International Elections and Leaders: April 2021 Briefing
The REIGN Dataset (Rulers, Elections, and Irregular Governance) covers political conditions in every country each and every month. We update the data set monthly to reflect the most recent political events, such as coups, world elections, and changes in political leadership. We also provide monthly election coverage and track leadership changes in a series of updates called International Elections and Leaders.
International Elections
Three key elections for the chief executive took place in the month of March.
Republic of Congo — Presidential (March 21)
- The Republic of Congo concluded its presidential election on March 21
- Incumbent president Sassou Nguesso won reelection after receiving 88% of the vote. Nguesso has been president since 1997.
- The election was boycotted by opposition political parties and the government imposed an internet blackout during the vote, but it is quite clear that Nguesso won handily. His only electoral opponent also passed away from COVID-19 days before the vote as well, further strengthening Nguesso’s position.
Israel —Legislative (March 23)
- Israel held its fourth election in two years following the collapse of the previous Netanyahu/Gantz government.
- There was no clear winner for any electoral bloc, but Benjamin Netanyahu has been given the first opportunity to try and form a government by Israel’s president.
- It is not guaranteed that Netanyahu will be able to form a government, but he will likely see this as the a political win. If Netanyahu fails, than it is likely that the next opportunity to form a government will fall to right-wing politician Naftali Bennett.
Netherlands — Legislative (March 17)
- The Netherlands held its parliamentary election on March 17.
- Incumbent prime minister Mark Rutte and his VVD party won an additional seat and has been set to form a new governing coalition as a result.
- The final outcome of coalition talks is not yet known though. Rutte has been in power for three coalitions now and is seeing historic pushback against his governance. Opposition parties have accused Rutte of dishonesty and he narrowly survived a vote of no-confidence days after the election. Two of the most likely parties to join a coalition government with VVD brought forth a motion of censure against Rutte as well, suggesting that the would-be fourth-term prime minister will need to mend political bridges before forming a new government.
New Leaders
Three new individuals took power as a chief executive in the month of March.
Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh (Independent) — Libya
- Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh was sworn in as Prime Minister of Libya on March 15th following the formation of the Government of National Unity. The new government brings together formerly warring factions the Government of National Accord based in Tripoli and the Al-Thani Cabinet based in Tobruk.
- Dbeibeh will be tasked with leading the provisional government until elections can be held in December. Dbeibeh will need to further manage the fragile peace and the powerful armed actors that previously fought in the civil-war. If he can lead the country to peaceful elections later this year, his term will be a historic success for a country that has been embroiled in conflict since the fall of previous strongman Mu’ammar Gaddafi.
Samia Suluhu Hassan (Centre-left) — Tanzania
- Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as President of Tanzania following the death of incumbent president John Magufuli on March 17th. Hassan is the first woman to serve as President of Tanzania
- Hassan’s administration will seek to reverse course on the policies of her predecessor when it comes to management of the COVID-19 pandemic and international relations. She has set up a science-based panel for managing the on-going COVID-19 crisis, a stark about face compared to Magufuli who minimized the dangers of the virus.
- She will also seek to mend relations with the broader international community. Tanzania had been increasingly isolated from the U.S. and Europe after her predecessor clamped down on civil liberties and electoral freedom. Hassan will also seek to make it easier for foreign investment to come to Tanzania.
Albin Kurti (Left) — Kosovo
- Albin Kurti has returned to the top job in Kosovo for a second time following an electoral landslide in February’s snap elections.
- Kurti faces a number of policy issues that he will need to settle with Serbia if Kosovo is to be accepted into the EU. Kurti has also promised to vaccinate at least 60% of Kosovo’s population by the end of 2021 in an effort to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elections in April
Nine elections to determine the chief executive are set to take place in the month of April.
Albania (Legislative) — April 25, Benin (Presidential) — April 11, Bulgaria (Legislative) — April 4, Cape Verde (Legislative) — April 18, Chad (Presidential) — April 11, Djibouti (Presidential) — April 9, Ecuador (Presidential-Second Round) — April 11, Peru (Presidential) — April 11, Samoa (Legislative) — April 9
