{"id":10680,"date":"2026-04-05T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T07:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/uluslararasi-secim-bulteni-2026-mart-secim-dosyasi\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T10:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:39:07","slug":"international-election-bulletin-2026-march-election-file","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/international-election-bulletin-2026-march-election-file\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERNATIONAL ELECTION BULLETIN 2026 \/ MARCH ELECTION FILE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Elections Held \u2013 Political System Summary \u2013 Assessment<\/em><\/p>\n

This bulletin summarizes, in chronological order, the national and notable sub-national elections held in March 2026 as of 31 March 2026.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

NEPAL<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

House of Representatives Election | 5 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong><\/p>\n

National Parliament<\/td>\n

Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Federal parliamentary republic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gen Z mobilization \u2013 Rise of new political actors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

The House of Representatives election held in Nepal on 5 March 2026 constituted a noteworthy example in terms of the political participation of young voters and the renewal of parliamentary representation. The number of registered voters was announced as 18,903,689. In the proportional representation vote, 11,280,617 voters cast ballots; turnout stood at 59.67%. Of these votes, 10,835,025 were recorded as valid and 445,592 as invalid\/blank. As a result of the election, the centrist-reformist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Balendra Shah, won 182 seats in the 275-seat House of Representatives, securing a majority sufficient to form a government alone. The centre-left Nepali Congress ranked second with 38 seats, while other parties remained at a more limited level of representation. This majority obtained by the RSP is significant because it marks the first time since 1999 that a party in Nepal has reached a parliamentary arithmetic capable of forming a government without the need for a coalition.<\/p>\n

Nepal adopted a parliamentary system based on the principles of a federal democratic republic under the 2015 Constitution. The Federal Parliament is bicameral: the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The House of Representatives consists of 275 members; 165 members are elected under a single-member constituency majority system, while 110 members are elected through a nationwide proportional representation system. The House of Representatives occupies a central position in the formation of the government, the conduct of legislative activities, the budgetary process and parliamentary oversight of the executive. For this reason, the 2026 elections should be assessed not only in terms of party balances, but also in terms of the executive\u2019s parliamentary base and legislative capacity.<\/p>\n

Balendra Shah\u2019s attainment of a national-level majority as a former rap artist and an actor coming from local government is one of the distinguishing features of the election. In the election held after the 2025 protests, in which the younger generation of voters played a particularly visible role, the RSP\u2019s achievement of a majority shows that the influence of young voters was reflected in parliamentary representation through the constitutional electoral mechanism.<\/p>\n

In terms of election observation, ANFREL\u2019s findings (Asian Network for Free Elections) indicate that the process was generally peaceful and orderly; however, shortcomings were identified in areas such as observer access and accessibility for voters with disabilities. While these findings do not eliminate the general legitimacy of the elections, they indicate the need to strengthen election administration, polling-station access and election observation standards in Nepal.<\/p>\n

In September 2025, the Gen Z protests in Nepal, which began in response to the social media ban and public administration, resulted in casualties following intervention by security forces. In the investigation conducted after the elections in connection with these events, Nepal\u2019s former prime minister and leader of the Communist Party of Nepal, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, was taken into police custody on 28 March 2026. The allegations against Oli are framed around the failure to prevent the deaths during the protests and the possible negligence, oversight or command responsibility of the executive authority.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

COLOMBIA<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Legislative Election | 8 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong><\/p>\n

National Parliament<\/td>\n

Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presidential system<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

8 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fragmented composition in the Colombian Congress will complicate the reform agenda<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

The legislative elections held in Colombia on 8 March 2026 showed that the fragmented structure of representation in Congress continued. Turnout was 50.62%; 20,900,614 of 41,287,084 registered voters cast ballots. The number of valid votes was recorded as 18,806,189, invalid votes as 573,572 and unmarked ballots as 495,519. The Colombian Congress is a bicameral legislature with a total of 284 seats, consisting of the 102-member Senate and the 182-member House of Representatives. In the Senate, Pacto Hist\u00f3rico ranked first with 25 seats, while the Democratic Center Party obtained 17, the Liberal Party 13, the Green Alliance 10, the Conservative Party 10, the Party of the U 9 and Radical Change 7 seats. In the House of Representatives, the Democratic Center Party won 32 seats, the Liberal Party 31 and Pacto Hist\u00f3rico 29. This distribution shows that no political bloc achieved a congressional majority on its own.<\/p>\n

Colombia is a unitary presidential republic under the 1991 Constitution. The president is both head of state and head of the executive; legislative power is exercised by the bicameral Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the presidential system, the executive does not depend on the confidence of Congress; however, sufficient legislative support in Congress is required for bills, the budget and the reform agenda.<\/p>\n

In terms of party balances, Pacto Hist\u00f3rico is a centre-left bloc close to President Gustavo Petro\u2019s line and stands out with social reforms, combating inequality, and regulations concerning health and labour. The Democratic Center Party is positioned on the centre-right and is defined by its approach to security policy, public order and a private-sector-oriented economy. While the Liberal Party is located on the centre-left and the Conservative Party on the centre-right, the Green Alliance stands out on environmental and democratic reform issues, whereas the Party of the U and Radical Change are characterized by more pragmatic lines.<\/p>\n

These results indicate that legislative majorities in Colombia will be formed through issue-based cooperation rather than permanent blocs. With regard to social reforms, the health system, labour, security policies and constitutional debates, the executive\u2019s room for manoeuvre will depend on its ability to build sustainable majorities in Congress.<\/p>\n

The legislative elections held in Colombia on 8 March 2026 did not change the government. Under the presidential system, the executive is formed by the president; ministers are appointed by the president, not by Congress. Therefore, the main result of the elections was not the formation of a government, but the emergence of the limits of the current executive\u2019s legislative support in Congress.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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CONGO<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Presidential Election | 15 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong><\/p>\n

National presidential election<\/td>\n

Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presidential system<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kongo\u2019da Sassou Nguesso iktidar\u0131 devam ediyor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

The presidential election held in the Republic of the Congo on 15 March 2026 was a process in which continuity in the executive office was confirmed through the constitutional electoral procedure. According to the finalized results, incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso was re-elected with approximately 94.9% of the vote. His closest rival, Mavoungou Zinga Mabio, remained at approximately 1.4\u20131.5%, while the other candidates received limited vote shares. Turnout was announced in the official results at approximately 85%. The Constitutional Court finalized the election result on 28 March 2026.<\/p>\n

Following the 2015 Constitution, the Republic of the Congo is governed by a presidential system with extensive executive powers. The president is both head of state and head of the executive. Although the office of prime minister was re-established by the 2015 constitutional arrangement, the political centre of gravity of the executive is the presidency. The legislature is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. Within this structure, the presidential election is of central importance not only for determining the head of state, but also for the constitutional basis of executive power.<\/p>\n

The president is elected directly by the people. The electoral system is based on a majority principle; in order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of valid votes. If this threshold is not met in the first round, a second round is held. In the 2026 election, Denis Sassou Nguesso was elected in the first round with a very high vote share, and therefore no second round was held. The president\u2019s term of office is five years. The removal of the previous age and term limits by the 2015 constitutional amendment provided the constitutional basis for Sassou Nguesso\u2019s renewed candidacy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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VIETNAM<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Legislative Election | 15 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong>
\nParliamentary Elections \/ Local People\u2019s Councils<\/td>\n		Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

One-party socialist republic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vietnam\u2019da tek parti-devlet d\u00fczeni sand\u0131kla<\/p>\n

teyit edildi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

Vietnam is a one-party state governed under a socialist republic model, with the Communist Party of Vietnam at the centre of the political sphere. On 15 March 2026, elections were held for the 16th National Assembly and for the local People\u2019s Councils for the 2026\u20132031 term. Turnout stood at 99.70%; 76,198,214 of 76,423,940 registered voters cast ballots. The election date was brought forward by a decision shortening the current legislative term; the process came immediately after the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the re-election of T\u00f4 L\u00e2m as party general secretary. For this reason, the election represented less a change of power than a confirmation of the cadres and priorities with which the party-state order would be carried into the new period. Although the National Assembly is constitutionally defined as the highest representative body of the people and the highest organ of state power, in the one-party structure strategic political direction and senior personnel preferences are essentially shaped within the party. In the 2026 election, 500 seats were contested across 182 constituencies; the candidate pool included 864 names. Only a limited portion of these consisted of candidates who were not party members. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Vietnam Fatherland Front play a decisive role in the candidate nomination process; this shows that electoral competition functions less as a mechanism producing a multi-party alternation of power and more as an institutional mechanism managing intra-regime representation and cadre renewal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The main actor in political competition was the Communist Party of Vietnam. Following the 14th Congress, the party identified high growth, administrative simplification, reduction of bureaucracy, digital transformation, science and technology investments, and infrastructure initiatives as the main axes of the new period. T\u00f4 L\u00e2m\u2019s line reflects, on the one hand, a developmental approach that accelerates economic decision-making processes and, on the other, a stricter administrative understanding that strengthens state capacity and central coordination. Therefore, the 2026 elections should be read not as ideological competition between parties in the classical sense, but as an instrument for generating social approval for the ruling party\u2019s agenda of reform, discipline and development.<\/p>\n

The official results showed that this dominance also continued in quantitative terms. All 500 seats were filled; the Communist Party of Vietnam maintained its decisive dominance over the Assembly with 482 seats. The turnout rate was announced as extremely high; it was emphasized that women\u2019s representation and the proportion of full-time deputies increased in the new Assembly. At the local level, the elections were conducted within a large-scale administrative mobilization; however, the capacity of independent or self-nominated candidates to be elected remained limited. In terms of electoral procedure, institutional safeguards such as secret voting, counting at polling stations and supervision by the National Election Council are provided; certain representation ratios for women and ethnic minorities are also preserved in candidate lists. Nevertheless, because the candidate nomination process is subject to strict institutional filters and the overwhelming majority of the candidate pool consists of party members, the debate on electoral credibility in the Vietnamese case is shaped not around free multi-party competition, but around the extent to which intra-system representation is managed in an inclusive and controlled manner.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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FRANCE<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Municipal Elections | 15 March 2026 \/ 22 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local \/ Municipal<\/td>\n

Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Strong local government tradition under a semi-presidential system<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 March 2026 \/ 22 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues
\n<\/strong>Local uncertainties \u2013 resilience of centre\/left blocs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

Municipal elections were held in France on 15 and 22 March 2026. Through these elections, municipal councils across the country were renewed and the local representative structure necessary for determining mayors was formed. In France, the mayor is not elected directly by the people; voters elect the members of the municipal council, and the mayor is then chosen from among those council members. The term of office is six years. For Turkish readers, the French concept of commune can generally be understood as a \u201cmunicipality\/local administrative unit\u201d; accordingly, there are approximately 35,000 municipal units in the country, including very small settlements.<\/p>\n

France is a unitary state governed under a semi-presidential system. Although the president and the central administration hold a strong position, municipalities have significant powers in relation to local public services, urban management, zoning, transport, local infrastructure and social services. For this reason, municipal elections mean not only the selection of local administrators, but also the renewal of local democratic representation and of the decision-making bodies responsible for municipal services.<\/p>\n

The electoral system varies according to the population of the municipality, but is essentially based on a two-round list system. In most municipalities, voters cast ballots not for individual candidates but for candidate lists. In order to provide the winning list with a governable majority in the municipal council, an additional seat advantage is granted. This system, known in French law as the prime majoritaire, may be rendered in English as a \u201cmajority bonus\u201d. In simple terms, it facilitates the winning list\u2019s attainment of a majority capable of electing the mayor and governing the municipality. The remaining seats are then distributed among the other lists according to their vote shares. Thus, the system seeks to ensure both governmental stability and the representation of different lists in the council.<\/p>\n

The election results revealed differing political balances in major cities. In Paris, Socialist Emmanuel Gr\u00e9goire won the municipal administration; in Marseille, Beno\u00eet Payan; and in Lyon, Green candidate Gr\u00e9gory Doucet. In these three large cities, candidates from the right and far-right lines were unable to take over municipal government. By contrast, in Nice the right\/far-right line supported by Eric Ciotti succeeded; \u00c9douard Philippe was re-elected in Le Havre, while centrist Thomas Cazenave stood out in Bordeaux. Turnout was approximately 57% in both rounds; a second round was held in approximately 1,500\u20131,600 municipalities where a definitive result was not obtained in the first round.<\/p>\n

This picture shows that municipal elections in France do not produce a single national result. While left, ecologist and centrist candidates preserved strong positions in large metropolitan areas, alliances close to the right and far right achieved success at the level of local government in some cities. Therefore, the expression \u201cresistance to the right\/far right\u201d can be used particularly in the sense that municipal government in major cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon did not pass to the right\/far-right line. However, examples such as Nice show that this resistance is not absolute and homogeneous across the country.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

GERMANY (BADEN-W\u00dcRTTEMBERG \/ RHE\u0130NLAND-PFALZ)<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

State Parliament Election | 22 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 State Parliament Elections<\/td>\n

Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Federal parliamentary system<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

8 and 22 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues
\n<\/strong>Cem \u00d6zdemir factor \u2013 AfD rise<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Indicator<\/strong><\/td>\nBaden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/strong><\/td>\nRheinland-Pfalz<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Election date<\/strong><\/td>\n8 March 2026<\/td>\n22 March 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First party<\/strong><\/td>\nGreens (B\u00fcndnis 90\/Die Gr\u00fcnen; premier candidate Cem \u00d6zdemir)
\nCentre-left \/ ecologist, 30.2%<\/td>\n		CDU (Christian Democrats; premier candidate Gordon Schnieder)
\nCentre-right, 31.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second party<\/strong><\/td>\nCDU (Christian Democrats; premier candidate Manuel Hagel)
\nCentre-right, 29.7%<\/td>\n		SPD (Social Democrats)
\nCentre-left, 25.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Third party<\/strong><\/td>\nAfD (Alternative for Germany)
\nFar right, 18.8%<\/td>\n		AfD (Alternative for Germany)
\nFar right, 19.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turnout<\/strong><\/td>\n%69,6<\/td>\n%68,5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parliament size<\/strong><\/td>\n157 seats<\/td>\n105 seats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main parties below the threshold<\/strong><\/td>\nFDP (Free Democratic Party) (4.4%), The Left (4.4%)<\/td>\nFDP (Free Democratic Party) (2.1%), Free Voters (Freie W\u00e4hler) (4.2%), The Left (4.4%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coalition government<\/td>\nGreens + CDU = 112 seats<\/td>\nCDU + SPD = 71 seats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In 2026, state elections in Germany are scheduled in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg (8 March), Rhineland-Palatinate (22 March), Saxony-Anhalt (6 September), Berlin (20 September) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (20 September).<\/p>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

Germany is a federal state consisting of 16 L\u00e4nder. Each Land elects its own parliament, and the Land government is formed according to this parliamentary arithmetic. Therefore, state elections are not limited to determining regional governments; they also have indirect effects on the balance of power in the Federal Council, the negotiating capacity of federal parties and political trends across the country. In this respect, the Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate elections are important both in terms of government formation at Land level and in terms of their repercussions for federal politics.<\/p>\n

Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg: Turnout was 69.6%; approximately 5.41 million of around 7.77 million registered voters cast ballots. The number of valid votes relevant to party preference was recorded at approximately 5.37 million, while invalid votes amounted to approximately 32,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fact that the Greens became the leading party in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg can be explained by the candidate profile, the perception of continuity in Land government and the emphasis on economic stability. During the election process, the protection of industry, employment, administrative continuity and governing capacity in times of crisis came to the fore. Cem \u00d6zdemir\u2019s candidacy created a more pragmatic and governance-oriented profile that appealed beyond the Greens\u2019 traditional voter base. This result shows that voter behaviour at Land level can be shaped not only by party identity, but also by the candidate\u2019s executive capacity and reliability.<\/p>\n

In Rhineland-Palatinate, turnout was 68.5%; approximately 2.05 million of around 2.99 million registered voters cast ballots. There were 18,312 invalid party votes in Rhineland-Palatinate. This corresponds to 0.9% of the votes cast. The CDU\u2019s lead in Rhineland-Palatinate is connected to the fatigue of the long-governing social-democratic line and the electorate\u2019s demand for a change in government. This result changed the arithmetic for forming a government in the Land; for the SPD, it also revealed a picture in which its representative strength weakened at regional level. The SPD\u2019s decline in different forms in both L\u00e4nder has increased debates regarding the party\u2019s capacity to preserve its traditional voter base and respond to new social demands. This is also important for coalition negotiations at the federal level and for the search for direction within the party.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The AfD\u2019s rise to third-party status in both L\u00e4nder is one of the most notable results of the elections. This rise shows that economic insecurity, debates on migration and internal security, and dissatisfaction with the existing party system are reflected in electoral behaviour. The increase in the AfD\u2019s vote share particularly in western German L\u00e4nder demonstrates that the party cannot be regarded as a political actor limited only to the eastern L\u00e4nder. Nevertheless, the fact that the AfD remained in opposition shows that coalition options among the centrist parties continue to be decisive in the government formation process.<\/p>\n

When the two elections are assessed together, a twofold tendency can be observed in voter behaviour. On the one hand, governing capacity, economic security and the search for stability are decisive; on the other hand, dissatisfaction with centrist parties expands the AfD\u2019s space for representation. Therefore, the Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate elections show that, alongside government formation at Land level, competition within Germany\u2019s federal party system is also moving toward a more fragmented and negotiation-based structure.<\/p>\n

From the perspective of the Turkish diaspora, the Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg result is also noteworthy. Cem \u00d6zdemir\u2019s attainment of a strong position at the level of Land premier as a politician of Turkish origin shows that actors with a migration background have opportunities for high-level representation within Germany\u2019s political system. However, this does not mean that all historical, religious or political expectations of Turkish or Muslim communities are directly represented. Democratic representation must be evaluated not only by ethnic or cultural origin, but also by the policies defended, institutional priorities and political programme. The rise of the AfD indicates that issues of migration, belonging and social pluralism will continue to retain their importance in German politics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

SERBIA<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Local Elections in 10 Municipalities | 29 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Election level<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local \/ Municipal<\/td>\n

Political system<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parliamentary republic; strong presidential influence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Election date<\/strong><\/p>\n

29 March 2026<\/td>\n

Key issues
\n<\/strong>Ruling advantage \u2013 narrow margins \u2013 election observation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Assessment<\/p>\n

On 29 March 2026, municipal council elections were held in the Serbian local units of Bor, Aran\u0111elovac, Bajina Ba\u0161ta, Kladovo, Knja\u017eevac, Kula, Lu\u010dani, Majdanpek, Smederevska Palanka and Sevojno. A total of 50 lists competed in the elections, in which approximately 248,000 voters were eligible to vote. A total of 169,414 people cast ballots; the number of valid votes was recorded at approximately 165,864, while invalid votes amounted to 3,550. The share of invalid votes among votes cast was approximately 2.1%. According to the initial results, the ruling coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) ranked first in all ten local units where elections were held. However, the fact that results were shaped by narrow margins in some municipalities showed that competition at the local level had increased.<\/p>\n

Serbia is a unitary state based on a parliamentary republic model. The president is elected directly by the people; the government consists of the prime minister and ministers and depends on the confidence of the National Assembly. Nevertheless, in Serbian politics the office of the president has a strong de facto political influence. For this reason, the presentation of ruling lists in local elections under the name of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 is noteworthy in terms of the clarity of the boundaries between the constitutional representative office and party campaigning.<\/p>\n

In local elections, municipal councils are determined on the basis of proportional representation. Voters cast ballots for candidate lists; lists may be submitted by political parties, coalitions or citizens\u2019 groups. The arithmetic of the municipal council is decisive for the formation of the local executive and municipal administration.<\/p>\n

The results differed across local units. While the SNS-led list achieved a clear advantage in some municipalities such as Kladovo and Majdanpek, closer results emerged in Bor, Aran\u0111elovac, Kula and Sevojno. In Bor, the ruling list won 19 seats, while the \u201cBor, na\u0161a odgovornost!\u201d list won 15 seats. In Kula, a youth\/student-supported list emerged as a strong second actor; in Sevojno, the balance of representation between the ruling list and the \u201cUjedinjeni-Sevojno\u201d list was quite close.<\/p>\n

Opposition and alternative lists did not gather under a single umbrella; instead, they appeared in different municipalities in the form of student movements, citizens\u2019 groups and local alliances. \u201cBor, na\u0161a odgovornost!\u201d in Bor, \u201cUjedinjeni za Bajinu Ba\u0161tu\u201d in Bajina Ba\u0161ta, \u201cZvuk pravde \u2013 Zajedno za studente\u201d in Lu\u010dani and the united opposition and youth lists in Smederevska Palanka are the main examples of this diversity.<\/p>\n

From a legal and institutional assessment perspective, the elections were an ordinary electoral process aimed at renewing local councils. However, in its legal opinion dated 6 March 2026, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) indicated the need to strengthen confidence-building mechanisms in electoral legislation and to conduct the reform process in a more inclusive manner. Within this framework, the elections may be assessed as a process in which the ruling coalition preserved its first-place position at the local level, while opposition and local lists increased their representative strength in some municipalities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BIBLIOGRAPHY<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nepal<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Election Commission Nepal. \u201cElection Result \u2013 House of Representatives 2026.\u201d https:\/\/election.gov.np\/en\/page\/result-hor<\/li>\n
  2. ANFREL. \u201cNepal\u2019s 2026 House of Representatives Elections Conducted Peacefully and Orderly; Accessibility and Observer Access Concerns Identified.\u201d https:\/\/anfrel.org\/nepals-2026-house-of-representatives-elections-conducted-peacefully-and-orderly-due-to-visible-security-deployment-accessibility-and-observer-access-concerns-identified\/<\/li>\n
  3. ANFREL. \u201cPre-Election Assessment Mission Report: 2026 House of Representatives Elections in Nepal.\u201d https:\/\/anfrel.org\/pre-election-assessment-mission-report-2026-house-of-representatives-elections-in-nepal\/<\/li>\n
  4. UNDP. \u201cThis time I voted for the new.\u201d https:\/\/www.undp.org\/stories\/time-i-voted-new<\/li>\n
  5. IFES. \u201cElections in Nepal: 2026 General Elections.\u201d https:\/\/www.ifes.org\/tools-resources\/election-snapshots\/elections-nepal-2026-general-elections<\/li>\n
  6. Al Jazeera. \u201cRapper-turned-politician Balen Shah\u2019s RSP heads for poll landslide in Nepal.\u201d https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/3\/8\/rapper-turned-politician-defeats-veteran-leader-in-nepal-election-upset<\/li>\n
  7. Al Jazeera. \u201cNepal\u2019s ex-PM arrested over alleged role in protest crackdown.\u201d https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/3\/28\/nepals-ex-pm-arrested-over-alleged-role-in-protest-crackdown<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Colombia<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Registradur\u00eda Nacional del Estado Civil. \u201cElecciones del Congreso de la Rep\u00fablica 2026.\u201d https:\/\/resultados.registraduria.gov.co\/<\/li>\n
    2. Registradur\u00eda Nacional del Estado Civil. \u201cElecciones al Congreso de la Rep\u00fablica 2026 – proceso oficial.\u201d https:\/\/wapp.registraduria.gov.co\/electoral\/2026\/congreso-de-la-republica\/<\/li>\n
    3. Registradur\u00eda Nacional del Estado Civil. \u201cEn las elecciones de Congreso de 2026 la participaci\u00f3n aument\u00f3 y los votos nulos disminuyeron.\u201d https:\/\/www.registraduria.gov.co\/En-las-elecciones-de-Congreso-de-2026-la-participacion-aumento-y-los-votos.html<\/li>\n
    4. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) PARLINE. \u201cColombia \u2013 Senate: March 2026 Election.\u201d https:\/\/data.ipu.org\/parliament\/CO\/CO-UC01\/election\/CO-UC01-E20260308<\/li>\n
    5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye. \u201cPolitical Outlook of Colombia.\u201d https:\/\/www.mfa.gov.tr\/kolombiya-siyasi-gorunumu.tr.mfa<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Republic of the Congo<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. African Union. \u201cPresidential Election in the Republic of the Congo.\u201d https:\/\/au.int\/en\/pressreleases\/20260330\/presidential-election-republic-congo<\/li>\n
      2. African Union Peace and Security Department. \u201cAnnouncement of the arrival of the African Union Election Observation Mission to the 15 March 2026 Presidential Election in the Republic of Congo.\u201d https:\/\/www.peaceau.org\/en\/article\/announcement-of-the-arrival-of-the-african-union-election-observation-mission-to-the-15-march-2026-presidential-election-in-the-republic-of-congo<\/li>\n
      3. Anadolu Agency. \u201cRepublic of the Congo goes to the polls for the presidential election.\u201d https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/tr\/dunya\/kongo-cumhuriyeti-cumhurbaskani-secimi-icin-sandik-basinda\/3865445<\/li>\n
      4. Reuters. \u201cCongo Republic\u2019s Sassou wins re-election with nearly 95% in tightly controlled vote.\u201d https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/africa\/congo-republic-president-sassou-nguesso-wins-re-election-state-tv-reports-2026-03-17\/<\/li>\n
      5. Associated Press. \u201cPresident Denis Sassou-N\u2019Guesso wins fifth term with court confirmation.\u201d https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congo-election-president-constitutional-court-nguesso-c432bcb46fab80bdc8852f29f6b8bc6e<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Vietnam<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Vietnam News. \u201cResults of 16th National Assembly election announced.\u201d https:\/\/vietnamnews.vn\/politics-laws\/1777839\/results-of-16th-national-assembly-election-announced.html<\/li>\n
        2. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) PARLINE. \u201cViet Nam \u2013 National Assembly: March 2026 Election.\u201d https:\/\/data.ipu.org\/parliament\/VN\/VN-LC01\/election\/VN-LC01-E20260315<\/li>\n
        3. Reuters. \u201cVietnam\u2019s top leader To Lam expands power, new PM elected.\u201d https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/vietnam-parliament-elects-party-leader-lam-new-state-president-2026-04-07\/<\/li>\n
        4. Freedom House. \u201cVietnam: Country Profile.\u201d https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/country\/vietnam<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          France<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Int\u00e9rieur. \u201cMunicipales 2026 \u2013 r\u00e9sultats officiels.\u201d https:\/\/www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr\/municipales2026\/<\/li>\n
          2. Service-Public.fr. \u201cMunicipal elections 2026: the voting system is changing in many municipalities.\u201d https:\/\/www.service-public.gouv.fr\/particuliers\/actualites\/A18432?lang=en<\/li>\n
          3. Anadolu Agency. \u201cElection results in France\u2019s local elections reflected the fragmented picture in the political arena.\u201d https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/tr\/dunya\/fransada-yerel-secimlerde-sandik-sonuclari-siyaset-arenasindaki-parcali-tabloyu-yansitti\/3876106<\/li>\n
          4. Anadolu Agency. \u201cThe first round of local elections will be held in France today.\u201d https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/tr\/dunya\/fransada-bugun-yerel-secimlerin-ilk-turu-duzenlenecek\/3864178<\/li>\n
          5. Le Monde. \u201cFrench municipal elections: Full results in every city, town and village.\u201d https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/en\/france\/article\/2026\/03\/22\/french-municipal-elections-full-results-in-every-city-town-and-village_6751707_7.html<\/li>\n
          6. Le Monde. \u201cFrench municipal elections: The second-round results in key races.\u201d https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/en\/les-decodeurs\/article\/2026\/03\/23\/french-municipal-elections-the-second-round-results-in-key-races_6751709_8.html<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Germany (Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg \/ Rhineland-Palatinate)<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Land Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg \/ Landtag. \u201cPreliminary official result of the 2026 state election.\u201d https:\/\/www.baden-wuerttemberg.de\/de\/service\/presse\/pressemitteilung\/pid\/vorlaeufiges-amtliches-ergebnis-der-landtagswahl-2026<\/li>\n
            2. State Election Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg. \u201cResults of the 2026 state election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg.\u201d https:\/\/www.landtagswahl-bw.de\/ergebnisse-2026<\/li>\n
            3. State Returning Officer Rhineland-Palatinate. \u201cState election 2026: Preliminary result.\u201d https:\/\/www.wahlen.rlp.de\/nachrichten\/nachichtendetailseite\/landtagswahl-2026-vorlaeufiges-ergebnis<\/li>\n
            4. State Returning Officer Rhineland-Palatinate. \u201cFinal result of the 2026 state election is confirmed.\u201d https:\/\/www.wahlen.rlp.de\/nachrichten\/nachichtendetailseite\/endgueltiges-ergebnis-der-landtagswahl-2026-steht-fest<\/li>\n
            5. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. \u201cState election in Baden-Wuerttemberg on 8 March 2026.\u201d https:\/\/www.kas.de\/en\/election-and-social-research-monitor\/detail\/-\/content\/state-election-in-baden-wuerttemberg-on-8-march-2026<\/li>\n
            6. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. \u201cAnalysis of the state election in Rhineland-Palatinate on 22 March 2026.\u201d https:\/\/www.kas.de\/en\/election-and-social-research-monitor\/detail\/-\/content\/analysis-of-the-state-election-in-rhineland-palatinate-on-22-march-2026<\/li>\n
            7. Reuters. \u201cGerman Greens lead Chancellor Merz\u2019s conservatives in state election.\u201d https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/german-greens-lead-chancellor-merzs-conservatives-state-election-2026-03-08\/<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Serbia<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. \u201cCongress to observe local elections in 10 municipalities of Serbia.\u201d https:\/\/www.coe.int\/en\/web\/congress\/-\/congress-to-observe-local-elections-in-10-municipalities-of-serbia<\/li>\n
              2. CRTA. \u201cReport on the Long-Term Observation of the 2026 Local Elections.\u201d https:\/\/crta.rs\/en\/report-on-the-long-term-observation-of-the-2026-local-elections\/<\/li>\n
              3. European Western Balkans. \u201cNarrow victory for ruling SNS amid numerous incidents and irregularities.\u201d https:\/\/europeanwesternbalkans.com\/2026\/03\/30\/narrow-victory-for-ruling-sns-amid-numerous-incidents-and-irregularities\/<\/li>\n
              4. OSCE\/ODIHR. \u201cUrgent Opinion \/ Legal Opinion concerning Serbia\u2019s electoral framework.\u201d https:\/\/odihr.osce.org\/odihr\/662623<\/li>\n
              5. Associated Press. \u201cInternational observers urge violence-free elections after clashes at Serbia vote.\u201d https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/7ade5ea34784d647c1a60684b4a6a196<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                1. Associated Press. \u201cEuropean Union official says reports of violence during Serbia vote unacceptable.\u201d https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/1ef781a3c0441b5e723c9ea3e1482621<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Elections Held \u2013 Political System Summary \u2013 Assessment This bulletin summarizes, in chronological order, the national and notable sub-national elections held in March 2026 as of 31 March 2026.   NEPAL House of Representatives Election | 5 March 2026 Election level National Parliament Political system Federal parliamentary republic Election date 5 March 2026 Key issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[175],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pollings"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10680"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10683,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10680\/revisions\/10683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oybir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}