REPORTS
ELECTION AND CURRENT EVENT REPORTS FROM OUR JOURNALISTS
Moving West: Moldova
Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s pro-European ‘Party of Action and Solidarity’ (PAS) swept July’s snap parliamentary elections.
How the Mighty Fall
In the country’s second election in four months, a group of anti-corruption parties dealt a blow to Bulgarian Prime-Minister Boyko Borisov, who has intermittently governed Bulgaria since 2009.
Entrenching the Dictatorship
On 6 December, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro won in a move to consolidate power in the country's legislative elections.
Looking West: Moldova
On 15 November, Moldovia finished the second round of its presidential election. Maia Sandu, a pro-Europeanist candidate, won the presidency with almost 58 per cent of the vote.
Clashes on the Coast
On 31 October, Côte d'Ivoire held a controversial presidential election, amidst an opposition boycott.
A Growing Autocracy
On 28 October, incumbent Tanzanian president, John Magufuli, won re-election in a landslide victory.
From the Metro to the Convention
On 25 October, Chilean voters approved a referendum to re-write its constitution, the first step in the reformation of Chile's dictatorial constitutional structure.
In the Shadow
On 18 October, Bolivia held its first presidential and legislative elections since the former president, Evo Morales, was ousted, following widespread protests against his administration.
A Warm Reception
On 17 October, New Zealander’s gave the centre-left Labour Party an outright majority in the legislature. Prime-Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has become an increasingly-well known figure on the global stage, will serve a second term in office, after leading her party to a landslide victory.
A Rocky Recovery
On 03 September, the ruling conservative Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) claimed a landslide victory in the country’s general election.
Flip of the Coin
On 15 July North Macedonia held the first national elections since the historical Prespa Agreement last year.
The Knife Tips
On 12 July, the second round of the Polish presidential election saw right-wing incumbent Andrzej Duda squeezed out a narrow victory against opposition Warsaw mayor and opposition challenger Rafał Trzaskowski.
Shaking it up: Singapore
On 10 July, held parliamentary elections, which, in a rare moment for Singaporean politics, saw the opposition make significant gains.
After Twenty Years
On 5 July, the Dominican Republic held elections to choose its President, Vice-President, 32-member Senate, and 190-member House of Deputies.
Suprise in Zagreb
On 5 July, Croatian voters handed a surprise victory to the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
Laissez Faire Landslide
On 27 June, Icelandic voters went to the polls in a presidential election, only the second European election to be held in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Electoral Justice
On 23 June, Malawi’s opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera claimed victory in the country’s presidential poll, unseating incumbent Peter Mutharika, who has been in power since 2014.
Fate of the Pacific
On 22 June, Republic of Kiribati’s 55,000 voters went to the polls in a presidential election that may very well determine the future of the Pacific region.
The Lonely Landslide: Serbia
On 21 June, Serbia held a hotly controversial parliamentary election, Europe's first national elections in the wake of COVID-19.
The World Votes
On 17 and 18 June, the 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly voted on the new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council and the 75th General Assembly President.
Old Rivals: The Irish Government
On 15 July three Irish parties, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party agreed to a historic coalition government after elections in February.
Finally, A (Shaky) Government
After three elections and a year and a half of political breakdown, Israel has formed a unity government between Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz.
Voting in Plastic: South Korea
On 15 April, South Korea held a national legislative election, amidst concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in the region. Despite the ongoing pandemic turnout hit a high of 66 per cent, the largest turnout in 18 years, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Poison and Covid-19 in Abkhazia
On 22 March, the self-declared nation of Abkhazia held a presidential election. The election was mired in speculation and controversy about covert poisonings, election fraud, Russian influence, and the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Black Hole of Europe
For years, Slovakia has been known as the 'Black Hole of Europe', due to the systemic corruption and rise of unwieldy nationalist movements in the country. However, on 29 Feb., those trends seemed to have changed with the anti-corruption Ordinary People and Independent Personalities Party (OĽaNO) coming in first place in the fragmentedParliamentary elections.
A Stumble for Reformers
On 21 Feb., Iran held elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the legislative branch of the Iranian government. The election, which had the lowest turnout since the 1979 revolution, was dominated by Conservative hardliners, according to Time.
Shaking Up Ireland: Sinn Féin
On 8 Feb., Ireland had a general election, for seats in the Dáil Éireann, the primary house of the Irish Parliament.
Tsai's Triumph
On 11 Jan., Tsai Ing-wen, and her Democratic Progress Party (DPP), won both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Taiwan. President Tsai will now begin her second term in office, as the President of Taiwan.
Bojo's Big Win
On 12 Dec., Prime-Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative and Unionist Party won a crushing victory in Britain's pre-Christmas General Election.
Democracy in Hong Kong
On 24 Nov., Hong Kong held elections for its District Council. A coalition of pro-democracy parties dealt a blow to the pro-Beijing government by taking over 76 per cent of council seats.
End of an Era
On 24 Nov., Uruguay finalised its Presidential contest, in which opposition candidate, Luis Lacalle Pou, toppled the long-standing liberal government.
Iohannis Sweeps Election
On 24 Nov. 2019, Romania held the second round of its Presidential election. The centrist incumbent, Klaus Iohannis, was elected in a landslide of over 66 per cent.
Ballot Stuffing in Belarus
On 17 Nov. Belarus held Parliamentary elections, in which the opposition won mo seats. The election has been widely discredited by the international community, as it did not adhere to democratic standards.
The Dynasty Returns to Dominance
On 16 Nov., a Presidential election took place in Sri Lanka. The election, held in the wake of a major political crisis, contained 35 candidates on the ballot. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was declared the winner of the poll, capturing over 50 per cent of the vote.
Sánchez Scrambles to Form a Government
On 10 Nov., Spain held its fourth election in four years. Prime-Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called the election, must not form a government to stem the tide of the quickly growing far-right opposition.
Singing Dixie: Southern Elections
On 5 Nov., Democrats declared victory in a gubernatorial race in Kentucky and a legislative race in Virginia, while Republicans retained the governor's mansion in the deeply Conservative State of Mississippi.
Peronists Return to Power
On 27 Oct., Argentina held a Presidential election in which the incumbent President, Mauricio Macri, lost to his Peronist rivals, Alberto Fernández and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (no relation).
Trudeau Wins A Second Term
On 21 Oct. 2019, Canada held Parliamentary elections. The ruling Liberal Party, led by Prime-Minister Justin Trudeau, won the most seats in the House of Commons but fell short of a majority.
Greens Make Waves in Switzerland
On 20 Oct. 2019, the Swiss Confederation held parliamentary elections. Environmental parties made huge gains, reinforcing Swiss concerns over climate change in the region.
Dodging Shrapnel At The Polls
On 28 Sept., Afghanistan held a Presidential Election. Violence and accusations of tampering marred the polls.
Kurz Must Now Form A Coalition
On 29 Sept, Austria held a general election in which the ruling Right-wing Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) achieved a significant victory over the opposition.
Another Election on the Horizon for Spain
Interim Spanish Prime-Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that early elections will take place on 10 November, having failed to secure a majority in the Congress of Deputies (the lower house of the Spanish legislature).
Israel Headed for Hung Parliament
On 17 Sept., the State of Israel held a national-legislative election for the Knesset, an adapted Israeli Parliament. The election was announced after Prime-Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition between his Conservative Likud Party, and other Right-wing parties after April elections.