HeatherN offers a short primer on elections around the world.
With the years-long election cycle of the U.S. finally entering the final stages, it can be easy to ignore other countries’ elections. Huffington Post has a quick little article providing a rundown of six European countries that are holding general elections. Though the next “leader of the free world,” won’t be decided from these elections, quite a lot is still at stake. France’s Sarkozy looks like he might lost his election to Socialist Francois Hollande after five years in office. Greece, still reeling from the economic crisis, could end up without a government and have to hold elections again. Overall, Europe’s looking at some big changes.
Perhaps even more importantly, though, are the upcoming elections in Egypt. The three men who appear to be at the front of the race are Mubarak’s former foreign minister Amr Moussa, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi, and a moderate Islamist, Abdel-Moneim Abolfotoh. The results of this election could have a huge effect on Egypt’s future. And yet, there seems to be a growing and legitimate fear that the military is doing what it can to retain power, regardless of who ends up being elected. Perhaps the label of “Arab Spring” was applied too early, and too ethnocentrically.
Which elections this year do you think will have the greatest global impact?
Is there a candidate you are hoping for in any of these elections?
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