4 major world elections in 2017

(Baonghean.vn) - Millions of people around the world are looking forward to the US Presidential election that will take place in November 2016. However, it would be a mistake to ignore the equally influential elections that will take place around the world in the near future. Below are four elections that will have a major impact on the world situation in 2017.

1. Italian Constitutional Referendum (Winter 2016)

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is facing a crisis due to the overly rigid political system in a country that has gone through 63 governments in the past 71 years.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi during a referendum campaign speech in Florence on September 29. Photo: Getty Images.

This problem he encountered right from the moment he took power in 2014, forcing Mr. Renzi to propose a solution to reduce the power of the Senate, give power to the House of Representatives and this political reform will be passed through a referendum.

If the referendum fails, Mr. Renzi will announce his resignation and then Europe will likely continue to face the next political crisis, similar to what happened after the Brexit referendum in the UK in June 2016.

2. French Presidential Election (Spring 2017)

France is at the forefront of the fight against radical Islam and the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Europe.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy will face off against Alain Juppé for the presidential nomination next year. Photo: Telegraph.

The attacks in Paris and Nice have affected French politics, and Marine Le Pen, head of the French National Front, is the biggest beneficiary compared to her opponents, current President Francois Hollande, former President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Minister Alain Juppe.

If Le Pen wins the French presidency next year, she has vowed to hold a referendum on whether France should leave the European Union. With the Brexit vote causing enough trouble for the EU, a Frexit referendum would undermine the entire foundation of the European Union.

3. German Federal Election (to be held in Autumn 2017)

The EU would not be able to survive if Germany withdrew from the Union. And Angela Merkel is still better able to lead than any of her German predecessors. At the same time, Merkel has shown herself to be a skillful politician over the years.

Refugees take a photo with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: AFP

However, Ms Merkel is bogged down by the refugee crisis in Europe, and that bog is an opportunity for the German far-right party (AfD). The AfD has made strong gains in regional elections since its founding in 2013 and has won seats in 10 of Germany's 16 state parliaments, making it a candidate in the federal election due to take place in the fall of 2017.

Currently, Ms. Merkel is still expected to win this race, but there are opinions that Ms. Markel will lose to Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble, a person with an isolated attitude and will not seek to promote solidarity within the EU.

4. Party Congress in China (held in Fall 2017)

The 19th Party Congress in China will be the congress that is expected to shape China's direction for the next 15 years.

Scene of the closing session of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Photo: AFP

About half of the 18 members of China's Politburo will be replaced after this congress. More importantly, five of the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, which makes the final decisions for the entire country, are expected to be replaced.

Only a few members of the Standing Committee will be retained, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, until their terms end in 2022.

The successors will be chosen from the ranks of the 19th Standing Committee, tasked with steering China forward amid a difficult domestic economic reform. And the economic and political implications of China will have a huge impact on world events.

Thanh Hien

(According to Time)