Elections that shaped the world in 2018

(Baonghean.vn) - The Russian presidential election, the US midterm elections, the Cambodian elections... are elections that will take place in 2018 and are predicted to have a major impact on the world political situation.

1. Russian Presidential Election

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian presidential election is scheduled to take place in March 2018.This will be the fourth election in Mr. Putin's political career. On December 6, 2017, Mr. Putin confirmed that he will continue to run in the 2018 Russian presidential election, seeking the opportunity to continue his 6-year term.

Mr. Putin is considered the leader, the guide and the “steerer” of Russia to overcome economic challenges, sanctions and political stability. He also helped Russia demonstrate its position as a major power in the international arena when it accepted the Crimean peninsula based on a democratic referendum process or supported Syria to extinguish the “dark shadow” of terrorism.

Currently, President Putin enjoys very high public support, with more than 82% of Russians supporting him, according to the most recent poll conducted in September 2017.

The date for Russians to vote for a new president has not been officially announced, but it is believed that the election will take place on March 18, 2018 - the anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia.

The 2018 Russian presidential election also featured many other candidates, including an unprecedented number of female candidates.

2. Cambodia General Election for 6-year term 2018 - 2023

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen signed a decision to select July 29, 2018 as the election date for the 6th National Assembly term (2018 - 2023).

The early election date is to give political parties more time to prepare for the election. This is a very important election, because the party with the most seats in the National Assembly will become Prime Minister, form the cabinet and run the Government.

In Cambodia, there are currently about 60 political parties, however, most of the parties are registered but do not have the conditions to operate, only about 10 parties have the conditions to operate, regularly participating in elections. Specifically, in the recent election of Commune and Ward Councils, only 12 parties were eligible to participate in the election.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to extend his rule with the CPP, which has been in power since 1985. The CPP's largest opposition party, the CNRP, has just been banned from politics and ordered to be dissolved after its leader Kem Sokha was accused of treason and arrested.

3. Italian Prime Minister Election

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The Italian election will take place in May 2018. Politician Luigi Di Maio, 31 years old, could become the new leader of Italy after the election takes place in 2018.

A former web designer, Luigi Di Maio is a lawyer and journalist who became Vice President of the Italian Parliament at the age of 26, the youngest person ever to hold the position. He is currently the Five Star Movement's candidate for prime minister. Polls show that he is leading with nearly 28% support and has the potential to become Italy's prime minister.

The outcome of the Italian election has important implications for the regional economy and stock markets, as well as the country's immigration policy towards refugees.

Despite being Grillo’s successor, Di Maio took a softer stance on the euro in a recent interview with CNBC, saying a referendum on leaving the EU would be a “last resort” if Italy fails to make changes to the bloc’s policies.

Mr Di Maio has particularly stressed that the influx of migrants from North Africa is having a negative impact on the Italian economy. As in the recent German election, polls showed that immigration was the biggest concern for Italian voters.

4. Mexican Presidential Election

Former Mayor of Mexico City Andres Manual Lopez Obrador.

The Mexican presidential election will take place in July 2018. The leading candidate in the Mexican election in July 2018 is said to be former Mayor of Mexico City Andres Manual Lopez Obrador after incumbent President Enrique Peña Nieto was not allowed by the constitution to run for another term.

If elected, Mr. Obarador is expected to take a hard line on foreign policy from his American neighbor and US President Donald Trump. Another potential candidate is Ms. Margarita Zavala, who has been dubbed the Mexican Hillary Clinton. The former First Lady of Mexico recently left the party of her husband, former President Felipe Calderon, and established her own party.

An August Mitofsky poll showed the coalition leading with nearly 22 percent of voters, a few percentage points ahead of the PRI and former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. However, 37 percent of Mexican voters were undecided.

The Mexican election will be a confrontation between four candidates from four parties.

5. Midterm elections in the US

US President Donald Trump.

On average over the past 70 years, each midterm election has resulted in the president's party losing about 25 seats in the House of Representatives.

In the current situation, President Trump's Republican Party is also in a difficult position when Mr. Trump's approval rating is quite low and many laws proposed by the party and Mr. Trump have not been passed.

Of course, the US midterm elections are still 11 months away and no one can predict the outcome. However, if the Democrats win more seats in the House of Representatives, the political situation in Washington and the world will certainly change.

Midterm elections in the US have not typically been positive for the incumbent president's party. In 2010, former President Barack Obama's Democratic Party lost 63 seats in the House of Representatives.

6. Thai Prime Minister Election

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha speaks at a press conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on September 7, 2017.

Thailand will hold elections in November 2018 and the specific date will be announced in June next year.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said as stated on October 10. Mr. Prayut Chan-O-Cha added that he will consider the appropriate time and conditions for political parties.

After ousting former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in May 2014, Thailand's military junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha vowed to hold elections within 18 months. However, the promise has been repeatedly delayed, and analysts say there will be limits to democracy under Thailand's military government.

In early October, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha traveled to the United States and met with President Donald Trump. In a joint statement after the meeting, President Trump said he supported Thailand’s commitment to hold “free and fair” elections in 2018.

However, Mr. Chaturon Chaisang, a former minister under the government of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck, said the election would not be as democratic as the Pheu Thai Party had tried to make it.

7. Zimbabwe Presidential Election

New Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa waves to supporters.

On November 21, Mr. Mugabe, 93, officially resigned as President, thereby ending 37 years in power. His decision to resign was forced by the generals to allow Mr. Mnangagwa, who was Mr. Mugabe's right-hand man, to be chosen as the country's next leader instead of Mr. Mugabe's wife, Grace.

Mr Mnangagwa has made a public address promising Zimbabwe a brighter future. Mr Mnangagwa said he would represent “patriotic Zimbabweans” and that presidential elections would be held in 2018 as scheduled.

He also vowed to step up the fight against corruption in Zimbabwe’s government. However, he did not mention human rights and said he called on Zimbabweans to “let bygones be bygones.”

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