiopia General Elections: Postponed indefinitely
Ethiopia planned to hold general elections on August 29, 2020, but has postponed the elections indefinitely due to COVID-19 and other factors. These elections are taking place in the context of political change in Ethiopia, and in the midst of both the opportunity to build a democracy and the threat of ethnic violence or even a breakup of the country, especially in light of the growing crisis in Tigray region in the north that has exploded into violent conflict. More
Nima Elbagir, Barbara Arvanitidis and Eoin McSweeney, CNN (December 4, 2020): Forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region say Eritrean troops are part of the conflict and the war is far from over
Samuel Getachew, Washington Post (December 3, 2020): Ethiopia sees reminders of its dark days as ‘Abiy-mania’ fades
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: TBD, following coup
Mali had a coup in August 2020. Soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government, promising elections in due course
Leanne de Bassompierre, Bloomberg (December 6, 2020): A Leader of Mali’s Coup Was Elected Head of Transitional Council
AFP (December 4, 2020): Mali names members of interim parliament as army cements control
Katarina Hoije, Bloomberg News (December 4, 2020): Salif Keita, One of Mali’s Most Beloved Singers, Enters Politics
Past Africa Elections
Cameroon Regional Elections (indirect): December 6, 2020
Cameroon will hold its first-ever regional elections on December 6. Cameroon is in the midst of several crises. Anglophone separatists seek to form a new country called Ambazonia. Furthermore, the country is in the middle of a political crisis.
Reuters (December 6, 2020): 1 Killed, Others Wounded as Cameroon Holds First Regional Elections
Al Jazeera (December 6, 2020): Cameroon holds first regional election amid opposition boycott
Namibia Local and Regional Elections: November 25, 2020
Namibia is due to hold local and regional elections on November 25, 2020. Namibia is a free, stable democracy. In that vein, recent elections have been judged free, fair, and credible by observers.Since independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibian politics have been dominated by the socialist Swapo, an independence movement-turned-political party. More
Henning Melber, The Conversation (December 6, 2020): Namibia’s democracy enters new era as ruling Swapo continues to lose its lustre
Michael Fitzpatrick, RFI (December 4, 2020): Politician named Adolf Hitler puts Namibia local election in world headlines
Côte d’Ivoire Presidential Election: October 31, 2020
Cote d’Ivoire held a presidential election on October 31, 2020 in a tense environment as President Alassane Ouattara sought and won a controversial third term. Protests followed. More
Tyson Roberts, Washington Post (December 2, 2020): Ivory Coast reelected its president. Opposition candidates boycotted the voting.
Human Rights Watch (December 2, 2020): Côte d’Ivoire: Post-Election Violence, Repression
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.
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Americas
December 12, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in the Americas, usually posted on Saturdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
The city of La Paz, Bolivia. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Mark Goble (CC BY 2.0)
Upcoming Americas Elections
Bolivia Local Elections: March 7, 2021
Bolivia is due to hold regional and municipal elections on March 7, 2021. These follow a rerun of the 2019 annulled general elections that took place on October 18, 2020 in which socialist Luis Arce won the presidency. More
Bettina Latuff, Global Risk Insights (December 7, 2020): Bolivia: Mas strikes back: wider implications for the region
Nicaragua General Elections: November 7, 2021
Nicaragua holds general elections on November 7, 2021. President Daniel Ortega, who has been in power for 20 years, will seek another term, and under his rule, Nicaragua has become increasingly authoritarian, with rule of law and fundamental freedoms under assault.
The Economist (December 10, 2020): How to unseat Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega
Past Americas Elections
Venezuela Legislative Elections: December 6, 2020
Venezuela held legislative elections on December 6, 2020, despite members of the opposition and international community calling for a delay in order to ensure credible, fair elections. These elections took place in the context of ongoing political, constitutional, and humanitarian crises have been going on for years. More
AP (December 7, 2020): Venezuela’s Maduro claims sweep of boycotted election: The win gives Maduro control of the last major branch of government outside his grasp.
Brazil Local Elections: November 15, 2020 (Runoffs: November 29, 2020)
Brazil held municipal elections on November 15, 2020, with a second round on November 29, 2020. The results dealt a blow to Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist firebrand president. The country remains deeply polarized between right and left. The local elections were an important test for Bolsonaro, who is up for re-election in 2022. More
Benjamin H. Bradlow, Washington Post (December 9, 2020): Brazilians firmly rejected many local candidates their president had backed
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.
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Asia
December 11, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Soldiers and military police face off against protesters in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2010. Protests are happening once again in Thailand, with demonstrators demanding unprecedented reforms as the country heads into provincial elections later this month. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Takeaway (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upcoming Asia Elections
Thailand Provincial Elections: December 20, 2020 (other local elections to follow)
Thailand plans to hold provincial elections on December 20, 2020, the first since the country’s 2014. Voters will elect provincial administration organization (PAO) members in 76 provinces. After that, officials have said they will schedule elections for other types of local elections (such as municipal offices and Bangkok city council).
These elections are taking place in the context of unprecedented protests against the monarchy, and calls for unprecedented types of reforms. These protests have been going on for months. More
The Economist (December 12, 2020): Thailand’s absolutist king is on his best behaviour. But protesters do not believe he is prepared to relinquish any power
Mazoe Ford, ABC News Australia (December 10, 2020): Thai parents urged to write their children out of their wills as youth-led protest movement grows
Randy Thanthong-Knight, Bloomberg (December 8, 2020): Thai Demonstrators Plan Protest Against Royal Defamation Law
Tamara Loose, Foreign Affairs (December 7, 2020): A Revolutionary Change in Thailand
Bangladesh Municipal Elections Stage One: December 28, 2020
Bangladesh will hold municipal elections in five stages over the course of the next few months. The country held general elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) in December 2018 amid political violence and harassment of the opposition. The Awami League (AL) has been in power since 2009 and is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
Dhaka Tribune (December 9, 2020): Elections to nearly 100 local bodies Thursday
Rashidul Hasan, The Daily Star (December 9, 2020): Hefajat-e Islam: Politicking in the garb of religion
Smruti S. Pattanaik, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (December 11, 2020): Hefajat-e-Islami and the Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh
India State and Local Elections: Various Times
India’s states hold local elections at various times. Moreover, five states (Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal) are due to hold Legislative Assembly elections in 2021. On the national stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a massive victory in the 2019 elections to the Lok Sabha. Those elections gave BJP a second term in power as the majority party able to govern without coalition partners, in an increasingly polarized political climate. The main opposition social democratic Congress Party – India’s oldest party – has done well in a series of state elections but is reeling from the whiplash of defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
Shreya, One India (December 9, 2020): State Assembly Elections slated to happen in 2021
Times of India (December 10, 2020): Big blow for Congress in Rajasthan as BJP sweeps local body polls
Prashant Waikar, The Diplomat (December 8, 2020): What a City Election in Hyderabad Says About the BJP’s National Strategy
Makepeace Sitlhou , Al Jazeera (December 7, 2020): In India’s Assam, a young Muslim leader fights election to unite
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: September 5, 2021
Hong Kong plans to hold elections to the Legislative Council on September 5, 2021. These elections were due in September 2020, but were postponed for a year. The stated reason was COVID-19, but many in the pro-democracy camp believe the delay had more to do with political concerns.
These elections are taking place in the context of Beijing consolidating its power over Hong Kong and a draconian new security law that authorities have used to crush Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement and criminalize dissent. More
Jadyn Sham and Helen Regan, CNN (December 11, 2020): Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai charged under national security law
Phila Siu and Natalie Wong, South China Morning Post (December 6, 2020): Pro-mainland Chinese financiers based in Hong Kong launch new Bauhinia Party aimed at reforming Legco, restraining ‘extremist forces’
Selina Cheng, Hong Kong Free Press (December 10, 2020): Hong Kong’s new pro-establishment political party wants ‘100 years of One Country, Two Systems’
Past Asia Elections
Indonesia Local and Provincial Elections: December 9, 2020
Indonesia held local and provincial elections on December 9, 2020. More than 100 million eligible voters elected governors in nine of Indonesia’s 34 provinces, plus regents in 224 districts, mayors in 37 cities and 32 provinces across Indonesia.
In Indonesia’s April 2019 elections – the biggest single day of voting in the history of the world – incumbent Joko Widodo (Jokowi), widely seen as a reformer, defeated challenger Prabowo Subianto for the presidency. Prabowo initially refused to accept the results, and rioting subsequently ensued. Prabowo ultimately did accept the results, but tensions remain, particularly regarding the role of religion in politics. More
Shotaro Tani, Nikkei Asia (December 9, 2020): Jokowi’s son set to win mayoral election in Indonesia’s Solo
Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel News Asia (December 7, 2020 – video): Indonesia’s regional elections cast political dynasties in spotlight
Burma General Elections: November 8, 2020
Burma, also called Myanmar, held general elections on November 8, 2020. Burma seemed to be moving toward democracy following the country’s first credible, relatively free elections in 2015, which swept Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) to power following decades of military dictatorship.
Once held up by the global community as a paragon of moral authority for giving up her own freedom in the fight for democracy, Suu Kyi’s tenure as the country’s de facto leader has disappointed many. Nonetheless, the NLD won a second term following these elections. More
Human Rights Watch (December 9, 2020): Myanmar: Arrest for Alleging Voter Intimidation
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (December 7, 2020): Ceasefire Raises Hopes of Elections in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
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.
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Eurasia
December 10, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
A protest in August in Minsk, Belarus, following the flawed presidential election. Protests continue as Belarusians demand reforms, including free and fair elections. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Homoatrox (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Kyrgyzstan Snap Presidential Election: January 10, 2020
Kyrgyzstan will hold a snap presidential election on January 10, 2020, and plans to re-run the parliamentary elections originally held on October 4, 2020 because election officials annulled the results following protests over vote-rigging. The snap presidential election is happening because the president has resigned in the wake pf the protests.
The political climate was tense heading into the October 2020 parliamentary elections. It subsequently exploded following said elections. More
RFE/RL (December 4, 2020): 20 Potential Kyrgyz Presidential Candidates Submit Fees And Signatures
Reuters (December 10, 2020): Nationalist resurgence fires up Kyrgyzstan’s traditional storytellers
Kazakhstan Legislative Elections: January 10, 2020
Kazakhstan has scheduled legislative elections for January 10, 2021. The country’s elections take place in the context of an authoritarian system in which critics of the government face harassment and arrest. As such, no genuine opposition has representation in the legislature. More
RFE/RL (December 10, 2020): Kazakh Election Campaign Kicks Off With No Opposition Parties On Ballot
Joanna Lillis, Eurasianet (December 7, 2020): Kazakhstan: Civil society complains of pre-election pressure
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Russia is due to hold parliamentary elections by September 19, 2021. Russian elections are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, the opposition has been making some gains in recent regional elections, helped by opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote,” a campaign of tactical voting, in which they developed a list of candidates the best chance of beating Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. More
Meduza (December 10, 2020): Levada Center: Youth support for Putin drops to 20 percent
Armenia Parliamentary Elections: Due in December 2023, snap elections possible
Armenia is in the midst of a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Some have called for snap elections.
Ani Mejlumyan, Eurasianet (December 10, 2020): Without a clear alternative, Pashinyan manages to cling to power
RFE/RL (December 5, 2020): Protests Swell As Armenian Opposition Issues Ultimatum For PM’s Resignation Over Karabakh Deal
DW (December 10, 2020): Erdogan praises Azerbaijan’s ‘glorious victory,’ calls for regime change in Armenia
Past Eurasia Elections
Georgia Parliamentary Runoffs: November 21, 2020
Georgia held parliamentary elections on October 31, 2020 in a climate of political tension, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. Georgian Dream claimed victory following the elections. However, many opposition parties are claiming fraud and protesting the results and demanding new elections. International observers noted significant flaws in the elections, and observed that there were issues with public confidence in the polls. More
Agenda.ge (December 10, 2020): Fifth round of election talks between ruling party, opposition postponed
RFE/RL (December 9, 2020): Georgia’s Ruling Party, Opposition Fail To Reach Deal After Fourth Round Of Talks
Agenda.ge (December 9, 2020): Ruling party vows to accept repeat elections if investigation reveals that 1% of votes was rigged
Moldova Presidential Runoff: November 15, 2020
Moldova held the second round of its presidential election on November 15, 2020. Pro-Europe center-right former Prime Minister Maia Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent. More
Alexandru Demianenco, New Eastern Europe (December 9, 2020): Moldova is entering a period of protest in the midst of a pandemic
DW (December 6, 2020): Moldova: Protesters demand chance to oust pro-Russia parliament
Belarus Presidential Election: August 9, 2020
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko declared victory. However, the opposition declared that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had in fact won. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in protest to demand free and fair elections, even in the face of assault and arrest by security forces. Protests continue. More
Sergei Kuznetsov, Politico (December 10, 2020): Lukashenko hangs on as protests continue for a fourth month
Craig Turp-Balazs, Emerging Europe (December 7, 2020): In Belarus, protest has become a part of everyday life
David A. Wemer, Atlantic Council (December 7, 2020): Belarusian opposition leader’s message to the West: ‘Stay with us and we will win’
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.
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Europe
December 9, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Europe, usually posted on Wednesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
The Black Sea coast in Constanța, Romania’s oldest continually-inhabited city. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Julian Nyča (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Europe Elections
Portugal Presidential Election: January 24, 2021 and Local Elections: September or October 2021
Portugal will hold a presidential election on January 24, 2021. After that, local elections are due in September or October. The two main parties, center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) and leftist Socialist Party (PS), regularly alternate in power. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa from PSD won the 2016 presidential election. He is running for re-election, and due to his popularity and strong polling numbers, likely to win. More
Catarina Demony, Reuters (December 7, 2020): In a Lisbon bakery, Portugal’s president announces run for second term
Netherlands Parliamentary Elections: March 17, 2021
Netherlands is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on March 17, 2020. The current government is a coalition of four liberal and center-right parties. The biggest is VVD, whose leader, Mark Rutte, is heading his third government as prime minister. While Rutte has been under fire from other political parties, including members of his own coalition, he enjoys high approval ratings from Dutch voters, including for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. More
Eline Schaart, Politico (December 7, 2020): Baudet faces task of rebuilding Dutch far-right party after reelection
Frida Ghitis, World Politics Review (December 4, 2020): With the FvD’s Collapse, the Dutch Far Right Veers in Uglier Directions
Finland Municipal Elections: April 18, 2021
Finland is due to hold municipal elections on April 18, 2021. Following the 2019 parliamentary elections, a left-leaning coalition came into government nationally.
YLE (December 7, 2020): Majority of government ministers plan to run in local elections
YLE (December 4, 2020): Finns Party overtakes Social Democrats to seize pole position in poll by YLE
Germany Parliamentary Elections: September 26, 2021
Germany is due to hold several sets of elections next year, culminating in the federal parliamentary elections that will determine who succeeds Angela Merkel as chancellor. Additionally, five states hold elections. The year 2021 is thus a “Superwahljahr” (Super election year) in Germany. More
AP (December 9, 2020): Germany sets date for election determining Merkel successor
Kosovo Parliamentary Elections: By October 2023 (snap elections possible)
On November 5, 2020, President Hashim Thaci resigned to face war crimes charges in The Hague. Although the president is elected indirectly by the parliament, Thaci’s resignation could potentially trigger yet another snap election (the third in less than four years).
Valentina Dimitrievska, bneIntellinews (December 9, 2020): Kosovo heading towards snap election as party leaders disagree on new president
Past Europe Elections
Romania Parliamentary Elections: December 6, 2020
Romania held parliamentary elections on December 6. Amid low turnout due partly to COVID-19, the scandal-plagued leftist Social Democrats (PSD) unexpectedly came in first place. Prime Minister Ludovic Orban from the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) consequently resigned. President Klaus Iohannis is holding talks with the parties on forming a government, and has appointed defense minister Nicolae Ciuca as interim prime minister. More
Radu Albu-Comănescu, Visegrad Insight (December 10, 2020): Drawing a Defence Line in Europe’s East
Stephen McGrath, Euronews (December 8, 2020): How a far-right party came from nowhere to stun Romania in Sunday’s election
RFE/RL (December 7, 2020): Romania’s Pro-Western PM Resigns After Disappointing Election Results
Montenegro Parliamentary Elections: August 30, 2020
Montenegro held parliamentary elections on August 30, 2020, the fifth since independence in 2006. Although the pro-Western Democratic Party of Socialists, which has been in power for 30 years, won the most seats, they did not win a majority, and a coalition of opposition parties united to form a government. Zdravko Krivokapic from For the Future of Montenegro will be the next prime minister. The political base of the new coalition is generally pro-Moscow.
Nikola Đorđević, Emerging Europe (December 8, 2020): Montenegro: New government, old problems
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.
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Middle East
December 8, 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
Egypt Parliamentary Elections: October-December 2020
Egypt held elections for both houses of parliament this year. They were widely considered a sham by the opposition, civil society, and the public. More
Mohammed Abu Zaid, Arab News (December 7, 2020): Last round of Egyptian parliamentary elections begins
Yasmin Helal, Arab Reform Initiative (December 9, 2020): The Pavements Don’t Speak: Silencing Street Theatre in Egypt
Israel, Local Elections in Jerusalem: December 22, 2020 and Possible Snap Parliamentary Elections
Peggy Cidor, Jerusalem Post (December 9, 2020): Local elections take Jerusalem
Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post (December 3, 2020): Israel’s fourth election: What will be the same, what will be different?
Iran Presidential and Local Elections: June 18, 2021
Iran has scheduled its next presidential election for June 18, 2021, with concurrent local elections. More
Saeid Jafari Foreign Policy (December 3, 2020): Biden Needs to Move Fast if He Wants a New Deal With Iran
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. Preparations are taking place in the context of widespread protest and political instability. More
Omar al-Jaffal, Al-Monitor (December 4, 2020): Muqtada Sadr is preparing a bid to gain Iraq’s prime minister position
Laura Hurst, Salma El Wardany, Grant Smith, and Alfred Cang, Bloomberg (December 8, 2020): China bails out Iraq with long-term, upfront cash deal for oil
Bruce Riedel and Katherine Harvey, Brookings Institution (December 4, 2020): Why is Saudi Arabia finally engaging with Iraq?
Syria Presidential Election: April or May 2021
Syria is due to hold a presidential election between April 16 and May 16, 2021. The election comes in the context of Syria’s ongoing civil war, and will likely not be free, fair, or democratic.
Sultan al-Kanj, Al-Monitor (December 8, 2020): Syrian opposition retracts decision on electoral committee
Daily Sabah/Andalou Agency (December 6, 2020): Syrian opposition plans to start writing constitution in 5th round of Geneva talks
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. More
Jalel Harchaoui, Foreign Policy Research Institute (December 7, 2020): Why Turkey Intervened in Libya
Daily Sabah/AFP (December 4, 2020): Libyan political process hangs in balance as deep divisions persist
Past Middle East Elections
Kuwait Parliamentary Elections: December 5, 2020
Kuwait held parliamentary elections on December 5, 2020. As could be expected, COVID-19 and the government’s response shaped 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
Al-Jazeera (December 8, 2020): Sheikh Sabah reappointed Kuwait PM
Fiona MacDonald, Bloomberg (December 6, 2020): Kuwait’s Voter ‘Uprising’ Ousts More Than Half of Parliament
DW/AFP (December 6, 2020): Kuwait election delivers all-male parliament
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
Hillel Frisch, Jerusalem Post (December 9, 2020): In Jordan’s 2020 parliamentary elections the king wins hands down
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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Africa
December 7, 2020
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Central Accra, Ghana. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Muntaka Chasant (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Ghana Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 7, 2020
Ghana holds presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2020. Often cited as a success story for democratic transition, Ghana’s two main political parties, the center-right New Patriotic Party (NPP) and center-left National Democratic Congress (NDC), have alternated stints in power since Ghana began holding multiparty elections. More
Francis Kokutse, AP (December 7, 2020): Ghana votes for president in test of country’s stability
Stacey Knott, Voice of America (December 7, 2020): Voters in Ghana Choose Between Familiar Faces
David Pilling, Financial Times (December 6, 2020): Africa watches with envy at Ghana’s ‘boring’ presidential race
Luke Tyburski, Atlantic Council (December 4, 2020): Data remains a weak spot for African elections, but Ghana can lead the way
Liberia Senate Elections: December 8, 2020
Liberia will elect half of its Senate on December 8, 2020. The country’s 2017 election brought the first peaceful transition of power since 1944, but Liberia still faces some challenges as it seeks to consolidate democracy. More
Wescott Yeaw, Foreign Brief (December 8, 2020): Senate elections in Liberia to begin
AFP (December 6, 2020): Liberia referendum could pave way for contentious third term for President Weah
South Africa By-Elections: December 9, 2020
Wayne Sussman, Daily Maverick (December 7, 2020): High stakes at eleventh hour of 9 December municipal by-elections
Niger Local Elections: December 13, 2020 and Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 27, 2020 (Presidential Second Round: February 20, 2021)
Niger plans to hold long-delayed local elections on December 13, 2020. These elections were supposed to take place in May 2016, but have been postponed multiple times. Next, the country will hold presidential and legislative elections on December 27.
Niger’s constitution bars incumbent Mahamadou Issoufou from running for a third presidential term, and in that vein, and in contrast to some incumbents in the region, he is standing down. His party has nominated interior minister Mohamed Bazoum to be its presidential candidate. However, the constitutional court has barred opposition leader Hama Amadou from running. More
RFI (December 8, 2020 – in French): In Niger, observers are concerned in the run-up to general elections
DW (December 7, 2020 – in French): Niger: Presidential election campaign kicks off
RFI (December 4, 2020 – in French): Municipal elections in Niger: a desire for democracy despite the security situation
Central African Republic Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 27, 2020
The Central African Republic (CAR) has scheduled presidential and legislative elections for December 27, 2020. The upcoming elections are taking place in the context of a humanitarian crisis and a crisis of governance. The country has had multiparty elections since 1993, but a series of coups and instability have prevented democracy from flourishing. Meanwhile, Russia is heavily involved in the country’s politics. More
France24/Reuters (December 3, 2020): Central African Republic court rejects ex-president Bozizé’s election candidacy
Somalia Parliamentary Elections: December 1-27, 2020 and Presidential Election: February 8, 2021 (indirect)
Somalia has announced that indirect parliamentary elections will take place between December 1 and December 27, 2020, and the indirect presidential election will take place on February 8, 2021. Although some had hoped for direct elections, it didn’t work out this time, and these elections will continue to use the clan-based delegate system to choose parliament, which will then choose the president.
However, tensions are high, and some have called for a delay in order to lower the chances of violence. More
Abdullahi Abdille Shahow, World Politics Review (December 8, 2020): Fears of Al-Shabab Attacks Rise Ahead of Somalia’s Delayed Elections
Mohamed Sheikh Nor, The Africa Report (December 7, 2020): Somalia’s election impasse: Crisis or successful state-building?
Declan Walsh, New York Times (December 5, 2020): In Somalia, U.S. Troop Withdrawal Is Seen as Badly Timed
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda will hold presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986 and plans to seek a sixth term. For the upcoming elections, 37-year-old pop star Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, has emerged as a leading opposition candidate. Security forces remain in a pattern of intimidating and harassing the opposition, and political climate is tense. More
Africa Center for Strategic Studies (December 8, 2020): The Battle for the Soul of Uganda
Jonathan Kamoga, The East African (December 6, 2020): Violence, deaths continue ahead of Uganda elections
The Africa Report (December 2, 2020): Uganda: Bobi Wine suspends presidential campaign after violence
Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post (December 2, 2020): The Ugandan opposition leader survives an attack. The U.S. needs to take a stand.
Benin Presidential Election: March 2021
Benin is due to hold a presidential election in March 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon will likely run for a second term, and he could be the only candidate on the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
Jean-Luc Aplogan, RFI (December 8, 2020): Catholic Church intercedes with President Talon on sponsorships for the presidential election
Ethiopia General Elections: Postponed indefinitely
Ethiopia planned to hold general elections on August 29, 2020, but has postponed the elections indefinitely due to COVID-19 and other factors. These elections are taking place in the context of political change in Ethiopia, and in the midst of both the opportunity to build a democracy and the threat of ethnic violence or even a breakup of the country, especially in light of the growing crisis in Tigray region in the north that has exploded into violent conflict. More
Nima Elbagir, Barbara Arvanitidis and Eoin McSweeney, CNN (December 4, 2020): Forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region say Eritrean troops are part of the conflict and the war is far from over
Samuel Getachew, Washington Post (December 3, 2020): Ethiopia sees reminders of its dark days as ‘Abiy-mania’ fades
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: TBD, following coup
Mali had a coup in August 2020. Soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government, promising elections in due course
Leanne de Bassompierre, Bloomberg (December 6, 2020): A Leader of Mali’s Coup Was Elected Head of Transitional Council
AFP (December 4, 2020): Mali names members of interim parliament as army cements control
Katarina Hoije, Bloomberg News (December 4, 2020): Salif Keita, One of Mali’s Most Beloved Singers, Enters Politics
Past Africa Elections
Cameroon Regional Elections (indirect): December 6, 2020
Cameroon will hold its first-ever regional elections on December 6. Cameroon is in the midst of several crises. Anglophone separatists seek to form a new country called Ambazonia. Furthermore, the country is in the middle of a political crisis.
Reuters (December 6, 2020): 1 Killed, Others Wounded as Cameroon Holds First Regional Elections
Al Jazeera (December 6, 2020): Cameroon holds first regional election amid opposition boycott
Namibia Local and Regional Elections: November 25, 2020
Namibia is due to hold local and regional elections on November 25, 2020. Namibia is a free, stable democracy. In that vein, recent elections have been judged free, fair, and credible by observers.Since independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibian politics have been dominated by the socialist Swapo, an independence movement-turned-political party. More
Henning Melber, The Conversation (December 6, 2020): Namibia’s democracy enters new era as ruling Swapo continues to lose its lustre
Michael Fitzpatrick, RFI (December 4, 2020): Politician named Adolf Hitler puts Namibia local election in world headlines
Côte d’Ivoire Presidential Election: October 31, 2020
Cote d’Ivoire held a presidential election on October 31, 2020 in a tense environment as President Alassane Ouattara sought and won a controversial third term. Protests followed. More
Tyson Roberts, Washington Post (December 2, 2020): Ivory Coast reelected its president. Opposition candidates boycotted the voting.
Human Rights Watch (December 2, 2020): Côte d’Ivoire: Post-Election Violence, Repression
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