November 30, 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.
The clay pan at Sossusvlei, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Namibia. Namibia’s local elections on November 25 delivered a blow to the ruling Swapo party. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Ikiwaner (GNU FDL 1.2)
Upcoming Africa Elections
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
Cara Anna, AP (November 26, 2020): ‘Why now?’ Dismay as US considers troop pullout from Somalia
Reuters (November 30, 2020): Somalia expels Kenyan envoy in row over alleged poll interference
Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (November 27, 2020): Somalia’s opposition candidates demand dissolution of electoral teams
Ghana Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 7, 2020
Ghana is scheduled to hold 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
Michael Lieber Cobb and Erik Plänitz, African Arguments (November 30, 2020): “Warning shots”: The steady rise of political violence in Ghana
BBC News Pidgin (December 1, 2020): Ghana Election Special Voters list 2020: Voting in progress as Nana Akufo-Addo and John Mahama test popularity
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
Robtel Neajai Pailey, Al Jazeera (December 1, 2020): Liberia’s Weah might be in for a rude awakening at the polls
Emma Farge, Reuters (December 1, 2020): Historic Liberia war crimes trial to open in Switzerland
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
Reuters (November 25, 2020): Niger ex-President Tandja, toppled after extending rule, dies at 82
François Soudan and Mathieu Olivier, Jeune Afrique (November 27, 2020): Niger – Mohamed Bazoum: “Mahamadou Issoufou, Hama Amadou, the third terms and me …”
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
RFI (November 28, 2020 – in French): Central African Republic: the Constitutional Court rejects the candidatures of armed groups in the legislative elections
Jean Fernand Koena, DW (November 27, 2020 – in French): Central African Republic: elections amid insecurity
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
Halima Athumani, Voice of America (November 30, 2020): Uganda President Quotes Bible in Ominous Message to Opposition
Stephen Kafeero, Quartz (November 27, 2020): Uganda is using Huawei’s facial recognition tech to crack down on dissent after anti-government protests
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times (November 27, 2020): Jailed, Exiled and Silenced: Smothering East Africa’s Political Opposition
Rwanda Local Elections: March 6 – February 2, 2021
Bertrand Byishimo, New Times (November 30, 2020): Rwanda: Electoral Body to Go Ahead With Grassroots Polls Despite Covid-19
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
Jeune Afrique (November 25, 2020 – in French): Congo: who is running against Denis Sassou Nguesso in 2021?
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
AFP (November 27, 2020): Benin presidential election set for April 11
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. The country then began the process of establishing democracy and recovering from Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship.
James Courtright, OZY (November 24, 2020): The latest hub of political humor: Gambia
Angola Local Elections: Due in 2020, no date set
Angola is due to hold its first-ever local elections in 2020. However, the elections have already been delayed multiple times (most recently in September 2020), and no date has been set. Meanwhile, COVID-19 provides an excuse for additional delays. In short, it is unclear when – or whether – the local elections will actually happen. Moreover, the country has never held free elections, and the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a former armed group, has ruled since independence in 1976. More
AFP (November 27, 2020): After protests, Angolan leader holds talks with youths
Mukuta Bun, Voice of America (November 26, 2020 – in Portuguese): João Lourenço does not promise local elections in 2021 and hears criticism from activists
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
Richard Reid, The Conversation (November 30, 2020): Conflict between Tigray and Eritrea – the long standing faultline in Ethiopian politics
Safia Farole, Washington Post (November 24, 2020): Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict reflects unresolved ethnic tensions: Regional self-government rights are being tested
Past Africa Elections
Namibia Local and Regional Elections: November 25, 2020
Namibia held local and regional elections on November 25, 2020. Namibia is a free, stable democracy, but since independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibian politics have been dominated by the socialist Swapo, an independence movement-turned-political party. Swapo took a hit in these elections, losing control of the city council in the capital, Windhoek, and other cities. More
Hileni Nembwaya, The Namibian (November 23, 2020): All systems go for special voting
Shinovene Immanuel, The Namibian (November 27, 2020): Swapo loses control of Windhoek
Burkina Faso Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 22, 2020
Burkina Faso held presidential and parliamentary elections on November 22, 2020, in the context of a growing security crisis as well as political uncertainty as the country’s democrats seek to consolidate the young, fragile democracy. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore won re-election. More
Reuters (November 29, 2020): Allies of Burkina Faso’s Kabore Retain Control of Parliament
Reuters (November 27, 2020): Burkina Faso opposition leader concedes defeat in election
Sam Mednick, AP (November 26, 2020): Burkina Faso president Roch Marc Christian Kabore re-elected
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
Vincent Duhem, The Africa Report (November 30, 2020): Côte d’Ivoire: What Ouattara has in store for his third term
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. More
Kizito Makoye, Andalou Agency (November 30, 2020): Tanzania: Zanzibar ex-presidential candidate sues gov’t
Georja Calvin-Smith, France24 (November 26, 2020 – video begins at ): Tundu Lissu on FRANCE 24: Tanzanian opposition leader vows to keep fighting
Cultural Note
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
Europe
December 2, 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.
Romania’s Palace of the Parliament. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upcoming Europe Elections
Romania Parliamentary Elections: December 6, 2020
Romania has scheduled parliamentary elections for December 6, 2020, following local elections that took place on September 27, 2020. Romanian politics are volatile – the office of the prime minister has changed hands eight times since 2014. Corruption and weak rule of law remain serious problems. More
Sergiu Gherghina, London School of Economics EUROPP (December 1, 2020): What to expect from Sunday’s legislative elections in Romania
Bulgaria Parliamentary Elections: March 28, 2021 (due – however, delays or snap elections are both possible)
Bulgaria is due to hold parliamentary elections on March 28, 2021, although delays are possible due to COVID-19. Snap elections are also possible amid ongoing protests. Bulgaria has been in a long stretch of chaotic politics characterized by a series of early elections and caretaker governments, and a number of problems remain. Corruption and scandals have plagued the country since the 1990s. In that vein, the country is currently embroiled in anti-government protests, some violent, which have been going on since July. More
Radosveta Vassileva, New Eastern Europe (November 30, 2020): What lurks behind Bulgaria’s “veto” on North Macedonia’s accession talks?
Valerie Hopkins and Michael Peel, Financial Times (November 29, 2020): Bulgaria joins Europe’s awkward squad
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
Exit Albania (November 27, 2020): Exit Explains: How the Government is Using Earthquake Reconstruction to Boost the Election Campaign
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
Guy Faulconbridge, Reuters (November 27, 2020): Scotland’s Sturgeon puts UK on independence warning: We want a referendum soon
Nick Eardley, BBC (November 27, 2020): What’s going on with Scottish independence?
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 23, 2021 (due)
Cyprus is due to hold parliamentary elections on May 23, 2021. Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, recently held a presidential election (again, recognized only by Turkey) which Ankara-backed nationalist Ersin Tatar won, exacerbating tensions on the island. This is all happening in the context of the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean crisis. More
Diego Cupolo, Al-Monitor (December 2, 2020): North Cyprus leader pushes for two-state solution, agrees to informal summit
Jonathan Gorvett, Foreign Policy (December 2, 2020): Biden Faces Troubled Eastern Mediterranean Waters
Estonia Municipal Elections: October 17, 2021
Estonia – a poster child for a successful post-communist transition to democracy – will hold municipal elections on October 17, 2021. More
Charlie Duxbury, Politico (December 2, 2020): Estonia’s techies fear the far right
ERR News (November 27, 2020): Marriage referendum bill to reach Riigikogu by mid-December
Norway Parliamentary Elections: September 13, 2021
Norway holds parliamentary elections on September 13, 2021. More
Reuters (December 1, 2020): Anti-EU farming party reaches top spot in Norway poll as elections loom
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
Jill Petzinger, Yahoo Finance UK (November 30, 2020): German election 2021: The men who would be Merkel
AP (November 29, 2020): German far-right airs divisions over leader’s criticism
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: By Spring 2022 (or earlier)
Hungary is due to hold parliamentary elections by Spring 2022, although snap elections are possible. Prime Minster Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian, to the concern of many both in Hungary and in the international community.
Hungary Today (November 30, 2020): Momentum on Board for Joint Opposition List in 2022
Shaun Walker, The Guardian (December 2, 2020): Hungary’s rightwing rulers downplay MEP ‘gay orgy’ scandal amid hypocrisy accusations
Italy General Elections: due by May 2023 (snap elections possible)
Italy’s next general elections are due by May 2023, but as is ever the case with Italy, snap elections are possible.
Andrea Carlo, The Independent (December 2, 2020): Decline in support for Matteo Salvini is not the end of the far right in Italy – something more worrying is brewing
Giovanna De Maio, Brookings Institution (November 30, 2020): The impact of COVID-19 on the Italian far right: The rise of Brothers of Italy
Past Europe Elections
Kosovo Local Elections in Two Municipalities: November 29, 2020
Kosovo held two local elections on November 29, 2020. These are happening in the context of national political uncertainty. 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).
Prishtina Insight (November 29, 2020): Vetevendosje wins mayoral election in Podujeva
Xhorxhina Bami, Balkan Insight (November 30, 2020): Kosovo Local Election Sends Ruling Party a Warning Shot
Bosnia and Herzegovina Elections: November 15, 2020
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) held local elections on November 15, 2020.The elections are taking place in the context of gridlock and ethno-nationalism, but the results delivered a blow to the three main ethnic-based political parties, with opposition forces winning in Sarajevo and other key cities. More
Jasmin Mujanovic, Balkan Insight (December 1, 2020): Bosnia’s Municipal Election Results – a Small Step Forward
Lithuania Parliamentary Elections: October 11, 2020 (Second round October 25, 2020)
Lithuania held parliamentary elections in October 2020. A center-right coalition led by Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS–LKD) defeated the incumbent populist Farmers and Greens. Following the elections, a coalition of four parties – all led by women – formed a government, with Ingrida Šimonytė as the country’s first female prime minister.
Linas Jegelevicius, Euronews (November 27, 2020): Is Lithuania’s new, female-led government a sign of improved gender equality in the country?
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
Middle East
December 1, 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.
Lion sculptures in the central square of Ramallah, administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian elections are long overdue, and it looks like they will be delayed further. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Ralf Lotys (CC BY 3.0)
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Kuwait Parliamentary Elections: December 5, 2020
Kuwait holds parliamentary elections on December 5, 2020. As could be expected, COVID-19 and the government’s response is shaping public debate ahead of the elections. Meanwhile, populism is on the rise, exacerbated by the pandemic and falling oil prices. As a result, questions of citizenship look likely to play a role in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
All of this is happening in the context of the September 29 death of the emir, Sheikh Sabah, who had been emir since 2006 and prior to that was foreign minister for 40 years. More
The Media Line (December 1, 2020): Record Number of Women Running in Kuwaiti Elections
Algeria Early Legislative Elections: Proposed
Algerian authorities have proposed holding early legislative elections following a constitutional referendum that took place on November 1, 2020. This is all happening in the context of the Hirak protest movement, in which Algerians protested weekly throughout the country for over a year (stopping only due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Protesters called for, among other things, democratic elections in Algeria. More
Amnesty International (November 27, 2020): Algeria: European Parliament calls for action on human rights and expresses solidarity with demonstrators
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
Al Jazeera (November 27, 2020): Tens of thousands of Sadr supporters rally in 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.
Lisa Schlein, Voice of America (November 29, 2020): Syrian Constitutional Talks Resume With Little Prospect of Breakthrough
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
Daily Sabah (November 28): Libyan deputies pledge to end divisions, convene elected parliament soon
Palestinian Authority Legislative – Long Overdue (date could be set soon)
Palestinian elections are long overdue. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 14 of a four-year term. Legislative Council elections are similarly long overdue – the last took place in 2006. Elections are on hold indefinitely in the midst of a deadlocked conflict between the Gaza-baed Hamas and Abbas’s secularist Fatah, based in the West Bank.
Mehul Srivastava, Financial Times (November 30, 2020): Palestine’s Mahmoud Abbas pushes back against elections
Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post (December 2, 2020): After dumping Hamas, Abbas seeks to restore ties with Gulf states
Israel Parliamentary Elections: Due in 2023, but snap elections possible
Israel might be headed to its fourth general election in less than two years if the unity government of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz collapses. More
Barak Ravid, Axios (December 2, 2020): Israeli parliament opts for early elections in preliminary vote
Mehul Srivastava, Financial Times (December 1, 2020): A murder in Tehran may signal elections in Jerusalem
Past Middle East Elections
Egypt Parliamentary Elections: October-November 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
Vivian Yee, New York Times (November 30, 2020): Accepting the Danger of Human Rights Work in Egypt, With Food and Humor
Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections: November 15, 2020
Gilgit-Baltistan, the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir, held elections for its legislative assembly on November 15, 2020. The elections took place in the context of the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, as well as increased Chinese presence due to Belt and Road. More
Ghulam Abbas, Pakistan Today (November 30, 2020): PTI’s Khalid Khursheed elected as GB [Chief Minister]
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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This Week
Africa
November 30, 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.
The clay pan at Sossusvlei, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Namibia. Namibia’s local elections on November 25 delivered a blow to the ruling Swapo party. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Ikiwaner (GNU FDL 1.2)
Upcoming Africa Elections
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
Cara Anna, AP (November 26, 2020): ‘Why now?’ Dismay as US considers troop pullout from Somalia
Reuters (November 30, 2020): Somalia expels Kenyan envoy in row over alleged poll interference
Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (November 27, 2020): Somalia’s opposition candidates demand dissolution of electoral teams
Ghana Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 7, 2020
Ghana is scheduled to hold 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
Michael Lieber Cobb and Erik Plänitz, African Arguments (November 30, 2020): “Warning shots”: The steady rise of political violence in Ghana
BBC News Pidgin (December 1, 2020): Ghana Election Special Voters list 2020: Voting in progress as Nana Akufo-Addo and John Mahama test popularity
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
Robtel Neajai Pailey, Al Jazeera (December 1, 2020): Liberia’s Weah might be in for a rude awakening at the polls
Emma Farge, Reuters (December 1, 2020): Historic Liberia war crimes trial to open in Switzerland
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
Reuters (November 25, 2020): Niger ex-President Tandja, toppled after extending rule, dies at 82
François Soudan and Mathieu Olivier, Jeune Afrique (November 27, 2020): Niger – Mohamed Bazoum: “Mahamadou Issoufou, Hama Amadou, the third terms and me …”
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
RFI (November 28, 2020 – in French): Central African Republic: the Constitutional Court rejects the candidatures of armed groups in the legislative elections
Jean Fernand Koena, DW (November 27, 2020 – in French): Central African Republic: elections amid insecurity
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
Halima Athumani, Voice of America (November 30, 2020): Uganda President Quotes Bible in Ominous Message to Opposition
Stephen Kafeero, Quartz (November 27, 2020): Uganda is using Huawei’s facial recognition tech to crack down on dissent after anti-government protests
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times (November 27, 2020): Jailed, Exiled and Silenced: Smothering East Africa’s Political Opposition
Rwanda Local Elections: March 6 – February 2, 2021
Bertrand Byishimo, New Times (November 30, 2020): Rwanda: Electoral Body to Go Ahead With Grassroots Polls Despite Covid-19
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
Jeune Afrique (November 25, 2020 – in French): Congo: who is running against Denis Sassou Nguesso in 2021?
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
AFP (November 27, 2020): Benin presidential election set for April 11
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. The country then began the process of establishing democracy and recovering from Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship.
James Courtright, OZY (November 24, 2020): The latest hub of political humor: Gambia
Angola Local Elections: Due in 2020, no date set
Angola is due to hold its first-ever local elections in 2020. However, the elections have already been delayed multiple times (most recently in September 2020), and no date has been set. Meanwhile, COVID-19 provides an excuse for additional delays. In short, it is unclear when – or whether – the local elections will actually happen. Moreover, the country has never held free elections, and the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a former armed group, has ruled since independence in 1976. More
AFP (November 27, 2020): After protests, Angolan leader holds talks with youths
Mukuta Bun, Voice of America (November 26, 2020 – in Portuguese): João Lourenço does not promise local elections in 2021 and hears criticism from activists
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
Richard Reid, The Conversation (November 30, 2020): Conflict between Tigray and Eritrea – the long standing faultline in Ethiopian politics
Safia Farole, Washington Post (November 24, 2020): Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict reflects unresolved ethnic tensions: Regional self-government rights are being tested
Past Africa Elections
Namibia Local and Regional Elections: November 25, 2020
Namibia held local and regional elections on November 25, 2020. Namibia is a free, stable democracy, but since independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibian politics have been dominated by the socialist Swapo, an independence movement-turned-political party. Swapo took a hit in these elections, losing control of the city council in the capital, Windhoek, and other cities. More
Hileni Nembwaya, The Namibian (November 23, 2020): All systems go for special voting
Shinovene Immanuel, The Namibian (November 27, 2020): Swapo loses control of Windhoek
Burkina Faso Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 22, 2020
Burkina Faso held presidential and parliamentary elections on November 22, 2020, in the context of a growing security crisis as well as political uncertainty as the country’s democrats seek to consolidate the young, fragile democracy. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore won re-election. More
Reuters (November 29, 2020): Allies of Burkina Faso’s Kabore Retain Control of Parliament
Reuters (November 27, 2020): Burkina Faso opposition leader concedes defeat in election
Sam Mednick, AP (November 26, 2020): Burkina Faso president Roch Marc Christian Kabore re-elected
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
Vincent Duhem, The Africa Report (November 30, 2020): Côte d’Ivoire: What Ouattara has in store for his third term
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. More
Kizito Makoye, Andalou Agency (November 30, 2020): Tanzania: Zanzibar ex-presidential candidate sues gov’t
Georja Calvin-Smith, France24 (November 26, 2020 – video begins at ): Tundu Lissu on FRANCE 24: Tanzanian opposition leader vows to keep fighting
Cultural Note
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
November 28, 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.
Caracas’s notorious 23 de Enero, one of Maduro’s political strongholds. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Alexis Carmona (CC BY 3.0)
Upcoming Americas Elections
Venezuela Legislative Elections: December 6, 2020
Venezuela plans to hold 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 are taking place in the context of ongoing political, constitutional, and humanitarian crises have been going on for years. More
Fabiola Sánchez, AP (December 2, 2020): Son of Venezuela’s Maduro emerges, runs for congress
Jorge Jraissati, National Review (December 2, 2020): Venezuela’s Sham Election
France24 (November 27, 2020 – video): Exiled Venezuelan opposition figure Lopez urges Europe to impose sanctions on Maduro
The Economist (November 26, 2020): Venezuela’s regime will win the legislative election, by a lot: A rigged vote will end the opposition’s control of the last democratically elected institution
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
Lachlan Williams, The Rio Times (November 30, 2020): Peru: Potential Presidential Candidates Participate in Primary Elections
Simeon Tegel, World Politics Review (November 27, 2020): Vizcarra’s Ouster Puts Constitutional Reform on the Agenda in Peru
Editorial Board, BloombergOpinion (November 27, 2020): Peru Should Give Its Latest President a Chance
Jamaica Local Elections: February 2022
Jamaica has again delayed its upcoming local elections due to COVID-19, and anticipates holding the polls in February 2022.
Balford Henry, Jamaica Observer (November 25, 2020): Delay to local gov’t elections
Past Americas Elections
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 are an important test for Bolsonaro, who is up for re-election in 2022. More
Bryan Harris, Financial Times (November 29, 2020): Brazil’s local elections deal blow to Bolsonaro: Party of former leader Lula is also battered as ‘establishment’ politics makes a comeback
The Economist (November 26, 2020): The future of bolsonarismo
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
November 27, 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.
Sadarghat, a wharf at the Port of Dhaka on the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. Bangladesh holds the first stage of municipal elections in December. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Hiroki Ogawa (CC BY 3.0)
Upcoming Asia Elections
Indonesia Local and Provincial Elections: December 9, 2020
Indonesia will hold local and provincial elections on December 9, 2020. More than 100 million eligible voters will elect 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
Erwida Maulia, Nikkei Asia (November 24, 2020): How firebrand cleric Habib Rizieq plans to Islamize Indonesia
Tom Batchelor, The Independent (November 29, 2020): Indonesian volcano erupts forcing thousands to flee as ash and smoke spew four kilometres into sky
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
AP (November 28, 2020): Thailand’s pro-democracy protesters warn of possible coup
Patrick Smith and Nat Sumon, NBC (November 25, 2020): Young protesters in Thailand risk much to demand change from military, monarchy
Kostia Prodromidès and Aurore Castel, France24 (November 23, 2020 – video): Longing for change: Meet Thailand’s pro-democracy protesters
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (November 24, 2020): Duncan McCargo on Thailand’s New Political Force
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 coutnry held general elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) in December 2018 amid political violence and harassment of the opposition. The Awami League (AL) AL has been in power since 2009 and is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
Dhaka Tribune (November 22, 2020): First phase of municipality election on Dec 28
Tibet Government-in-Exile Elections: January 2021
Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, The Indian Express (November 22, 2020): Explained: How Tibetans across the world will elect their parliament in exile
Radio Free Asia (November 23, 2020): Tibetan Exile Political Leader Makes ‘Landmark’ First Visit to White House
Maldives Local Elections: March 6, 2021
Maldives is due to hold local elections, which will likely take place on March 6, 2021. The country, an idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago usually associated with honeymoons and oligarchs, lived under a brutal dictatorship for decades. However, the country had a remarkable transition to democracy in 2008. However, the consolidation of democracy remains an ongoing challenge. Moreover, Maldives has become a flashpoint for geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean. More
Aishath Shaany, Raajje (November 26, 2020): 86 candidates withdraw from local elections
Nectar Gan, CNN (November 25, 2020): A tale of two bridges: India and China vying for influence in the Maldives
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
Eric Cheung, Jadyn Sham and James Griffiths, CNN (November 23, 2020): Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong facing prison after guilty plea over 2019 protest
Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Time (November 25, 2020): All Seems Lost for Hong Kong’s Democracy Movement as Joshua Wong Faces Jail. But There Are Still Reasons for Hope.
Yi-Zheng Lian, New York Times (November 25, 2020): Reports of Hong Kong’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
Leïla Choukroune, The Conversation (November 23, 2020): Heavy hand of China is prompting fears for Hong Kong’s future as a major business hub
Malaysia Sarawak State Elections: By August 7, 2021 and Possible Snap Parliamentary Elections
Malaysia is not due to hold parliamentary elections until May 2023, but the fragile political situation means snap elections are possible, and 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. To complicate matters further, the country is also due to hold several by-elections, but the government is delaying them, ostensibly due to COVID-19. However, the opposition is likely to win the by-elections, so delays prevent the government’s majority from narrowing even more. More
The Straits Times (November 28, 2020): Malaysia’s PM Muhyiddin says he will call for general election once Covid-19 pandemic is over
Zsombor Peter, Voice of America (November 25, 2020): Malaysia’s Government, Prime Minister Face Make-or-Break Budget Vote
Minderjeet Kaur, Free Malaysia Today (November 27, 2020): Gerik, Bugaya by-elections on Jan 16, says EC
Umair Jamal, ASEAN Today (November 29, 2020): The potential impacts of Malaysia postponing by-elections as COVID-19 cases rise
Past Asia Elections
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
Andrew Nachemson and Naw Betty Han, Al Jazeera (November 27, 2020): Ethnic tension, conflicts key concern for Myanmar’s incoming MPs
Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat (November 26, 2020): What’s Next for Myanmar’s Military Proxy Party?
Min Zin, New York Times (November 23, 2020): Myanmar Still Loves Aung San Suu Kyi, but Not for the Reasons You Think
AFP (November 23, 2020): Myanmar’s genocide against Rohingya not over, says rights group
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
November 26, 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 school in Batken, Kyrgyzstan, on the edge of the Ferghana Valley, which was a crossroads of ancient empires. The country is once again at a crossroads, this time a political crossroads. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Ben Paarmaan (CC BY 2.0)
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
AFP (November 23, 2020): Kyrgyz protest over proposed constitution empowering president
Muhammad Tahir and Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL (November 22, 2020 – podcast): Majlis Podcast: The Controversy Over Kyrgyzstan’s Draft Constitution
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.
Nonetheless, Kazakhstan’s elections are taking place in the context of widespread protests related to elections throughout former Soviet Union countries. More
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
Vladimir Kara-Murza, Washington Post (November 20, 2020): Putin’s latest election dirty tactic: Label the opposition as ‘foreign agents’
Past Eurasia Elections
Ukraine Local Election Runoffs: November 15 and 22, 2020
Ukraine held local elections on October 25, 2020. Mayoral runoffs in some cities will take place on November 15, and the rest will happen on November 22. The results delivered a blow to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the country’s traditional pro-Europe and pro-Russia political forces won key races. More
UNIAN Information Agency (November 22, 2020): Local election runoff held in several cities across Ukraine
Peter Dickinson, Atlantic Council (November 22, 2020): How Ukraine’s Orange Revolution shaped twenty-first century geopolitics
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
Georgi Lomsadze, Eurasianet (November 27, 2020): Georgian politics still deadlocked after runoff polls
RFE/RL (November 21, 2020): Georgian Dream Wins ‘Overwhelming Majority’ After Runoff Elections Boycotted By Opposition
OC Media (November 22, 2020): Historic low turnout in Georgian election
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
Nicolae Reutoi, Foreign Policy (November 25, 2020): Moldova’s Election Result Is a Blow to Russia’s Regional Dominance
Marius Ghincea, Washington Post (November 23, 2020): Moldova’s new president is likely to seek closer ties with Europe. Russia won’t be pleased.
Dumitru Minzarari, Jamestown Foundation (November 23, 2020): Moldovan Presidential Elections: An Effective Challenge to Populism
Volintiru and Sergiu Gherghina, London School of Economics EUROPP blog (November 23, 2020): Taking stock of ‘election season’ in the Eastern Partnership countries
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
DW (November 28, 2020): Belarus: Lukashenko hints at conditional departure
BBC (November 26, 2020 – video): Belarus: The exile sacrificing everything for her country
Doug Feinberg, AP (November 24, 2020): Ex-WNBA player reflects on jail time after Belarus protest
In Other News
Technology finds a way….
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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