April 7, 2021
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 central train station in Varna, Bulgaria, on the Black Sea. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Extrawurst (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upcoming Europe Elections
Albania Parliamentary Elections: April 25, 2021
Albania plans to hold parliamentary elections on April 25, 2021. Since communism collapsed in 1990, Albania has held competitive elections and several transitions of power between political parties. However, the country is currently in the middle of a tense political standoff between the governing Socialist Party and the main opposition center-right Democratic Party. More
Llazar Semini, AP (April 6, 2021): Albania sends troops, police, to end flight control strike
Euronews (April 6, 2021): April 25 elections, Matthew Palmer “virtually meets” Albanian political leaders
Veton Surroi, Tirana Times (April 5, 2021): Elections in a captured state
Spain, Snap Regional Elections in Madrid: May 4, 2021
Madrid will hold early regional elections on May 4, following the collapse of the government coalition consisting of the conservative Popular Party and the liberal Citizens Party. These elections are taking place in a highly polarized environment, as conservative incumbent Isabel Díaz Ayuso faces off against leftist firebrand Pablo Inglesias, who surprised everyone by leaving his role as deputy PM to run in Madrid.
AP (April 7, 2021): Madrid riot police keep protesters away from far-right rally
Reuters (April 2, 2021): Fire bomb attack on Spanish leftist party’s office
United Kingdom Local Elections (including Mayor of London and Scottish and Welsh parliaments): May 6, 2021
The United Kingdom (UK) will hold local elections on May 6, 2021. Voters will elect various local councils, plus the mayor of London, plus Scottish and Welsh parliaments. The Scottish elections are particularly high-stakes because if the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) wins a majority, they will pressure the government in Westminster to allow another referendum on independence. More
Scottish Elections
David McCann, Slugger O’Toole (April 7, 2021): A primer for the Scottish elections
Stephen Daisley, The Spectator (April 7, 2021): Salmond could spark a nationalist war over Europe
BBC (April 7, 2021): Scottish Election 2021: George Galloway pledges to tackle ‘scourge of separatism’
Vernon Bogdanor, The Scotsman (April 5, 2021): Scottish independence in the EU would leave Scots with less control over their affairs than within the Union
Chris Giles and Mure Dickie, Financial Times (April 2, 2021): Independent Scotland would face a large hole in its public finances
Local Elections
Joe Murphy, London Evening Standard (April 7, 2021): London mayoral election: New poll puts Sadiq Khan way out in front of Conservative rival Shaun Bailey
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Cyprus is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 23, 2021. The incumbent government led by the center-right DISY will face off against the center-left AKEL, the main opposition party (with a number of smaller parties also competing). This is all happening in the context of the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean crisis. More
George Psyllides, Cyprus Mail (April 4, 2021): Parliamentary elections: edging out the big players
Latvia Municipal Elections: June 5, 2021
Latvia has scheduled municipal elections for June 5, 2021. After that, parliamentary elections are due in October 2022. More
LETA (April 7, 2021): Latvia braces for upcoming municipal elections; submission of election lists officially over
Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Foreign Policy Research Institute (April 7, 2021): Go with the devil you don’t know?” Latvians still believe in economic cooperation with China
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 6, 2021 (plus more elections throughout the year)
Germany is due to hold several sets of elections next year, culminating in the September 26, 2021 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.
The states of Baden-Württemburg and Rhineland-Palatinate held elections on March 14. In both states, the incumbents won (in Baden-Wüttemburg, that was the Greens, boosted by the popularity of incumbent minister-president – the German equivalent of a governor – Winfried Kretschmann. In Rhineland-Palatinate, it was the Social Democrats). Coalition negotiations are still going on to decide which parties will form the new governments in those states. More
Richard Connor, DW (April 7, 2021): COVID pandemic pushes Germany to largest deficit since reunification
Iain Rogers, Bloomberg (April 7, 2021): How Germany’s election has thrown open the Merkel succession race
Josie Le Blond, Euractiv (April 7, 2021): German Greens mull top candidate for landmark post-Merkel election
AP (April 7, 2021): Germany’s Greens to pick candidate for chancellor April 19
Ben Knight, DW (April 6, 2021): Germany’s far-right AfD searching for new momentum ahead of election
Reuters (April 1, 2021): German Greens seek state tie-up with Merkel’s CDU before September vote
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021 and Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
France holds regional elections on June 13, 2021, with a second round on June 20. These come ahead of next year’s presidential and legislative elections, where President Emmanuel Macron potentially faces a formidable challenge from the far-right. More
Regional Elections
Reuters (April 1, 2021): France still planning on regional elections in June: Castex
Presidential Election
TheLocal.FR (April 7, 2021): Five minutes to understand France’s 2022 presidential election
Victor Mallet, Financial Times (April 5, 2021): French politics: Macron faces test of character as Le Pen’s popularity grows
Italy, Mayoral Elections in Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples and other cities and regional elections in Calabria: Between September 15 and October 15, 2021
Italy is due to hold regional elections in Calabria in the south, as well as mayoral elections in several major cities, later this year. The next general elections aren’t due until June 2023, but as is ever the case with Italy, snap elections are possible. However, in January 2021, the government collapsed after former prime minister Matteo Renzi withdrew his support. Former European Central Bank chief Mario “Super Mario” Draghi formed a government in February 2021.
Massimiliano Ferraresi, LSE’s EUROPP (April 8, 2021): Evidence from Italy: How local governments manipulate tax and spend policies to help win re-election
Silvia Marchetti, EU Observer (April 6, 2021): Far-right alarm bells for next Italian election
Poland Parliamentary Elections: Fall 2023 (snap possible)
Poland is due to hold parliamentary elections in fall 2023, but could call snap elections if the three parties in the conservative government coalition don’t all vote to approve the EU stimulus plan. However, many analysts believe that early elections are unlikely to happen because polls show that the opposition would likely win. Therefore, the coalition parties have a strong incentive to hold together.
Maciej Martewicz, Bloomberg (April 7, 2021): Polish coalition may collapse over EU plan, Kaczynski warns
Jo Harper, Emerging Europe (April 6, 2021): Do early elections beckon in Poland?
Past Europe Elections
Greenland Snap Parliamentary Elections: April 6, 2021
Greenland held hold snap parliamentary elections on April 6, 2021 after the government coalition fractured following disagreements over a China-backed rare earth minerals mining project at Kvanefjeld in the south. The long-dominant Siumut (Forward), which backed the project, lost to the left-wing green Inuit Ataqatigiit, which opposes the mine.
Greenland remains part of Denmark but has autonomy over domestic policy, although there is growing support for eventual independence. In these elections, pro-independence parties increased their vote share. More
Yasuo Takeuchi, Nikkei Asia (April 8, 2021): Greenland says no to China-backed rare-earth mine in election
AP (April 7, 2021): Main opposition party against mining wins Greenland election
Stephen Van Dine, iPolitics Canada (April 6, 2021): The bear, the dragon, and Canada’s Arctic
Jari Tanner, AP (April 6, 2021): Greenland election shows divide over rare-earth metals mine
Paul Waldie, Globe and Mail (April 4, 2021): Greenland has an election on Tuesday. Why are the U.S. and China so interested in its outcome?
John Last, CBC News (April 2, 2021): Mining — and independence — at the heart of Greenland’s election
Bulgaria Parliamentary Elections: April 4, 2021
Bulgaria held parliamentary elections on April 4, 2021. PM Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB won the most seats, but lost ground and failed to win a majority. New parties running against the establishment did surprisingly well – in fact, a party called There Is Such a People, led by TV star Stanislav Trifonov, came in second and has ruled out forming a coalition with GERB. Trifonov’s main platform was anti-corruption – indeed, corruption was the biggest issue in the election. Borissov will have to get creative if he wants to cobble together a coalition to remain in power, and if he can’t do it, Bulgaria could face new elections. More
Emilia Zankina, Yuxiang Lin and Tim Haughton, Washington Post (April 7, 2021): Bulgaria’s election was all about corruption, not covid-19. Here are 4 takeaways.
Tom Junes, Balkan Insight (April 6, 2021): Election surprises end Bulgaria’s political stability
Judy Dempsey, Carnegie Europe (April 6, 2021): Bulgaria’s election: The EU’s negligence of corruption and its values
Valerie Hopkins, Financial Times (April 5, 2021: Borisov faces rising anti-establishment vote in Bulgaria elections
Denitsa Koseva, bne Intellinews (April 5, 2021): Few routes to power in Bulgaria’s fragmented new parliament
DW (April 5, 2021): Bulgaria election: PM Borissov’s party wins but falls short of majority
Netherlands Parliamentary Elections: March 17, 2021
Netherlands held parliamentary elections on March 17, 2020. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right VVD once again won the most seats, but negotiations continue to decide which parties will make up the next government. More
AP (April 6, 2021): Dutch lawmakers set to resume stalled coalition talks
NL Times (April 5, 2021): ING: New elections may be needed in Netherlands as pressure on Rutte grows
Mike Corder, AP (April 1, 2021): Lawmakers censure Dutch PM Rutte over coalition talks
Kosovo Snap Parliamentary Elections: February 14, 2021
Kosovo held snap parliamentary elections on February 14. The left-wing nationalist Vetëvendosje won, potentially jeopardizing any resolution to a long-standing territorial dispute with Serbia.
AP (April 4, 2021): Kosovo gets new president, its second female leader
RFE/RL (April 4, 2021): Kosovo’s parliament elects reformist lawyer Osmani As president
Slovakia Parliamentary Elections: February 29, 2020
Slovakia held parliamentary elections in February 2020, won by a coalition of then-opposition parties running on an anti-corruption platform, defeating the then-incumbent populists. However, a subsequent scandal over the Russian Sputnik COVID vaccine has engulfed the government, threatening its collapse. More
Siegfried Mortkowitz, Politico (April 1, 2021): Slovakia gets new government, ending Russian vaccine crisis
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.
Kseniya Kirillova, Jamestown Foundation (April 6, 2021): Russian influence in Montenegro could create a threat for NATO’s information security
Europe-Wide Analysis
The Economist (April 6, 2021): Populists are threatening Europe’s independent public broadcasters
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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A Bird’s-Eye View of Elections
This Week
Asia
April 9, 2021
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.
A beach on Manono Island, Samoa. Samoa is holding its most competitive election in a long time as voters debate proposed constitutional changes that touch on questions of Samoan identity. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Sonja Pieper (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Ongoing Asia/Pacific Elections
India: Five State Elections: March 27-May 2, 2021
Elections in four Indian states (West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala) and one union territory (Puducherry) begin on March 27 and will conclude on May 2. These elections, involving 180 million voters, will be a key test for the national parties, but regional parties also play a big role. Meanwhile, farmers protests continue in and around New Delhi. In addition, a number of local elections are going on. More
Sudha Ramachandran, The Diplomat (April 9, 2021): Missing in India’s upcoming state elections: female candidates
Sanjib Baruah, The Indian Express (April 9, 2021): Despite ruling party’s silence, immigration from Bangladesh remains a theme in Assam politics
Mujib Mashal, New York Times (April 7, 2021): A fierce election tests Modi’s campaign to remake India
Somali Verma, Times of India (April 6, 2021): Assembly elections 2021 round-up: States record high turnout; violence in some areas
Devadasan K P, Gulf News (April 6, 2021): In pictures: India Assembly Elections 2021
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Samoa Parliamentary Elections: April 9, 2021
Samoa will held general elections on April 9, 2021. These elections took place in the context of controversy over proposed changes to the county’s constitutional framework and judiciary, involving questions of Samoan identity. A new opposition party, Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST, “Faith in the one true God”), is posing a new challenge to the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which has been in power since 1982. More
Radio New Zealand (April 10, 2021): Independents ‘hold power’ in forming next Samoa govt
Sam Sachdeva, Newsroom New Zealand (April 9, 2021): Voter threat to Samoa’s long-ruling party
Inga Stünzner, ABC News Australia (April 9, 2021): Samoa set for political showdown as Pacific nation heads to the polls
Catherine Wilson, Al Jazeera (April 8, 2021): Fierce contest for power as Samoa prepares for general election
Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, The Guardian (April 7, 2021): Samoa’s ruling party faces strongest election challenge in 20 years
Maldives Local Elections: April 10, 2021
Maldives has scheduled local elections for April 10, 2021, following a delay due to COVID-19. Voters will elect island, atoll, and city councils to three-year terms. The country was under a brutal dictatorship for decades, but began a remarkable transition to democracy in 2008. The road to democracy has been somewhat rocky, but Maldivian democrats persevere. More
Aishath Hanaan Hussain Rasheed, Raajje (April 10, 2021): Voting begins in the 2021 Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections
Avas (April 9, 2021): Campaigns concluded ahead of council election
Tibet Government-in-Exile Runoff: April 11, 2021
Tibetans in exile around the world will cast their ballots for Sikyong, the president of the Central Tibetan Administration (the formal name of the government-in-exile), which is headquartered in Dharamshala, India. The first round, with eight candidates, was in January, alongside legislative elections. In the second round, former speaker of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering will face off against Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang, the Dalai Lama’s representative to North America.
Tibet itself is currently ruled by China and is among the least free countries in the world. However, Tibetans have been developing a democratic system in exile.
Ashwani Sharma, Outlook India (April 10, 2021): Tibetans to vote for new PM of government-in-exile; Penpa Tsering front runner
Kalden Lodoe and Tashi Wangchuk, Radio Free Asia (April 7, 2021): Final vote for Tibetan exile leader set for April 11, with frontrunners pledging greater foreign outreach
Sonam Palmo Brunner, Global Voices (April 7, 2021): For stateless and scattered Tibetans, a new online tool helps voters make an informed choice
Bangladesh Local Elections, Phase 5: April 11, 2021
Bangladesh has been holding municipal elections in phases for the past few months. The fifth and final phase is set for April 11. 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. More
Salil Tripathi, Foreign Policy (April 10, 2021): Bangladesh’s Long Journey From ‘Basket Case’ to Rising Star. But 50 years after independence, an authoritarian turn casts a shadow over the country’s future.
Malaysia Sarawak State Elections: By August 7, 2021 and Possible Snap Parliamentary Elections
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has indicated that he will in fact call early general elections once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Meanwhile, several of Malaysia’s states are due to hold elections in the next year. The country’s politics have been turbulent since the historic defeat of UMNO – which had ruled since 1957 – in the 2018 elections. UMNO is back in power but hanging on by a thread. More
Hazlin Hassan, The Straits Times (April 10, 2021): PH names Anwar as PM candidate for next election
Reuters (April 9, 2021): Malaysia’s key opposition bloc nominates Anwar Ibrahim as PM candidate
Zainal Epi, Malay Mail (April 5, 2021): Government may not hold GE immediately after end of Emergency
AFP (April 5, 2021): Malaysian ex-PM Najib starts appeal over conviction in 1MDB scandal
Macau Legislative Elections: September 12, 2021
Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, having reverted from Portuguese control to Chinese control in 1999. The main industry is gaming, with a casino sector seven times the size of that of Las Vegas. The legislature is dominated by pro-Beijing politicians, who hold 29 out of the 33 seats, with pro-democracy politicians holding the remaining four.
Stratfor (April 8, 2021): China, Macau: TDM reportedly informed of new coverage restrictions
Clare Jim and Farah Master, Reuters (April 7, 2021): Press freedom in Macau’s gambling hub under spotlight as China ramps up scrutiny
Japan General Elections: On or Before October 22, 2021
Japan is due to hold general elections by October 22, 2021, but they could happen earlier. In addition, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who replaced Shinzo Abe last year, faces a leadership contest in his conservative Liberal Democratic Party ahead of the general elections.
Stratfor (April 7, 2021): Japan: Prime minister hints at possibility of September snap election
Australia, Tasmania Elections: May 1, 2021 and New South Wales Local Elections: September 2021 (due)
Several Australian states hold elections in 2021. Tasmania holds state elections on May 1, 2021, and New South Wales is due to hold local elections in September 2021. After that, federal parliamentary elections are due by 2022, but snap elections could happen. Tasmania’s state government is currently led by the center-right Liberal Party, as is the federal government. More
Adam Morton, The Guardian (April 3, 2021): ‘Smokescreen of Covid’: can Tasmania’s early election obscure the crisis in housing and health?
Paul Osborne, Australian Associated Press (April 2, 2021): Political parties get into election shape
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 2021 (planned)
Hong Kong plans to hold elections to the Legislative Council in December 2021, after more than a year’s delay. These elections are taking place in the context of Beijing’s determination to gut Hong Kong’s democracy. More
John Burns, Hong Kong Free Press (April 10, 2021): Hong Kong’s electoral changes: the Communist Party is taking over
Reuters (April 9, 2021): Hong Kong shop founded by pro-democracy activist raided over content labelling
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022 and Parliamentary Elections: July 2023 (due)
Cambodia is due to hold local elections in 2022 and general elections in 2023. Although Cambodia has held elections in the past that had some element of competition, the 2018 election – neither free nor fair – signified the closing of Cambodia’s political space. They have been called “the death of democracy.” The main pro-democracy opposition, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and banned from fielding candidates, and its leader, Sam Rainsy, was sent into exile, so its supporters boycotted the polls, resulting in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) taking 58 out of 62 seats in parliament, and allowing Prime Minister Hun Sen to consolidate even more power while extending his three decades in power.
Radio Free Asia (April 8, 2021): Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen congratulates himself for destroying opposition in New Year’s address
Nepal Parliamentary Elections: 2023 (due – snap elections possible)
In December, Nepal’s prime minister decided to dissolve parliament and call for new elections. However, on February 23, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, cancelling the snap elections. Nonetheless, Nepal’s political crisis continues. More
Mukesh Pokhrel and Ramesh Kumar, Nepali Times (April 10, 2021): The politics of Province 2
Apurva Singh, Himalayan Times (April 8, 2021): Election in crisis: Why we need to talk about it
Tika R Pradhan, Kathmandu Post (April 7, 2021): Are Nepal’s parties taking the country towards early polls?
Pia Krishnankutty, The Print (April 7, 2021): Nepal still “topsy-turvy,” its political system prone to not being stable: ex-Indian envoy
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
South Korea Local By-Elections, Including Mayoral Elections in Seoul and Busan
Both Seoul and Busan held special elections for mayor on April 7 because the former mayor of Seoul died and the former mayor of Busan stepped down in the face of sexual harassment allegations. The conservative opposition won the special mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan by a landslide, just a year after President Moon Jae-in’s center-left Democratic Party swept the legislature. The elections are a key test for the center-left government and conservative opposition ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Seoho Lee, The Diplomat (April 9, 2021): Why did young South Koreans ditch the Democratic Party and President Moon?
Edward White and Song Jung-a, Financial Times (April 8, 2021): South Korea by-elections cast doubt on outreach to Pyongyang
Andrew Jeong and Timothy W. Martin, Wall Street Journal (April 7, 2021): South Korea’s ruling party is reeling as conservatives win big in mayoral polls
Dongwoo Kim, The Diplomat (April 5, 2021): The politics of South Korea’s ‘China threat’
Burma General Elections: November 8, 2020
Burma, also called Myanmar, held general elections on November 8, 2020. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. However, on February 1, the military staged a coup, claiming election fraud (despite a lack of evidence). Protests against the coup continue. The military claims it will hold new elections will take place within two years. More
Reuters (April 9, 2021): Myanmar military sentences 19 to death, says anti-coup protests dwindling
Clarissa Ward, Brent Swails, Scott McWhinnie, Sandi Sidhu, and Salai TZ, CNN (April 9, 2021): Myanmar military denies responsibility for child deaths and says elections could be pushed back
Tal Axelrod, The Hill (April 8, 2021): US slaps additional sanctions on Myanmar over coup
Reuters (April 5, 2021): Myanmar protesters clap to denounce junta as region focuses on crisis
AP (April 4, 2021): Burma death toll rises in protest crackdown
Reuters (April 4, 2021): Easter eggs become symbol of defiance for anti-coup protesters in Myanmar
Milk Tea Alliance
Mashable (April 9, 2021): New #MilkTeaAlliance Twitter emoji shows support for Asian pro-democracy protests
Janis Mackey Frayer and Adela Suliman, CNBC (April 7, 2021): ‘Milk Tea Alliance’ brews democracy online among young activists across Asia
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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This Week
Eurasia
April 8, 2021
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 market stand in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan heads to the polls on Sunday, April 11 for local elections and a constitutional referendum. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Ben Paarmann (CC BY 2.0)
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Kyrgyzstan Local Elections and Constitutional Referendum: April 11, 2021 and Parliamentary Elections Re-Run: Fall 2021 (proposed)
Kyrgyzstan holds local elections on April 11, along with a constitutional referendum, following political turmoil in October 2020 and a snap presidential election in January 2021. The political climate was tense heading into the October 2020 parliamentary elections. It subsequently exploded following said elections. More
Erica Marat, EU Reporter (April 9, 2021): Democracy is dying in Central Asia – Here’s what Biden should do
Reuters (April 8, 2021): Protests break out after murder of kidnapped woman in Kyrgyzstan
Catherine Putz, The Diplomat (April 6, 2021): Countdown to another election day in Kyrgyzstan: April 11
Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Eurasianet (April 5, 2021: Kyrgyzstan: Local elections promise new parties, but old faces
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Armenia is holding snap parliamentary elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Christian Mamo, Emerging Europe (April 8, 2021): Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is far from over
Aza Babayan, RFE/RL (April 7, 2021): Armenian leader asks Putin for help with POWs held by Azerbaijan
Arshaluis Mghdesyan, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (April 5, 2021): Can Armenia’s political truce last?
Armine Martirosyan, JAMnews (April 4, 2021): Will the internal political crisis in Armenia be resolved or deepened after snap elections?
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
The Economist (April 10, 2021): Does the Kremlin want Alexei Navalny to die in prison?
Moscow Times (April 9, 2021): Russia reshuffles regional heads ahead of fall elections
Shelley Inglis, The Conversation (April 8, 2021): For autocrats like Vladimir Putin, ruthless repression is often a winning way to stay in power
Reuters (April 7, 2021): Russian lawmakers call for lower pension age ahead of election
AP (April 5, 2021): Putin — already Russia’s longest leader since Stalin — signs law that may let him stay in power until 2036
Uzbekistan Presidential Election: October 24, 2021
Uzbekistan is holding a presidential election on October 24, 2021. Elections in Uzbekistan are neither free nor fair, and political opposition is not able to operate freely in the country. More
Navbahor Imamova, VOA (April 8, 2021): Uzbek opposition party tests the limits of political reform
RFE/RL (April 6, 2021): Erk, Uzbekistan’s first opposition party, says it will attempt to field a presidential candidate
Past Eurasia Elections
Georgia Parliamentary Runoffs: November 21, 2020
Georgia held parliamentary elections on October 31 and November 21, 2020 in a climate of political tension, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. Tensions have exploded into a full-blown political crisis. More
RFE/RL (April 8, 2021): Tensions high as Georgian opposition leader goes on trial
Nino Lejava, Carnegie Europe (April 6, 2021): Georgia’s unfinished search for its place in Europe
Agenda.ge (April 5, 2021): IRI polls: 60% of Georgians want opposition to enter parliament, 45% support snap elections
Agenda.ge (April 3, 3021): Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker: “Georgia does need new elections – not because of 2020 outcome, but to reestablish public legitimacy of institutions – after electoral reforms passed”
Moldova Presidential Runoff: November 15, 2020
Moldova a presidential election in November 2020. Pro-Europe center-right former Prime Minister Maia Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent. However, no party has a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies are outnumbered by pro-Russian parties), leading to political instability and the constant possibility of snap elections. More
Ecaterina Locoman, Washington Post (April 3, 2021): Moldova wants to be more European and less corrupt. Parliament isn’t helping.
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
Jack Parrock, Politico (April 8, 2021): Belarus opposition splits as leaders form new parties
Brian Whitmore, Atlantic Council (April 7, 2021): The battle for Belarus: Russified regime faces Westernizing society
Grigory Ioffe, Jamestown Foundation (April 7, 2021): The state of disunion in Belarus
Orlando Crowcroft, Euronews (April 6, 2021): Belarus punk rocker faces 1.5 years hard labour for semi-naked dance protest
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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This Week
Europe
April 7, 2021
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.
Upcoming Europe Elections
Albania Parliamentary Elections: April 25, 2021
Albania plans to hold parliamentary elections on April 25, 2021. Since communism collapsed in 1990, Albania has held competitive elections and several transitions of power between political parties. However, the country is currently in the middle of a tense political standoff between the governing Socialist Party and the main opposition center-right Democratic Party. More
Llazar Semini, AP (April 6, 2021): Albania sends troops, police, to end flight control strike
Euronews (April 6, 2021): April 25 elections, Matthew Palmer “virtually meets” Albanian political leaders
Veton Surroi, Tirana Times (April 5, 2021): Elections in a captured state
Spain, Snap Regional Elections in Madrid: May 4, 2021
Madrid will hold early regional elections on May 4, following the collapse of the government coalition consisting of the conservative Popular Party and the liberal Citizens Party. These elections are taking place in a highly polarized environment, as conservative incumbent Isabel Díaz Ayuso faces off against leftist firebrand Pablo Inglesias, who surprised everyone by leaving his role as deputy PM to run in Madrid.
AP (April 7, 2021): Madrid riot police keep protesters away from far-right rally
Reuters (April 2, 2021): Fire bomb attack on Spanish leftist party’s office
United Kingdom Local Elections (including Mayor of London and Scottish and Welsh parliaments): May 6, 2021
The United Kingdom (UK) will hold local elections on May 6, 2021. Voters will elect various local councils, plus the mayor of London, plus Scottish and Welsh parliaments. The Scottish elections are particularly high-stakes because if the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) wins a majority, they will pressure the government in Westminster to allow another referendum on independence. More
Scottish Elections
David McCann, Slugger O’Toole (April 7, 2021): A primer for the Scottish elections
Stephen Daisley, The Spectator (April 7, 2021): Salmond could spark a nationalist war over Europe
BBC (April 7, 2021): Scottish Election 2021: George Galloway pledges to tackle ‘scourge of separatism’
Vernon Bogdanor, The Scotsman (April 5, 2021): Scottish independence in the EU would leave Scots with less control over their affairs than within the Union
Chris Giles and Mure Dickie, Financial Times (April 2, 2021): Independent Scotland would face a large hole in its public finances
Local Elections
Joe Murphy, London Evening Standard (April 7, 2021): London mayoral election: New poll puts Sadiq Khan way out in front of Conservative rival Shaun Bailey
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Cyprus is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 23, 2021. The incumbent government led by the center-right DISY will face off against the center-left AKEL, the main opposition party (with a number of smaller parties also competing). This is all happening in the context of the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean crisis. More
George Psyllides, Cyprus Mail (April 4, 2021): Parliamentary elections: edging out the big players
Latvia Municipal Elections: June 5, 2021
Latvia has scheduled municipal elections for June 5, 2021. After that, parliamentary elections are due in October 2022. More
LETA (April 7, 2021): Latvia braces for upcoming municipal elections; submission of election lists officially over
Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Foreign Policy Research Institute (April 7, 2021): Go with the devil you don’t know?” Latvians still believe in economic cooperation with China
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 6, 2021 (plus more elections throughout the year)
Germany is due to hold several sets of elections next year, culminating in the September 26, 2021 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.
The states of Baden-Württemburg and Rhineland-Palatinate held elections on March 14. In both states, the incumbents won (in Baden-Wüttemburg, that was the Greens, boosted by the popularity of incumbent minister-president – the German equivalent of a governor – Winfried Kretschmann. In Rhineland-Palatinate, it was the Social Democrats). Coalition negotiations are still going on to decide which parties will form the new governments in those states. More
Richard Connor, DW (April 7, 2021): COVID pandemic pushes Germany to largest deficit since reunification
Iain Rogers, Bloomberg (April 7, 2021): How Germany’s election has thrown open the Merkel succession race
Josie Le Blond, Euractiv (April 7, 2021): German Greens mull top candidate for landmark post-Merkel election
AP (April 7, 2021): Germany’s Greens to pick candidate for chancellor April 19
Ben Knight, DW (April 6, 2021): Germany’s far-right AfD searching for new momentum ahead of election
Reuters (April 1, 2021): German Greens seek state tie-up with Merkel’s CDU before September vote
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021 and Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
France holds regional elections on June 13, 2021, with a second round on June 20. These come ahead of next year’s presidential and legislative elections, where President Emmanuel Macron potentially faces a formidable challenge from the far-right. More
Regional Elections
Reuters (April 1, 2021): France still planning on regional elections in June: Castex
Presidential Election
TheLocal.FR (April 7, 2021): Five minutes to understand France’s 2022 presidential election
Victor Mallet, Financial Times (April 5, 2021): French politics: Macron faces test of character as Le Pen’s popularity grows
Italy, Mayoral Elections in Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples and other cities and regional elections in Calabria: Between September 15 and October 15, 2021
Italy is due to hold regional elections in Calabria in the south, as well as mayoral elections in several major cities, later this year. The next general elections aren’t due until June 2023, but as is ever the case with Italy, snap elections are possible. However, in January 2021, the government collapsed after former prime minister Matteo Renzi withdrew his support. Former European Central Bank chief Mario “Super Mario” Draghi formed a government in February 2021.
Massimiliano Ferraresi, LSE’s EUROPP (April 8, 2021): Evidence from Italy: How local governments manipulate tax and spend policies to help win re-election
Silvia Marchetti, EU Observer (April 6, 2021): Far-right alarm bells for next Italian election
Poland Parliamentary Elections: Fall 2023 (snap possible)
Poland is due to hold parliamentary elections in fall 2023, but could call snap elections if the three parties in the conservative government coalition don’t all vote to approve the EU stimulus plan. However, many analysts believe that early elections are unlikely to happen because polls show that the opposition would likely win. Therefore, the coalition parties have a strong incentive to hold together.
Maciej Martewicz, Bloomberg (April 7, 2021): Polish coalition may collapse over EU plan, Kaczynski warns
Jo Harper, Emerging Europe (April 6, 2021): Do early elections beckon in Poland?
Past Europe Elections
Greenland Snap Parliamentary Elections: April 6, 2021
Greenland held hold snap parliamentary elections on April 6, 2021 after the government coalition fractured following disagreements over a China-backed rare earth minerals mining project at Kvanefjeld in the south. The long-dominant Siumut (Forward), which backed the project, lost to the left-wing green Inuit Ataqatigiit, which opposes the mine.
Greenland remains part of Denmark but has autonomy over domestic policy, although there is growing support for eventual independence. In these elections, pro-independence parties increased their vote share. More
Yasuo Takeuchi, Nikkei Asia (April 8, 2021): Greenland says no to China-backed rare-earth mine in election
AP (April 7, 2021): Main opposition party against mining wins Greenland election
Stephen Van Dine, iPolitics Canada (April 6, 2021): The bear, the dragon, and Canada’s Arctic
Jari Tanner, AP (April 6, 2021): Greenland election shows divide over rare-earth metals mine
Paul Waldie, Globe and Mail (April 4, 2021): Greenland has an election on Tuesday. Why are the U.S. and China so interested in its outcome?
John Last, CBC News (April 2, 2021): Mining — and independence — at the heart of Greenland’s election
Bulgaria Parliamentary Elections: April 4, 2021
Bulgaria held parliamentary elections on April 4, 2021. PM Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB won the most seats, but lost ground and failed to win a majority. New parties running against the establishment did surprisingly well – in fact, a party called There Is Such a People, led by TV star Stanislav Trifonov, came in second and has ruled out forming a coalition with GERB. Trifonov’s main platform was anti-corruption – indeed, corruption was the biggest issue in the election. Borissov will have to get creative if he wants to cobble together a coalition to remain in power, and if he can’t do it, Bulgaria could face new elections. More
Emilia Zankina, Yuxiang Lin and Tim Haughton, Washington Post (April 7, 2021): Bulgaria’s election was all about corruption, not covid-19. Here are 4 takeaways.
Tom Junes, Balkan Insight (April 6, 2021): Election surprises end Bulgaria’s political stability
Judy Dempsey, Carnegie Europe (April 6, 2021): Bulgaria’s election: The EU’s negligence of corruption and its values
Valerie Hopkins, Financial Times (April 5, 2021: Borisov faces rising anti-establishment vote in Bulgaria elections
Denitsa Koseva, bne Intellinews (April 5, 2021): Few routes to power in Bulgaria’s fragmented new parliament
DW (April 5, 2021): Bulgaria election: PM Borissov’s party wins but falls short of majority
Netherlands Parliamentary Elections: March 17, 2021
Netherlands held parliamentary elections on March 17, 2020. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right VVD once again won the most seats, but negotiations continue to decide which parties will make up the next government. More
AP (April 6, 2021): Dutch lawmakers set to resume stalled coalition talks
NL Times (April 5, 2021): ING: New elections may be needed in Netherlands as pressure on Rutte grows
Mike Corder, AP (April 1, 2021): Lawmakers censure Dutch PM Rutte over coalition talks
Kosovo Snap Parliamentary Elections: February 14, 2021
Kosovo held snap parliamentary elections on February 14. The left-wing nationalist Vetëvendosje won, potentially jeopardizing any resolution to a long-standing territorial dispute with Serbia.
AP (April 4, 2021): Kosovo gets new president, its second female leader
RFE/RL (April 4, 2021): Kosovo’s parliament elects reformist lawyer Osmani As president
Slovakia Parliamentary Elections: February 29, 2020
Slovakia held parliamentary elections in February 2020, won by a coalition of then-opposition parties running on an anti-corruption platform, defeating the then-incumbent populists. However, a subsequent scandal over the Russian Sputnik COVID vaccine has engulfed the government, threatening its collapse. More
Siegfried Mortkowitz, Politico (April 1, 2021): Slovakia gets new government, ending Russian vaccine crisis
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.
Kseniya Kirillova, Jamestown Foundation (April 6, 2021): Russian influence in Montenegro could create a threat for NATO’s information security
Europe-Wide Analysis
The Economist (April 6, 2021): Populists are threatening Europe’s independent public broadcasters
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
April 6, 2021
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.
Roman ruins at Timgad, Algeria. Emperor Trajan built Timgad in 100 AD, but it laid under the desert sands for nearly 1,000 years after the fall of Rome. Algeria heads to the polls later this year. Photo credit: Wikimedia/PhR61 (CC BY 2.0)
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Palestinian Authority Legislative Elections: May 22, 2021 and Presidential Election: July 31, 2021
The Palestinian Authority has scheduled long overdue elections for the legislature and president for May 22 and July 31, respectively. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 14 of a four-year term. Similarly, the last Legislative Council elections took place in 2006. More
BBC (April 7, 2021): Biden administration to restore $235m in US aid to Palestinians
Barak Ravid, Axios (April 7, 2021): U.S. and Israel wary of potential Hamas win in Palestinian elections
AP (April 7, 2021): Palestinian leader ‘in good health’ ahead of election
Hagar Sehzaf, Haaretz (April 6, 2021): Gantz says Israel won’t interfere in Palestinian elections, but “won’t work with Hamas”
Al Jazeera (April 4, 2021): Palestinian election board approves candidate lists for May vote
AFP (April 4, 2021): Palestine approves 36 candidates for first elections in 15 years
Pakistan Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections: Due in 2021
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), part of the Pakistan-administered portion of the disputed region of Kashmir, is due to hold legislative assembly elections soon. These follow elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, the other part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The elections were originally due by April 2, 2021, but haven’t been officially scheduled yet.
CBS News/AFP (April 7, 2021): Pakistan’s prime minister under fire for linking rise in rape cases to how women dress
Imran Mukhtar, The Nation Pakistan (April 2, 2021): PTI forms larger body to decide tickets for AJK elections
Algeria Snap Legislative Elections: June 12, 2021, followed by local elections
Algeria will hold snap elections on June 12, 2021, following more than two years of protests by the Hirak movement. However, the government’s election plan has not actually satisfied the protesters, who continue to take to the streets.
AFP (April 4, 2021): Algerian opposition party to boycott legislative poll
AFP (April 2, 2021): Algeria protesters demand independent judiciary
Hossam Eddine Islam, Andalou Agency (March 31, 2021): Algeria elections ‘tool for change’: Opposition leader
Iran Presidential and Local Elections: June 18, 2021
Iran has scheduled its next presidential election for June 18, 2021, with concurrent local elections. While Iran is far from a free country, and the elections are largely rigged, voters do have a degree of choice. More
Dan Murphy, CNBC (April 7, 2021): Iran welcomes ‘new chapter’ in nuclear talks as Washington seeks to heal ‘profound differences’ in Vienna
Syed Zafar Mehdi, Andalou Agency (April 7, 2021): Iran: Ex-IRGC official’s election bid stirs controversy
Moziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera (April 7, 2021): Is Clubhouse boosting democracy in Iran?
Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL (April 6, 2021): Public spat reveals division in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards ahead of vote
Amir Rashidi, Atlantic Council (April 2, 2021): Social media helps and hurts Iranian elections. Here’s how.
Jordan Local Elections: By September 2021 (due)
Jordan is due to hold local elections by September 2021. These follow parliamentary elections, which happened on November 10, 2020. Turnout was low, and both women and Islamist candidates saw poor results. More
Frederick Deknatel, World Politics Review (April 5, 2021): What’s really behind Jordan’s royal family feud?
AP (April 3, 2021): Jordanian prince issues video statement saying he is under house arrest, barred from communicating with people
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 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
AP (March 31, 2021): Iraqi Parliament Approves Budget of $89 Billion for 2021
Libya 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
Sarah Vernhes, The Africa Report (April 6, 2021): Libya: Is Haftar losing control of his forces in Benghazi?
Patrick Wintour, The Guardian (April 5, 2021): Female Libyan activists demand politicians stick to election timetable
Karim Mezran and Tahani Elmogrbi, Atlantic Council (April 2, 2021): The end of Libya’s nightmare or the beginning of a new one?
Afghanistan Parliamentary Elections: October 2023 and Presidential Election: September 2024 (due – early elections possible)
Afghanistan is due to hold its next presidential election in September 2024, but an early election is possible. Elections tend to be marred by violence, administrative problems, and lengthy delays. The current president, Ashraf Ghani, ultimately won re-election in a very tense vote and a tense four months in between the election and the final declaration of results. The election took place amid attacks by the Taliban, which had ordered Afghans not to vote.
Eltaf Najafizada, Bloomberg (April 3, 2021): Afghanistan’s Ghani will not run in election he proposed, adviser says
Past Middle East Elections
Israel Parliamentary Elections, Take 4: March 23, 2021
On March 23, 2021, Israel held its fourth general election in two years after the collapse of the unity government of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. Neither Netanyahu’s allies nor his opponents won a majority, so if anyone wants to form a government, they will need to get creative. More
Isabel Kershner, New York Times (April 6, 2021): Netanyahu gets first crack at forming new government in Israel
Barak Ravid, Axios (April 6, 2021): Israel’s election: Ideological foes weigh pact to oust Netanyahu
Ilan Ben Zion, AP (April 5, 2021): Israel’s Netanyahu in court as parties weigh in on his fate
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
April 5, 2021
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.
The Ouémé River flowing into the Atlantic Ocean in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin. Benin holds a presidential election on April 11, “Super Sunday,” when many elections around the world are set to take place. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Mark Fischer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Somalia Indirect Presidential Election: Set for February 8, 2021 but postponed
Somalia was supposed to hold an indirect presidential election on February 8, 2021, following indirect parliamentary elections in December 2020. However, the elections have been delayed, and the current president’s term has expired, leaving Somalia in a political and constitutional crisis. More
Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (April 6, 2021): Somali leaders fail to agree on agenda for crucial poll meeting
Peter Kirechu, War on the Rocks (April 2, 2021): Somalia’s electoral crisis in extremis
Africanews/AP (April 1, 2021): UN urges Somali leaders to break impasse delaying elections
Djibouti Presidential Election: April 9, 2021
Djibouti is holding a presidential election on April 9, 2021. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who has been president since 1999, will run for a fifth term. The main opposition parties plan to boycott and have been holding protests. More
Olivier Caslin, Jeune Afrique (April 2, 2021 – in French): Presidential in Djibouti: Ismaïl Omar Guelleh faces himself
Africa Times (March 31, 2021): Djibouti increases reliance on Beijing, but at what cost?
Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021
Benin is due to hold a presidential election in March 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon is running run for a second term, and he has largely kept the opposition off the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
Matthieu Millecamps and Honoré Banda, The Africa Report (April 5, 2021): Benin: Talon set for April 11 poll victory with opposition sidelined
Justin Cole, Just Security (April 5, 2021): What are the stakes of the upcoming elections in Benin?
AFP (April 5, 2021): Top Benin judge flees country denouncing pressure
Chad Presidential Election: April 11, 2020 and Parliamentary and Local Elections: October 24, 2021
Chad plans to hold a presidential election on April 11, 2021 and long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections on October 24, 2021 and local elections in April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times.
President Idriss Déby seized power in a rebellion in 1990, and although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. More
Kizzi Asala and Joel Honoré Kouam, Africanews (April 6, 2021): Chad: Charged atmosphere pre-election as opposition calls for boycott
Mathieu Olivier, Jeune Afrique (April 5, 2021 – in French): Presidential election in Chad: has voter registration slipped?
Nafissa Amadou, DW (April 4, 2021 – in French): Chad: Tense climate before the elections
Vincent Niébédé, BBC (April 2, 2021 – in French): Presidential election in Chad: who is running, who is boycotting and why?
Joel Kouam, Africanews (April 2, 2021): In Chad, the opposition is outspent and harassed
AFP (March 30, 2021): Chad’s Deby set for sixth term after key rivals sidelined
Cabo Verde Parliamentary Elections: April 18, 2021 and Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
Cabo Verde, a stable democracy with regular elections and peaceful transfers of power, is due to hold parliamentary elections on April 18, 2021 and a presidential election on October 17, 2021. These follow local elections, which took place on October 25, 2020. More
Odair Santos, RFI (April 1, 2021 – in Portuguese): Cape Verde: 597 candidates run for 72 seats in parliament
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 2021 (tentative)
Somaliland is long overdue to hold parliamentary and local elections. Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections. More
Taiwan Times (April 2, 2021): Elections In Taiwan’s Horn of Africa ally Somaliland won’t be delayed by COVID
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia has scheduled general elections for August 12, 2021. Zambia used to be a model democracy in the region, with regular, competitive elections and a vibrant civil society. However, under Edgar Lungu, elected in 2015 to complete the term of Michael Sata (who died in office), Zambia began to regress toward authoritarianism. The 2016 elections were marred by political violence and allegations of vote-rigging but ultimately judged credible. However, there are fears that Lungu could try to rig the 2021 elections. More
Muleya Mwananyanda, Daily Maverick (April 5, 2021): Free speech? Zambia’s new internet law fails basic human rights scrutiny
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
In December 2016, The Gambia began a remarkable transition to democracy. Citizens removed dictator Yahya Jammeh – who had come to power in a coup and ruled for 22 years – peacefully, via the ballot box, in a surprising result. Opposition candidate Adama Barrow won the presidency with the backing of a coalition of seven opposition parties. However, the process of establishing democracy and recovering from Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship has not been easy.
Although Barrow had initially pledged to serve only one term, he plans to run for re-election, which has sparked controversy and protests. More
Reed Brody, Human Rights Watch (April 1, 2021): Interview with Reed Brody on the Jammeh2Justice campaign
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: March 2022 (tentative, 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, which will “in principle” take place in March 2022.
AFP (April 5, 2021): Mali paid ransom for release of opposition leader, says intermediary
Senegal Local Elections: March 28, 2021 (delayed – no new date set)
Senegal was supposed to have local elections in June 2019. However, the country’s election commission first postponed to late 2020, and then postponed them yet again, to March 28, 2021. However, the elections have been delayed again, and no new date has been set. Meanwhile, legislative elections are due in July 2022.
Most recently, the arrest of an opposition leader has sparked protests. More
Salamoseydi, Senalioune (April 2, 2021 – in French): Senegal local elections: Government and opposition invited to find a compromise
Past Africa Elections
Republic of the Congo Presidential Election: March 20, 2021
The Republic of the Congo (sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville) is due to hold a presidential election on March 20, 2021. Denis Sassou Nguesso been president almost continuously since 1979, and rules with an iron fist. Elections have not been free or fair. More
AFP (April 3, 2021): COVID-19 victim Kolelas won Congo vote, opposition party claims
Niger Presidential Runoff: February 21, 2021
Niger held a presidential runoff on February 21, 2021 amid security threats and violence. Despite that, the historic election facilitated Niger’s first peaceful transfer of power from one elected president to another. More
Giacomo Zandonini, Al Jazeera (April 2, 2021): Mohamed Bazoum sworn in as Niger’s president amid tensions
Olayinka Ajala, The Conversation (April 2, 2021): Botched coup in Niger points to deep fissures in the country
Melissa Bell, Sarah Dean and Richard Roth, CNN (March 31, 2021): Arrests made in Niger attempted coup, days before President-elect’s inauguration
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Jonathan Kamoga, The East African (April 1, 2021): Uganda election petition filed at EACJ
Lynsey Chutel, Foreign Policy (March 31, 2021): Is Uganda returning to the “dark days”?
Tanzania General Elections: October 25, 2020
Tanzania held presidential and legislative elections on October 25, 2020 in the context of a crackdown on the opposition and growing authoritarianism. President John Magufuli, whose Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has been in power since 1961, won a second term, but the opposition said the elections were neither free nor fair. Opposition figures have been arrested, assaulted, and murdered.
However, in March 2021, Magufuli died of COVID-19. More
The Citizen Tanzania (April 3, 2021): ACT-Wazalendo to participate in by-polls; Chadema opts out of the race
Zimbabwe General Elections: July 30, 2018
A coup in 2017 led to the fall of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s longtime dictator, who left a legacy of gross economic mismanagement and political repression. However, democracy continues to face many challenges in Zimbabwe.
Gibbs Dube, VOA (April 5, 2021): Zimbabwe police disrupt MDC alliance meeting amid tense political situation
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
April 3, 2021
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.
Upcoming Americas Elections
Peru General Elections: April 11, 2021
Peru has scheduled general elections for April 11, 2021. These elections are coming on the heels of snap legislative elections that took place on January 26, 2020, and in the context of political turmoil – including the impeachment of President Martín Vizcarra and the subsequent “week of three presidents” – and an economic crisis brought on by COVID-19. More
Simeon Tegel, World Politics Review (April 5, 2021): Is Peru’s crowded presidential election a bridge to nowhere?
Al Jazeera (April 4, 2021): Peru reports new COVID deaths record ahead of elections
Marco Aquino, Reuters (March 30, 2021): Peru presidential candidates spar over vaccines, oxygen in debate as virus rages
Andina (March 30, 2021): Peru’s President says general elections still on track for April 11
Ecuador Presidential Runoff: April 11, 2021
Ecuador holds a presidential runoff on April 11, 2021. Left-wing economist Andrés Arauz, a protege of former president Rafael Correa (himself barred from running after being convicted of corruption) will face conservative Guillermo Lasso, who edged out indigenous activist Yaku Pérez for a spot in the runoff. More
Bolivia Local Election Runoffs: April 11, 2021
Bolivia held regional and municipal elections on March 7, 2021, and some races will have runoffs on April 11. 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. Leftist firebrand Evo Morales has returned to the country to lead his party, although apparently not every member of his party loves him. Opposition candidates won the mayoral elections in 8 out of 10 of Bolivia’s biggest cities. More
El Deber (April 4, 2021 – in Spanish): MAS and the Government deploy for the second round one week before the elections
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: October 24, 2021
Argentina is due to hold midterm legislative elections on October 24, 2021. Furthermore, although most of Argentina’s 23 provinces hold elections at the same time as the presidential election, a few are due to hold elections in 2021. These elections are happening in the context of an economic crisis, which the leftist government and COVID-19 have exacerbated. More
The Economist (April 3, 2021): Argentina is in no hurry to strike a deal with the IMF
Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes (April 2, 2021): Macri’s Return Signals More Division Ahead Of Argentine Midterm Elections This Year
MercoPress (March 31, 2021: Lawmaker wants referendum on province of Mendoza’s independence from Argentina
Canada, Yukon Territorial Election: April 12, 2021 and Possible Snap Federal Elections
Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories all hold provincial and municipal elections at different times. Yukon holds territorial elections on April 12, following a rather turbulent Newfoundland and Labrador provincial election in March. Moreover, snap federal elections are possible if the opposition manages to oust PM Justin Trudeau’s Liberal minority government in a vote of no confidence.
Yukon
CBC News (April 4, 2021): Advance polls open in Yukon election
Haley Ritchie, Yukon News (April 3, 2021): What happens if a party wins but a leader doesn’t?
Federal Elections
David Akin, Global News Canada (April 4, 2021): NOTEBOOK: A first look at Canada’s next federal election battlegrounds
David Ljunggren, Reuters (April 1, 2021): Erin who? Main rival to Canada’s Trudeau struggling to win voters’ attention as election looms
Éric Grenier, CBC News (April 1, 2021): COVID-19 and N.L.’s election results probably killed the idea of a spring federal election
Newfoundland and Labrador
Greg Mercer, Globe and Mail (March 31, 2021): Newfoundland election creates new democratic crisis
Chile Local and Regional Elections: May 15 and 16, 2021 (DELAYED from April 11) and Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Chile has delayed its local and regional elections, originally scheduled for April 11, 2021, to May. Voters will elect governors as well as mayors and local councils throughout the country. After that, presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for November 21, 2021. The upcoming elections in Chile are taking place in the context of a year of protests and riots, including violent looting, arson, and vandalism. Furthermore, an intense debate over a constitutional referendum continues, following a referendum in which Chileans voted to write a new constitution. More
Cristian Torres, Infobae (April 5, 2021): Faced with the outbreak of the pandemic, Chile postpones its constituent and municipal elections
CNN Chile (April 5, 2021 – in Spanish): Draft postponement of elections will be analyzed by the Mixed Commission after changes in the Lower House
Mexico Legislative Elections: June 6, 2021
Mexico plans to hold midterm legislative elections on June 6, 2021. These elections will be a key test for left-wing populist firebrand Andrés Manuel López Obrador (frequently called AMLO) ahead of the 2024 presidential election. More
Mexico News Daily (April 5, 2021): Centennials — aged 18 to 24 — will play a big role in elections this year
David Marcial Pérez, El País (March 31, 2021): Dodging bullets in Fresnillo, Mexico’s city of fear
AP (March 31, 2021): Mexican electoral court: President can’t praise achievements
Christopher Lenton, Natural Gas Intelligence (March 31, 2021): With elections near, Mexico fuel bill seeks to tighten state control over energy permitting
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 (April 3, 2021): A family of six Nicaraguan presidents looks to provide a seventh
Haiti Parliamentary Elections: September 19, 2021 and Presidential Election: Due in November 2021 (delays possible)
Haiti plans to hold long-overdue legislative elections on September 19, 2021, and also has a presidential election due later this year. However, the country is currently in a political crisis related to allegations of fraud followed Haiti’s presidential 2015 election. The international community, including the United States government, has called on Haiti’s officials to set a date for elections and end the crisis. More
Jim Wyss, Bloomberg (March 31, 2021): Haiti’s leader defies protesters’ calls to cancel election and quit
Andre Paultre and Sarah Marsh, Reuters (March 30, 2021): As turmoil deepens, Haitians fear democracy is slipping away
Colombia Presidential and Legislative Elections: Spring 2022 (due)
Colombia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in spring 2022. Conservative Ivan Duque, elected president in 2018, is eligible to run for a second term.
Javier LaFuente, El País (March 30, 2021): Politics, peace and poverty: a powder keg called Colombia
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
Brazil holds general elections in October 2022. Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist firebrand president, is up for re-election. The country remains deeply polarized between right and left. More
Beatriz Rey, The Brazilian Report (April 5, 2021): Ahead of 2022, anti-partisanship is a looming risk for Brazil
Brian Winter, Americas Quarterly (March 30, 2021): An insecure Bolsonaro prepares for his own January 6
Gabriel Stargardter, Reuters (April 1, 2021): Analysis: Brazil’s Bolsonaro seeks police support before elections with reshuffle
Past Americas Elections
Antigua and Barbuda, Local Elections in Barbuda
St. Kitts and Nevis Observer (March 31, 2021): A&B Labour Party booted from Barbuda in local polls
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