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Part of the Politics series |
Elections |
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Politicsportal |
For each de jure and de facto sovereign state and dependent territory an article on elections in that entity has been included and information on the way the head of state, head of government, and the legislature is selected. Merged cells for "head of state" and "head of government" indicate the office is the same for that country; merged cells for "lower house" and "upper house" indicate a unicameral legislature. The linked articles include the results of the elections. For a chronological order, see the electoral calendar.
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Abkhazia | Direct election [1] | Direct election [1] | |||
Afghanistan | Autocrat elected by legislature [2] [3] [4] | Appointment by autocrat [2] | Appointment by autocrat [5] | ||
Åland | President of Finland | Election by legislature | Direct election | ||
Albania | Election by legislature [6] | Election by legislature [6] | Direct election [6] | ||
Algeria | Direct election [7] | Election by legislature [7] | Direct election [7] | Partially elected by electoral college, rest appointed by President [7] | |
American Samoa | President of the United States [8] | Direct election [8] | Direct election [8] | Election by regional governing councils [8] | |
Andorra | The President of France and the Bishop of Urgell are co-heads of state [9] | Election by legislature [9] | Direct election [9] | ||
Angola | Election by legislature [10] | Direct election [10] | |||
Anguilla | Monarchy [11] | Election by legislature [11] | Direct election and appointments [11] | ||
Antigua and Barbuda | Monarchy [12] | Election by legislature [12] | Direct election [12] | Appointments [12] | |
Argentina | Direct election [13] | Direct election [13] | |||
Armenia | Election by Legislature | Election by Legislature | Direct election [14] | ||
Aruba | Monarch of the Netherlands [15] | Election by legislature [15] | Direct election [15] | ||
Australia | Monarchy [16] | Election by legislature [16] | Direct election [16] | ||
Austria | Direct election [17] | Election by legislature [17] | Direct election [17] | Indirect election [17] | |
Azerbaijan | Direct election [18] | Appointment by president [18] | Direct election [18] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Bahamas | Monarchy [19] | Election by legislature [19] | Direct election [19] | Appointments [19] | |
Bahrain | Monarchy [20] | Appointment by monarch [20] | Direct election [20] | Appointments [20] | |
Bangladesh | Election by legislature [21] | Election by legislature [21] | Direct and indirect election [21] | ||
Barbados | Election by legislature [22] | Election by legislature [21] | Direct election [22] | Appointments [22] | |
Belarus | Direct election [23] | Appointment by president [23] | Direct election [23] | Indirect election and appointments [23] | |
Belgium | Monarchy [24] | Election by legislature [24] | Direct election [24] | Indirect election [24] | |
Belize | Monarchy [25] | Election by legislature [25] | Direct election [25] | Appointments [25] | |
Benin | Direct election [26] | Direct election [26] | |||
Bermuda | Monarchy [27] | Election by legislature [27] | Direct election [27] | Appointments [27] | |
Bhutan | Monarchy [28] | Elected by legislature [28] | Direct election [28] | Direct election and appointments [28] | |
Bolivia | Direct election [29] | Direct election [29] | |||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Rotating presidency of directly elected candidates [30] | Appointment by head of state [30] | Direct election [30] | Indirect election [30] | |
Botswana | Election by legislature [31] | Direct election [31] | Hereditary and appointments [31] | ||
Brazil | Direct election [32] | Direct election [32] | Direct election [32] | ||
British Virgin Islands | Monarchy [33] | Election by legislature [33] | Direct election [33] | ||
Brunei | Monarchy [34] | Appointments by head of state [34] | |||
Bulgaria | Direct election [35] | Election by legislature [35] | Direct election [35] | ||
Burkina Faso | Direct election [36] | Appointment by president [36] | Direct election [36] | ||
Burma see Myanmar | |||||
Burundi | Direct election [37] | Direct election and co-option [37] | Indirect election [37] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Cabo Verde see Cape Verde | |||||
Cambodia | Monarch elected by Royal Council [38] | Election by lower house of legislature [38] | Direct election [38] | Indirect election and appointments [38] | |
Cameroon | Direct election [39] | Appointment by president [39] | Direct election [39] | Indirect election and appointments [39] | |
Canada | Monarchy [40] | Election by lower house of legislature [40] | Direct election [40] | Appointments [40] | |
Cape Verde | Direct election [41] | Appointment by president [41] | Direct election [41] | ||
Cayman Islands | Monarchy [42] | Election by legislature [42] | Direct election and appointments [42] | ||
Central African Republic | Direct election [43] | Appointment by president [44] | Direct election [43] | ||
Chad | Direct election [45] | Appointment by president [45] | Direct election [45] | ||
Chile | Direct election [46] | Direct election [46] | |||
China | Election by legislature [47] | Appointment by head of state [47] | Indirect election [47] | ||
Colombia | Direct election [48] | Direct election [48] | Direct election [48] | ||
Comoros | Direct election [49] | Direct and indirect election [49] | |||
Congo (Brazzaville) see Republic of the Congo | |||||
Congo (Kinshasa) see Democratic Republic of the Congo | |||||
Cook Islands | Monarchy [50] | Election by legislature [50] | Direct election [50] | ||
Costa Rica | Direct election [51] | Direct election [51] | |||
Côte d'Ivoire | Direct election [52] | Appointment by president [52] | Direct election [52] | ||
Croatia | Direct election [53] | Election by legislature [53] | Direct election [53] | ||
Cuba | Election by legislature [54] | Direct election [54] | |||
Curaçao | Monarch of the Netherlands [55] | Election by legislature [55] | Direct election [55] | ||
Cyprus | Direct election [56] | Direct election [56] | |||
Czech Republic | Direct election [57] | Appointment by president [57] | Direct election [57] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Direct election [58] | Appointment by president [58] | Direct election [58] | Indirect election [58] | |
Denmark | Monarchy [59] | Election by legislature [59] | Direct election [59] | ||
Djibouti | Direct election [60] | Appointment by president [60] | Direct election [60] | ||
Dominica | Election by legislature [61] | Appointment by president [61] | Direct election and appointments [61] | ||
Dominican Republic | Direct election [62] | Direct election [62] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
East Timor | Direct election [63] | Election by legislature [63] | Direct election [63] | ||
Ecuador | Direct election [64] | Direct election [64] | |||
Egypt | Direct election [65] | Appointment by president [65] | Direct election and appointments [65] | ||
El Salvador | Direct election [66] | Direct election [66] | |||
Equatorial Guinea | Direct election [67] | Appointment by president [67] | Direct election [67] | Direct election and appointments [67] | |
Eritrea | Election by legislature [68] | Direct and indirect election [68] | |||
Estonia | Election by legislature and/or electoral college [69] | Appointment by president [69] | Direct election [69] | ||
Eswatini | Monarchy [70] | Appointment by monarch [70] | Election by traditional local councils and appointments [70] | Election by lower house and appointments [70] | |
Ethiopia | Election by legislature [71] | Election by legislature [71] | Direct election [71] | Indirect election [71] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Falkland Islands | Monarchy [72] | Election by legislature [72] | Direct election and appointments [72] | ||
Faroe Islands | Monarch of Denmark [73] | Election by legislature [73] | Direct election [73] | ||
Federated States of Micronesia see Micronesia | |||||
Fiji | Election by legislature [74] | Appointment by president [74] | Direct election [74] | ||
Finland | Direct election [75] | Election by legislature [75] | Direct election [75] | ||
France | Direct election [76] | Appointment by president [76] | Direct election [76] | Indirect election [76] | |
French Polynesia | President of France [77] | Election by legislature [77] | Direct election [77] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Gabon | Direct election [78] | Appointment by president [78] | Direct election [78] | Indirect election [78] | |
Gambia | Direct election [79] | Direct election and appointments [79] | |||
Georgia | Direct election [80] | Election by legislature [80] | Direct election [80] | ||
Germany | Election by electoral college [81] | Election by legislature [81] | Direct election [81] | Representation of state governments [81] | |
Ghana | Direct election [82] | Direct election [82] | |||
Gibraltar | Monarchy [83] | Election by legislature [83] | Direct and indirect election [83] | ||
Greece | Election by legislature [84] | Election by legislature [84] | Direct election [84] | ||
Greenland | Monarch of Denmark [85] | Election by legislature [85] | Direct election [85] | ||
Grenada | Monarchy [86] | Election by legislature [86] | Direct election [86] | Appointment [86] | |
Guam | President of the United States [87] | Direct election [87] | Direct election [87] | ||
Guatemala | Direct election [88] | Direct election [88] | |||
Guernsey | Monarchy [89] | Election by legislature [89] | Direct election [89] | ||
Guinea | Direct election [90] | Appointment by president [90] | Direct election [90] | ||
Guinea-Bissau | Direct election [91] | Appointment by president [91] | Direct election [91] | ||
Guyana | Election by legislature [92] | Direct election [92] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Haiti | Direct election [93] | Appointment by president [94] | Direct election [93] | ||
Honduras | Direct election [95] | Direct election [95] | |||
Hong Kong | Election by election committee followed by appointment by state council [96] | Election by election committee followed by appointment by state council [96] | Direct election and indirect election [96] | ||
Holy See see Vatican City | |||||
Hungary | Election by legislature [97] | Election by legislature [97] | Direct election [97] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Iceland | Direct election [98] | Election by legislature [98] | Direct election [98] [99] | ||
India | Election by electoral college [100] | Election by legislature [100] | Direct election [100] | Indirect election [100] | |
Indonesia | Direct election [101] | Direct election [101] | |||
Iran | Election by Assembly of Experts [102] | Direct election [102] | Direct election and appointment [102] | ||
Iraq | Election by legislature [103] | Election by legislature [103] | Direct election [103] | ||
Ireland | Direct election [104] | Election by lower house of legislature [104] | Direct election [104] | Election by functional constituencies and appointment [104] | |
Isle of Man | Monarchy [105] | Election by legislature [105] | Direct election [105] | Indirect election/ex officio [105] | |
Israel | Election by legislature [106] | Appointment by president [107] | Direct election [106] | ||
Italy | Election by legislature [108] | Appointment by president [108] | Direct election [108] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Jamaica | Monarchy [109] | Election by lower house of legislature [109] | Direct election [109] | Appointment [109] | |
Japan | Monarchy [110] | Election by lower house of legislature [110] | Direct election [110] | ||
Jersey | Monarchy [111] | Election by legislature [111] | Direct election [111] | ||
Jordan | Monarchy [112] | Appointment by monarch [112] | Direct election [112] | Appointment by monarch [112] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Kazakhstan | Direct election [113] | Appointment by president [113] | Direct and indirect election [113] | Indirect election and appointments [113] | |
Kenya | Direct election [114] | Direct election and appointments [114] | Direct election [114] | ||
Kiribati | Direct election [115] | Direct election and appointments [115] | |||
Korea, North see North Korea | |||||
Korea, South see South Korea | |||||
Kosovo | Election by legislature [116] | Election by legislature [116] | Direct election [116] | ||
Kuwait | Monarchy [117] | Appointment by monarch [117] | Direct election and appointments [117] | ||
Kyrgyzstan | Direct election [118] | Election by legislature [118] | Direct election [118] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Laos | Election by legislature [119] | Election by legislature [119] | Direct election [119] | ||
Latvia | Election by legislature [120] | Appointment by president [120] | Direct election [120] | ||
Lebanon | Election by legislature [121] | Appointment by president [121] | Direct election [121] | ||
Lesotho | Monarchy [122] | Election by lower house of legislature [122] | Direct election [122] | Appointments [122] | |
Liberia | Direct election [123] | Direct election [123] | Direct election [123] | ||
Libya | Head of Presidential Council [124] | Direct election [125] | |||
Liechtenstein | Monarchy [126] | Election by legislature [126] | Direct election [126] | ||
Lithuania | Direct election [127] | Appointment by president [127] | Direct election [127] | ||
Luxembourg | Monarchy [128] | Election by legislature [128] | Direct election [128] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Macau | Election by election committee [129] | Election by election committee [129] | Direct election, indirect election, and appointments [129] | ||
Madagascar | Direct election [130] | Election by lower house of legislature [130] | Direct election [130] | Indirect election and appointments [130] | |
Malawi | Direct election [131] | Direct election [131] | |||
Malaysia | Election by the rulers of the Malay states [132] | Election by lower house of legislature [132] | Direct election [132] | Indirect election and appointments [132] | |
Maldives | Direct election [133] | Direct election [133] | |||
Mali | Direct election [134] | Appointment by president [134] | Direct election [134] | ||
Malta | Election by legislature | Appointment by president | Direct election | ||
Marshall Islands | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
Mauritania | Direct election | Direct election | Indirect election | ||
Mauritius | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
Mexico | Direct election | Direct election | Direct election | ||
Micronesia | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
Moldova | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Monaco | Monarchy | Direct election | |||
Mongolia | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Montenegro | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Montserrat | Monarchy [135] | Election by legislature [135] | Direct election [135] | ||
Morocco | Monarchy | Appointment by monarch | Direct election | Indirect election and election by functional groups | |
Mozambique | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Myanmar | Election by legislature | Direct election and appointments |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Nagorno Karabakh | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Namibia | Direct election [136] | Direct election [136] | Indirect election [136] | ||
Nauru | Election by legislature [137] | Direct election [137] | |||
Nepal | Indirect election [138] | Election by legislature [138] | Direct election [138] | Indirect election and appointments [138] | |
Netherlands | Monarchy [139] | Election by legislature [139] | Direct election [139] | Indirect election [139] | |
New Caledonia | President of France [140] | Election by legislature [140] | Indirect election [140] | ||
New Zealand | Monarchy [141] | Election by legislature [141] | Direct election [141] | ||
Nicaragua | Direct election [142] | Direct election and ex officio [142] | |||
Niger | Direct election [143] | Appointment by president [143] | Direct election [143] | ||
Nigeria | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Niue | Monarchy [144] | Election by legislature [144] | Direct election [144] | ||
Norfolk Island | Monarchy [145] | Appointment by monarch [145] | Direct election [145] | ||
North Korea | Elected by legislature [146] | Direct election | |||
North Macedonia | Direct election [147] | Election by legislature [147] | Direct election [147] | ||
Northern Cyprus | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Northern Mariana Islands | President of the United States [148] | Direct election [148] | Direct election [148] | ||
Norway | Monarchy | Direct election |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Oman | Monarchy [149] | Indirect election [149] | Appointments [149] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Pakistan | Election by legislature | Direct election | Indirect election | ||
Palau | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Palestine | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Panama | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Papua New Guinea | Monarchy [150] | Election by legislature [150] | Direct election [150] | ||
Paraguay | Direct election | Direct election | |||
People's Republic of China see China | |||||
Peru | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Philippines | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Pitcairn Islands | Monarchy [151] | Direct election [151] | Direct election and appointment [151] | ||
Poland | Direct election | Appointment by president | Direct election | ||
Portugal | Direct election | Appointment by president [152] | Direct election | ||
Puerto Rico | President of the United States [153] | Direct election [153] | Direct election [153] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Qatar | Monarchy [154] | Appointed by monarch [154] | Appointed by monarch [154] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | |||||
Republic of China see Taiwan | ||||||
Republic of the Congo | Direct election | Direct election | Indirect election | |||
Romania | Direct election [155] | Appointed by president [155] | Direct election [155] | |||
Russia | Direct election | Direct election | Indirect election and appointments | |||
Rwanda | Direct election [156] | Appointment by president [156] | Direct election and appointments [156] | Indirect election and appointments [156] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Election by legislature [157] | Appointment by president [158] | Direct election [159] | ||
Saint Helena | Monarchy [160] | Appointment by monarch [160] | Direct election and appointments [160] | ||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Monarchy [161] | Election by legislature [161] | Direct election and appointments [161] | ||
Saint Lucia | Monarchy | Direct election | Appointments | ||
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | President of France [162] | Election by legislature [162] | Direct election [162] | ||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Monarchy | Direct election and appointments | |||
Samoa | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
San Marino | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
São Tomé and Príncipe | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Saudi Arabia | Monarchy [163] | Appointment by monarch [163] | |||
Senegal | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Serbia | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Seychelles | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Sierra Leone | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Singapore | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Sint Maarten | Monarch of the Netherlands [164] | Election by legislature [164] | Direct election [164] | ||
Slovakia | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Slovenia | Direct election | Direct election | Representation of interest groups | ||
Solomon Islands | Monarchy [165] | Election by legislature [165] | Direct election [165] | ||
Somalia | Direct election | Transition | |||
Somaliland | Direct election | Direct election | Traditional leaders | ||
South Africa | Election by lower house of legislature [166] | Direct election [166] | Indirect election [166] | ||
South Korea | Direct election | Direct election | |||
South Ossetia | Direct election | Direct election | |||
South Sudan | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Spain | Monarchy | Election by legislature | Direct election | Direct and indirect election | |
Sri Lanka | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Sudan | Direct election | Appointments due to transition | Indirect election | ||
Suriname | Election by electoral college | Direct election | |||
Sweden | Monarchy [167] | Election by legislature [167] | Direct election [167] | ||
Switzerland | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
Syria | Direct election | Appointment by president | Direct election |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Taiwan | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Tajikistan | Direct election | Direct election | Indirect election and appointments | ||
Tanzania | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Thailand | Monarchy | Election by legislature | Direct election | Direct election and appointments | |
Timor-Leste see East Timor | |||||
Togo | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Tokelau | Monarchy [168] | Rotation of village leaders [168] | Direct election [168] | ||
Tonga | Monarchy | Partially direct election, partially by limited suffrage, partially ex officio | |||
Transnistria | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Trinidad and Tobago | Election by legislature | Direct election | Appointments | ||
Tunisia | Direct election | Election by legislature | Direct election | ||
Turkey | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Turkmenistan | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Turks and Caicos Islands | Monarchy [169] | Election by legislature [169] | Direct election [169] | ||
Tuvalu | Monarchy [170] | Election by legislature [170] | Direct election [170] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Uganda | Direct election [171] | Direct election and appointments [171] | |||
Ukraine | Direct election [172] | Election by legislature [172] | Direct election [172] | ||
United Arab Emirates | Indirect election by heads of constituent states [173] | Indirect election by heads of constituent states [173] | Appointments and indirect election [173] | ||
United Kingdom | Monarchy [174] | Election by legislature [174] | Direct election [174] | Appointments, hereditary peers, and indirect election [174] | |
United States | Indirect election, Election by the 50 States using their electoral college [175] | Direct election [175] | |||
Uruguay | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Uzbekistan | Direct election | Direct election | Indirect election and appointments |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Vanuatu | Election by electoral college [176] | Election by legislature [176] | Direct election [176] | ||
Vatican City | Monarch elected by college of cardinals [177] | Appointment by monarch [177] | Appointment by monarch [177] | ||
Venezuela | Direct election | Direct election | |||
Vietnam | Election by legislature | Direct election | |||
Virgin Islands | President of the United States [178] | Direct election [178] | Direct election |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Wallis and Futuna | President of France [179] | Appointment by president [179] | Direct election [179] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Yemen | Direct election [180] | Appointment by president [180] | Direct election [180] | Appointment by president [180] |
Country | Head of state | Head of government | Legislature | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower house | Upper house | ||||
Zambia | Direct election [181] | Mostly direct election, some appointments [181] | |||
Zimbabwe | Direct election [182] | Direct election [182] | Mix of direct and indirect election [182] |
A unitary state is a (sovereign) state governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. The central government may create or abolish administrative divisions. Such units exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate. Although political power may be delegated through devolution to regional or local governments by statute, the central government may alter the statute, to override the decisions of devolved governments or expand their powers.
Elections in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic are regularly held by the government-in-exile at a national, regional and local level. Elections are considered to be held under a non-partisan participatory democratic regime, as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and the Polisario Front structures are parallel.
A constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) was first promulgated in 1976, but it has been revised several times since then. The last major redrafting came in 1991, but this version was further changed by the Sahrawi National Council — the SADR's parliament in exile — in 1995 and 1999.
The Sahrawi National Council or Sahrawi Parliament is the legislature of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Its structure and competences are guided by the Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The present speaker since 2020 is Hamma Salama.
The politics of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic refers to politics of the Polisario Front's proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a country in North Africa with limited recognition by other states, controlling parts of the Western Sahara region.
The coat of arms of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a symbol created by the Polisario Front, the national liberation movement of Western Sahara. The Polisario Front proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on February 27, 1976, and both the flag and the coat of arms were adopted as state symbols.
Elections to the Sahrawi National Council were held between 17 and 19 February 2008. More than 126 candidates competed for the 53 seats in the Council, the unicameral legislature of the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Council was elected for a period of three years. The elections were only held in the Free Zone of Western Sahara and in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, the rest of Western Sahara being under the de facto administration of Morocco. As stipulated in the Sahrawi constitution, the renewal of the Council occurred after the previous Council was dissolved following the 12th Congress of the Polisario Front, which took place two months earlier between 14 and 21 December 2007. First-time MPs represented 61.53% of those elected. The percentage of young people in the new Council stood at 57.67%, while women gained 34.61% of seats, thanks in part to a quota system. Mahfoud Ali Beiba was reelected Speaker of the Council on 27 February 2008.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic:
A democratic republic is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a republic and a democracy. As a cross between two similar systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, also known as the Sahrawi Republic and Western Sahara, is a partially recognized state, located in the western Maghreb, which claims the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, but controls only the easternmost one-fifth of that territory. It is recognized by 44 UN member states and South Ossetia. Between 1884 and 1975, Western Sahara was known as Spanish Sahara, a Spanish colony. The SADR is one of the two African states in which Spanish is a significant language, the other being Equatorial Guinea.
Women in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic are women who were born in, who live in, or are from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in the region of the Western Sahara or the Sahrawi refugee camps. In Sahrawi society, the women share responsibilities at every level of its community and social organization. Article 41 of the Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic ensures that the state will pursue "the promotion of women and [their] political, social and cultural participation, in the construction of society and the country's development".
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic–Spain relations are the current and historical relations between the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Spain.
The 16th Congress of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia El Hamra and Río de Oro was held in the Dajla refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria between 13 and 22 January 2023 to renovate the governing bodies of the Polisario Front and establish the movement's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term.
The 13th Congress of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia El Hamra and Río de Oro was held in Tifariti between 15 and 22 December 2011 to renovate the governing bodies of the Polisario Front and establish the movement's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term.
Legislative elections were held in the Sahrawi Republic on 8–9 April 2023 to elect 50 of the 51 members of the Sahrawi National Council, the unicameral parliament of the SADR.
an autocratic political system that eschews democracy
The shura held outside Quetta unanimously elected Mullah Mansour as the new emir of the Taliban
Article 51: The Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO shall be ex officio the President of the Republic. He/she shall be elected by the General Congress of the Frente POLISARIO by secret and direct suffrage.
Article 53: The President of the Republic shall appoint the Prime Minister and shall terminate his/her functions.
Article 79: Members of the National Council shall be elected by direct and secret suffrage once between two Congresses.