Edition 9: Oct. 21-Oct. 27
By: Mayerlyn Rivera and Beata Tewell
Upcoming
Georgia
On Oct. 26, Georgian citizens will take to the polls to vote in the parliamentary elections. Many fear the outcome at the end of this week with the participation of the Georgian Dream (GD) party and recent behavior. As of recently, the GD party has advocated for a “foreign agent” law that will allow non-governmental organizations to have power- instilling a fear for a loss of democracy in the state. The current prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidz, was appointed by parliament in February, a very criticized decision by the public, and announced that if the GD party won he would ban any opposing parties from running opposite of him, raising the importance of this election’s results. There have been concerns that the GD party may be drifting from EU accession and NATO military alliance deals for Georgia and leaning towards going into active retaliation with Russia. This has sparked quite an uproar for the more than five political parties because it is the main issue that they come together on. The fears stem from a concern that the GD party may embrace Russian President Vladimir Putin and anti-Europeanism.
This will not only affect the internal functionality of Georgia, but the way they interact with other states on a global scale. Whether or not they will continue to maintain a pro-Western relationship through policy will affect the future of Georgia’s state. Overall, there is a fear that Georgia may be entering a period of democratic backsliding due to the autocratic policies and standards that the GD party has pushed for and displayed support for.
Uruguay
On Oct. 27, Ururguyans will take to the polls to vote on their next president, all the seats in the upper and lower houses of Parliament, and notably a potential referendum that would change the pension system. There are two parties in the running: left-center Broad Front coalition, and incumbent National Party. If there is not a candidate with majority votes above 50%, there will be a runoff on Nov. 24. Along with the refresh of the executive and judicial branches, the two referendum questions Uruguyans will vote on are on a constitutional ban on night time police home raids and a pension reform for reverting the retirement age.
Looking at potential poll predictions, under most options for presidential and parliamentary results, the polls display the Broad Front (FA) party taking a majority of the votes. For the referendum predictions, the voter predictions may lie in favor of allowing police home raids and being against lowering the retirement age for pension benefits. These predictions have been made with AS/COA compiling poll election views on the candidates and concerns citizens have for their vote this week. There are great chances of the presidential candidate choice continuing into November for a runoff vote, but it will be a result to watch considering the divide of voters after the impact COVID-19 imposed on the state of Uruguay and their citizens.
Recap
Lithuania
Lithuania’s first round of elections for the Seimas, Lithuania’s unicameral parliament, took place on Oct. 13, 2024 with the second round scheduled for Oct. 27. The 141 member body consists of 71 direct mandates, to be voted on in the second round, and 70 seats to be divided up proportional to how each party fared in the first round. In the first round the opposition Social Democrats came out on top, confirming earlier projections. Voters seemed to be especially concerned with the rising cost of living and the threat to security posed by Russia, whose enclave Kaliningrad shares a direct border with the Baltic state. The Social Democrats, under the leadership of Vilija Blinkeviciute, have announced that they seek to form a coalition with other left wing parties in order to oust the current conservative government under prime minister Ingrida Simonyte. A new right wing populist party, called the Dawn of Nemunas, participated for the first time in the election and received 15% of the vote.
