5 Upcoming Global Elections in 2022
Authors: Anna Maloney
1. South Korean Presidential Election (March 9th)
The Constitution of South Korea, established in 1948, determines that the nation’s president is determined by direct popular vote and may serve for only one term. The current South Korean President, Moon Jae-In, is therefore not eligible to run for re-election on March 9th this year. Two different parties within South Korea- the conservative People Power Party and the currently ruling Democratic party- have put forth new candidates. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic party candidate and former Gyeonggi Province Governor, is set to take on Yoon Seok-youl, the former Prosecutor General and candidate supported by the People Power Party. The election of the conservative camp, led by Yoon Seok-youl, could see the nation strengthen further ties with the United States and distance itself more from the North.
2. Hungarian Parliamentary Election (April 3rd)
The upcoming Hungarian parliamentary elections this year will be the first time in the last decade where Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the governing conservative-nationalist Fidesz Party face a united opposition. Since his election in 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has favored stances against immigration and LGBTQ rights, and has framed himself as the defender of family values in his re-election campaign. The six parties running in opposition to Orban are led by Peter Marki-Zy, who won the 2018 Mayoral election in the town of Hodmezovasarhely, which had previously been governed by a Fidesz party member. Orban has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and accused the United States of attempting to meddle in Hungarian politics ahead of the election. The possible ousting of the Fidesz party, and of Prime Minister Orban, could greatly change the relationship between the Biden Administration and Hungary.
3. French Presidential Election (April 24th)
When incumbent leader Emmanuel Macron was first elected in 2017, he won in a landslide. When the 2022 election cycle began to ramp up, Marine Le Pen, the last run off candidate, returned to challenge him. Macron also faced off against TV commentator Eric Zemmour, known by some as the “French Trump.” Both Le Pen and Zemmour ran on Anti-EU and anti-immigration platforms. President Macron’s greatest challenger has become Valérie Pécresse, a conservative member of the Les Républicains party, and surprise challenger. She is most likely to face off against Macron in the run off this year. Is Macron loses, it is likely that French policy will favor a more nationalistic leaning, and impact relations with the United States.
4. Philippine Presidential Election (May 9th)
The outgoing president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is barred from running for another term under the Philippine constitution, but the current election polls suggest his family will likely remain politically empowered. His daughter, Sara, is running for Vice President with Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. During his time in office, analysts have argued that President Duterte has shifted the nation, a historical ally of the United States, to further favor Chinese interests in the region. The election of his daughter, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who are currently ahead in the polls, will likely continue the shift.
5. Colombian Presidential Election (May 29th)
Though still a ways away, the Colombian Presidential Election is likely to reflect a significant multiyear shift across Latin America from far right wing incumbents to leftist challengers. The mismanagement of the pandemic and significant economic issues have contributed to a 20 year high in poverty rates within the nation, leading most analysts to suspect that change will be heavily favored on the ballot in May. Incumbent Iván Duque Márquez is ineligible for a second term, and the former Bogotá mayor Gustavo Petro is currently leading in the preliminary polls. His party, the Colombia Humana, has helped in the creation of the Historic Pact for Colombia coalition, which will hold a primary in March to select its candidate (Petro is heavily favored to win).
