European Election Watch

The CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program provides the Election Watch platform to walk readers through these complex political times in Europe

As Europe continues to grapple with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a looming economic recession, crucial elections are taking place across the continent in 2023. The CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program is committed to tracking elections in Europe through clear and concise analysis on the Election Watch platform. Country-specific factsheets present the most salient campaign issues and will walk readers through the implications of elections on U.S. interests and the broader transatlantic relationship.

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UK Local Elections Will Have National Consequences

The May 6 local elections in the United Kingdom will be a barometer for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party’s popularity, the opposition Labour Party’s standing, and the state of fragmentation in the Union.

Commentary by Donatienne Ruy and Heather A. Conley — May 5, 2021

The Belarusian Mirror on the Russian Wall

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko faces a burgeoning opposition and his toughest challenge in 26 years ahead of August 9 elections. How will Russia respond?

Commentary by Heather A. Conley, Cyrus Newlin, and Vladislav Inozemtsev — August 4, 2020

Italian Elections Results

Italian voters loudly voiced their discontent on March 4, propelling populist and far-right forces to the top of the polls. Inconclusive electrion results mean the country now faces weeks of negotiations.

Blog Post by Donatienne Ruy — March 7, 2018

Merkel's (Fourth) First Day

On September 24, German voters delivered an ambivalent victory to Angela Merkel, returning her to power as Chancellor of Germany but with a much smaller margin for her Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Along with its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), the CDU collectively lost 8.5 percent of its vote share compared to the previous election in 2013. One million ex-CDU/CSU voters also shifted allegiance to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD’s strength in the Bundestag is a shock for German politics (there has not been a far-right party in Parliament since 1961) but it reflects broader trends in European politics which have seen a steady rise in far-right groups for the past five years. The vote for the AfD was first and foremost a rejection of the established parties rather than an endorsement of the AfD’s anti-immigrant and nationalist agenda: 60 percent of its voters reportedly chose the party as a means of protest. Worryingly, AfD’s support was the strongest among 30 to 44-year-olds, a sign that it may be present on the political stage for a while.

Blog Post by Donatienne Ruy — September 25, 2017

France Reborn?

Commentary by Donatienne Ruy and Heather A. Conley — June 27, 2017

Demolished: The French Political Landscape of Old is No More

The presidential election appears to have been just the beginning.  Yesterday’s French legislative elections was the coup de grace.  France’s two traditional parties – the Socialist Party and Les Républicains – have been shattered and the two far-left and far-right parties fared worse than expected.  The Socialists in particular, who will lose over 200 seats, have been vanquished.  Benoit Hamon, the Socialist presidential candidate, and Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, the Secretary General of the Socialist Party, lost their seats.

Blog Post by Donatienne Ruy — June 12, 2017