Parliaments and Crisis: Challenges and Innovations is the new Parliamentary Primer produced by the INTER PARES project, funded by the European Union and delivered by International IDEA. Written in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the Primer looks at how democratic parliaments play a crucial role in making good decisions and protecting citizens’ rights during a crisis.
En busca de perspectivas y análisis multidimensionales se reunieron expertos de varias organizaciones Participación Ciudadana, Naciones Unidas (República Dominicana), Fundación Internacional para Sistemas Electorales (IFES), Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) e IDEA Internacional en un conversatorio sobre cómo la crisis sanitaria propiciada por el COVID-19 influye en los procesos electorales.
Las elecciones pospuestas debido al brote de COVID-19 abarcan todo el mundo. IDEA Internacional actualiza diariamente el calendario de las elecciones, según lo informado por los organismos de gestión electoral y los medios de comunicación. La página incluye análisis e información sobre elecciones pospuestas, elecciones celebradas en medio de COVID-19, cambios en la fecha de elecciones discutidos como resultado de las implicaciones de COVID-19, la influencia de COVID-19 en los preparativos electorales, así como casos destacados de esfuerzos de prevención y mitigación.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this commentary are those of the staff member. This commentary is independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the institutional position of International IDEA, its Board of Advisers or its Council of Member States.
COVID-19 has delayed elections worldwide at an unprecedented rate, which will affect peacebuilding efforts. Germany should support national institutions in developing consultation mechanisms between electoral management bodies, public health authorities and other relevant actors and assist in crisis communication to create spaces for dialogue and to counter disinformation.
By holding National Assembly elections, the Republic of Korea is bucking a global trend. Data collected by International IDEA in its Global Overview of COVID-19: Impact on Elections shows most countries have opted for the deferral of their elections, worried that voting could exacerbate the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on countries and states as to whether to hold or postpone scheduled elections, amid controversies in either case.
Striking a balance between these two choices is not an easy call. Should the fulfilment of the social contract between a government and its citizens come at the expense of endangering their health and lives? Or should concerns of exacerbating the outbreak as a result of the mass gatherings inherent to the societal ritual of voting, prevail over other considerations?
