Elections to Watch in 2010

From a popular uprising in Iran to a political sea change in Japan to democracy on a massive scale in India, national elections provided some of the most memorable moments of 2009. Here are 10 to watch in the coming year.

BY JOSHUA KEATING | JANUARY 6, 2010

HLA HLA HTAY/AFP/Getty Images

UKRAINE

Type: presidential

Date: January 17

What to watch: What a difference five years makes. In 2005, current Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko took power in a popular uprising known as the Orange Revolution, defeating the Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovych after a disputed first-round result. But Yushchenko has had less success as a president than as a revolutionary.A faltering economy and ongoing corruption scandals have left Ukraine with the least popular government on Earth.

The president is trailing badly to Yanukovych and his one-time Orange ally Yulia Tymoshenko. In another odd twist, the one-time nationalist firebrand Tymoshenko has made nice with Vladimir Putin since the election and is now said to be the Kremlin's preferred choice. Interference by Russia in the event of a disputed election is another concern.

 SUBJECTS:
 

Joshua Keating is associate editor at Foreign Policy.

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ALEXKYIV

3:30 PM ET

January 7, 2010

a few corrections

JOSHUA KEATING wrote "A faltering economy and ongoing corruption scandals have left Ukraine with the least popular government on Earth"

dear author, maybe you shouldn't write such overstating conclusions right after seeing avatar, star wars or lord of war?

the least popular figure among ukrainian's and the west is not government but incumbent president yushchenko governed by "no holds barred" policy in attempt to undermine any prime minister's tymoshenko efforts to curb economic crisis repercussions

yes, we're all sick and tired with political infighting but hopefully it will come to an end after run-off in 7th february

can't also agree with "ongoing corruption scandals" assertion - yes, we've some but only on wednesday's and for the most part on our beloved north neighbor tv "news"

in regard to nice relationship with russia, have you noticed that there was no such thing as new years eve gas crisis?

anyway best wishes to you from kyivan journalist (planet earth)
hope, ill manage to write an article to fp about aftermath of our elections

 

PJK

9:24 AM ET

January 8, 2010

You forgot Venezuela

They're having legislative elections - national, state, and local - in 2010. The Legislative Assembly is currently dominated entirely by chavistas after the opposition boycotted the last legislative elections, in retrospect not a great idea. Will be interesting to see how much support the opposition gets this time around.

 

FERNANDOWALLS

3:06 PM ET

January 16, 2010

It's not all

Mr. Yushchenko and Ms. Tymoshenko have gone from being allies during the Orange Revolution to sustaining a rivalry that has grown increasingly bitter over the past few months.
Mr. Yushchenko also slammed plans reportedly discussed by Ms. Tymoshenko's and Mr. Yanukovych's parties this month to have the president elected by parliament rather than by popular vote as "an unconstitutional coup."
Thanks for original pics