- Election Watch
Election Results (March–June 2017)
Albania: Elections for the 140-seat Parliament were scheduled to occur on June 25. Results will be reported in a future issue.
Algeria: In May 4 elections for the 462-seat People’s National Assembly, the ruling two-party coalition won a decisive majority of 264 seats. The National Liberation Front (NLF) of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won 26 percent of the vote and 164 seats, down from 208 seats in 2012; its coalition partner, the National Rally for Democracy (RND), won 15 percent and 100 seats. The opposition Islamist party, Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), won 6 percent and 33 seats, and smaller parties and independents won the remaining seats. Turnout was officially reported as 35.4 percent, down from 43 percent in 2012. Following the vote, President Bouteflika appointed former housing minister Abdelmajid Tebboune as prime minister, replacing incumbent and Bouteflika confidant Abdelmalek Sellal.
Armenia: In April 2 elections for the 105-seat National Assembly, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) led by President Serzh Sarkisian retained a majority, winning 49 percent of the vote and 58 seats. The Tsarukyan Alliance won 27 percent and 31 seats; the Yelk (Way Out) Alliance, 7.8 percent and 9 seats; and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, 6.6 percent and 7 seats. The elections were the first to occur following the 2015 constitutional referendum that authorized a change from a semipresidential system to a parliamentary republic. Observers with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported that the elections were “well administered and fundamental freedoms . . . generally respected,” but expressed concern over credible allegations of vote buying that undermined public confidence in the elections. [End Page 180]
The Bahamas: Elections for the 39-seat House of Assembly were held May 10. The opposition Free National Movement led by Hubert Minnis captured 57 percent of the vote and 35 seats, up from 9 seats in 2012; the ruling Progressive Liberal Party of outgoing prime minister Perry Christie won just 37 percent and 4 seats.
Bulgaria: Snap elections for the 240-seat National Assembly were held March 26 following the January resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB). GERB won a plurality, securing 33.5 percent of the vote and 95 seats. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) won 28 percent and 80 seats; the nationalist United Patriots (UP), 9 percent and 27 seats; the Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), 9 percent and 26 seats; and Volya, 4 percent and 12 seats. Following the vote, GERB formed a coalition government with the UP, enabling Borisov’s return for a third term in office as prime minister.
The Gambia: In April 6 elections for the 53-seat National Assembly, the United Democratic Party led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ousainou Darboe won a landslide victory, taking 37 percent of the vote and 31 seats. The Gambia Democratic Congress led by Mama Kandeh won 17 percent and 5 seats; and the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, the party of former longtime president Yahya Jammeh now led by Fabakary Jatta, won 16 percent and 5 seats. Smaller parties and one independent split the remaining seats. Observers with the European Union commended the “peaceful and engaging campaign,” the first to take place since the historic December 2016 presidential election in which Adama Barrow scored an upset win over Jammeh.
Iran: In the May 19 presidential election, incumbent Hassan Rouhani was reelected to a second four-year term, winning 57 percent of the vote and avoiding a runoff. Cleric Ebrahim Raisi won 38 percent. Prior to the election, the twelve-member Guardian Council approved only six candidates (two of whom subsequently withdrew) from among 1,636 registrants to contest the election.
Kosovo: Snap elections for the 120-seat Assembly were held June 11, following a May 10 vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa of the Democratic League of Kosovo. Results will be reported in a future issue.
Lesotho: Following a vote of no confidence against incumbent prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili of the ruling Democratic Congress (DC) and the subsequent dissolution of Parliament on March...