International Elections in March 2024

Four countries held elections in March. Pakistan on the 9th, Russia on the 17th, Slovakia on the 23rd, and Ukraine on March 31st.

Pakistan

Pakistan held general elections on Feb. 8 this year. However, amidst rigging allegations, an economic crisis, and rise in militance presence, Pakistan moved their presidential election to March 9. Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as president the day after elections, March 10, with a resounding nearly 70% electoral vote. Before winning the presidency, Zardari was involved with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a center-left party currently the second largest in Senate.

Pakistan, the fifth most populated country on the planet, according to Worldometer, has a Federal parliamentary democratic republic meaning Pakistani citizens elect a bicameral legislator comprised of the National Assembly and Senate.

The legislators in the Assembly and Senate elect a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister holds Executive power in the country while the president cannot run the country directly according to the Pakistani Constitution. The Constitution ratified April 10, 1973, affirms that all laws are to conform with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah, according to Islam, Law, and Identity. Although the president is considered a ceremonial position, the president is “Supreme Commander” of Pakistani armed forces.

Pakistan’s Senate is broken into memberships, allowing a maximum of 100 members, 92 elected by legislators and the remaining seats reserved for woman and religious minorities. The National Assembly is similarly structured with 336 members, 266 elected directly by legislators with remaining seats reserved for woman and religious minorities.

Russia

Despite the ongoing Ukrainian War, Russia held presidential elections from March 15-17. Candidates consisted of Vladimir Putin, running as an independent and Nikolay Kharitonov, running as a communist. No surprise, Putin won elections with an 88% popular vote and Kharitonov at almost 5%. Presidential elections are held every six years. The 2024 election was the country’s eighth presidential election since the fall of the Soviet Union. The first occurred on Jane 12, 1991 where Boris Yeltsin won the popular vote by more than half (59%).

Putin’s win ensures he will rule Russia until 2030, making him the longest serving ruler since former Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. Most of Putin’s opposition met an untimely fate as they were either jailed or found dead. Alexey Navalny, a prime example served as Russia’s opposition party leader. A lawyer, corruption activist, and politician, Navalny was jailed on Aug. 4, 2023, serving a 19-year sentence.

He was sent to the Village of Kharp, a Russian arctic jail penal colony. His official cause of death was a blood clot, but many held Putin responsible. Shortly after Kharitonov’s death, protests erupted in Russia where thousands of supports and mourners were detained. Kharitonov’s body was returned to his family, and, on March 1, a farewell ceremony was held in Moscow.

Slovakia

Slovakian elections consist of two rounds if neither candidate receives more than half the required votes. On March 23, Peter Pellegrini, former Slovakia Prime Minister from 2018-2020 ran against Ivan Korčok, former Minister of Foreign and European Affairs from 2020-2022. Since neither candidate won a majority, round two elections will be held on April 6. Candidates have until the last day of January to formally announce their candidacy.

Slovania is a parliamentary republic with a multi-party system. Executive Power rests with the Prime Minister, Parliament controls the legislative power, and the presidential position remains head-of-state.

Once elected, the president’s role is consistent with that of the United States. Slovenia’s president calls elections to the National Assembly, appoints state officials, and works with parliament in negotiating and passing laws. Slovenia ranks mid-tier under the Transparency Corruption Perceptions index. The country ranks 56 out of 100, 100 being extremely corrupt.

Ukraine

Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine remains at war with Russia since Feb. 24, 2022. Elections were scheduled to commence March 31, 2024, but the ongoing war leaves those election dates on insecure grounds. Martial Law is in effect in Ukraine as the war progresses with Russia. Ukraine’s government does not allow elections to occur while under Martial Law.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began his professional career as a comedian staring in the comedy show, “Servant of the People,” where Zelenskyy played a fictional Ukrainian president. The show aired from 2015-2019. After the show’s termination, Zelenskyy took his fictional role of Ukrainian president and made it a reality when he took office on May 20, 2019.

Zelenskyy’s popularity started when he decided to stay in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital when the Russian army first invaded the country in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. Many attribute his comedic personality as a leading factor in taking office.

“Many of the skills that allowed him to be a successful comedian are the ones that allowed him to connect so strongly with Ukrainians and with people around the world,” Patrick Reevell, ABC News journalist said.