2021 will be key election year around the world

Why Germany, Japan, Israel and Iran bear watching

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) is looking to hang on to power in the nation's fourth ballot in two years. In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani (right) is nearing the end of his two terms and the presidential election that will take
Germany's Christian Democratic Union will elect a new leader next month who will be in pole position to be the nation's next leader. Its declared candidates so far are (from left) Mr Friedrich Merz, Mr Norbert Rottgen and Mr Armin Laschet. In Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has to lead the Liberal Democratic Party into a general election that must be held before Oct 22. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) is looking to hang on to power in the nation's fourth ballot in two years. In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani (right) is nearing the end of his two terms and the presidential election that will take
Germany's Christian Democratic Union will elect a new leader next month who will be in pole position to be the nation's next leader. Its declared candidates so far are Mr Friedrich Merz, Mr Norbert Rottgen and Mr Armin Laschet. In Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (above) has to lead the Liberal Democratic Party into a general election that must be held before Oct 22. PHOTO:AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) is looking to hang on to power in the nation's fourth ballot in two years. In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani (right) is nearing the end of his two terms and the presidential election that will take
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (above) is looking to hang on to power in the nation's fourth ballot in two years. In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani is nearing the end of his two terms and the presidential election that will take place in June moved up in tempo when former defence minister Hossein Dehghan announced he is running for the post. PHOTO: REUTERS
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to hang on to power in the nation's fourth ballot in two years. In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani (above) is nearing the end of his two terms and the presidential election that will take place in June moved up in tempo when former defence minister Hossein Dehghan announced he is running for the post. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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Much of the world's attention has been fixed on the aftermath of last month's US presidential and congressional elections. But a wide range of other eye-catching ballots in the next 12 months around the world will shape not just domestic politics and economics, but also international relations, well into the 2020s.

The outcomes of these elections, including in Iran, Israel, Germany and Japan, are uncertain. Yet what is certain is that there will be a change of leadership in several of these "middle power" states, with several longstanding politicians stepping down, or potentially being voted out.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 22, 2020, with the headline 2021 will be key election year around the world. Subscribe