Asia Elections in 2024

Asia Elections in 2024

December 29, 2023
Asia Elections in 2024
In 2024, a number elections in Asia could have implications for U.S. policy in the region. Scheduled and expected election
dates are listed below in chronological order; snapshots of the key issues for selected elections may be found on the
following page.

Note: The timeline is arranged by scheduled date, or where applicable, the date the election is due. Cambodia’s Legislative election is for the
Upper House of the National Assembly (Senate) only.
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Asia Elections in 2024
Selected Election Snapshots
candidate wins a majority of votes, a runoff will be held in
Bangladesh (Legislative, January 7) Some observers have
June. The new president is slated to take office on October
expressed concern about democratic backsliding in light of
20. (See CRS In Focus IF10247, Indonesia, by Ben Dolven)
the Bangladesh government’s ongoing crackdown on the
opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and others,
South Korea (Legislative, April 10) South Korea is
which has sparked large-scale protests. Although the ruling
scheduled to hold elections for all 300 seats in the National
Awami League (AL) has promised the 2024 election will be
Assembly. Observers say the elections will be an indicator
free and fair, the BNP and 14 other parties are boycotting
of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s political strength. Since
the polls, making an AL victory all but guaranteed. Some
assuming office in 2022 Yoon has more closely aligned
analysts question whether the elections can be considered
South Korea with the United States on many foreign policy
legitimate given these circumstances. The State Department
issues. Yoon’s party, the right-of-center People Power
announced in May 2023 that it will restrict visa issuance for
Party, has fewer than 40% of seats in the unicameral
any Bangladeshis it finds to be undermining the democratic
National Assembly, which is controlled by the left-of-center
election process ahead of scheduled 2024 voting. (See CRS
Minjoo (Democratic) Party. (See CRS In Focus IF10165,
In Focus IF10214, Bangladesh, by Maria A. Blackwood)
South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations, by Mark E.
Manyin and Liana Wong)
Taiwan (Legislative and Presidential, January 13) Voters
will elect the president, vice president, and all 113 members
India (Legislative, expected May-June) The world’s most
of the parliament, the Legislative Yuan (LY). After eight
populous country is set to elect its 18th Lok Sabha (House
years in office, President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic
of the People). The nationally ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
Progressive Party (DPP) is term-limited and ineligible for
(BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enjoyed an
reelection. Three candidates are vying to succeed her,
absolute majority since 2014, expanded its majority in
including her Vice President Lai Ching-te of the DPP, as
2019, and is favored to win another five-year term in
well as Hou Yu-ih of the established opposition party the
power. The BJP faces a coalition of more than two dozen
Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je, former mayor of
opposition parties formed to contest the 2024 elections. The
Taipei and founder of the new (since 2019) Taiwan
coalition is led by the Nehru-Gandhi family’s dynastic
People’s Party. The People’s Republic of China, which
Indian National Congress along with several other high-
claims sovereignty over Taiwan but has never controlled it,
profile opposition leaders and parties. (See CRS In Focus
accuses Lai of seeking Taiwan’s permanent separation from
IF10298, India’s Domestic Political Setting, by K. Alan
China, and warns such a pursuit “signifies war.” In the LY
Kronstadt)
election, the DPP faces the possible loss of the legislative
majority it has held since 2016. (See CRS In Focus
Japan (Ruling Party Leadership, expected September)
IF10275, Taiwan: Political and Security Issues, by Susan
Since 1955, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has
V. Lawrence and Caitlin Campbell)
held power for all but four years. The LDP’s dominance all
but guarantees the LDP’s president is selected as prime
Pakistan (Legislative, February 8) After a six-month delay,
minister by the Lower House of the Diet (parliament).
Pakistan will hold elections for the National Assembly and
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s approval ratings—in the
four provincial assemblies. Former Prime Minister Imran
20%-30% range in late 2023—have fueled speculation that
Khan was removed through a 2022 National Assembly no-
he will face internal challengers in 2024. (See CRS In
confidence vote, a controversial move reportedly instigated
Focus IF10199, U.S.-Japan Relations, coordinated by Mark
in part by the security services, which observers say wield
E. Manyin)
significant undemocratic influence. Khan is not eligible to
run in 2024, but his still-popular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Sri Lanka (Legislative and Presidential, expected
party is competing against the Pakistan Muslim League
September) With presidential elections due by October,
faction of former PM Nawaz Sharif and the Bhutto family’s
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he intends to hold
dynastic Pakistan People’s Party. (See CRS In Focus
both presidential and parliamentary elections this fall.
IF10359, Pakistan’s Domestic Political Setting, by K. Alan
Wickremesinghe became president in 2022 after protests
Kronstadt)
over the government’s handling of the economy forced
former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from power.
Indonesia (Legislative, Presidential, and Local, February
Wickremesinghe has said he will seek re-election, and some
14) Indonesia is the world’s third most populous democracy
observers say he is stifling media and civil society to avoid
and the world’s largest Muslim majority democracy. This
criticism of his handling of the country’s 2022 economic
will be the nation’s fifth direct presidential election since
crisis and subsequent bailout by the International Monetary
the fall of an authoritarian government in 1998; voters also
Fund (IMF). (See CRS In Focus IF10213, Sri Lanka:
will select nearly 20,000 officials to national, state, and
Background and Issues for Congress, by Colin Willett)
district parliaments across the country. President
JokoWidodo is barred by term limits from seeking re-
Colin Willett, Section Research Manager
election, but his son is running for vice president on a ticket
with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. If no presidential
IF12562

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Asia Elections in 2024

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