What's at stake in elections across globe

Eight elections are being held around the world on Sunday and here at a glance is what's at stake in each of them.

WHAT'S AT STAKE IN EIGHT ELECTIONS BEING HELD AROUND THE WORLD ON SUNDAY:

ARGENTINA: Argentines are weighing continuity versus a financial overhaul as they vote for the successor to President Cristina Fernandez, a polarising leader who dominated national politics for 12 years. Her chosen successor, Daniel Scioli, the governor of Buenos Aires province and a former vice president, is the front-runner, according to polls published last week.

GUATEMALA: In the first election since the previous president and vice president were ousted after mass protests over corruption, comedian Jimmy Morales, a political neophyte, is heavily favoured to win.

HAITI: With more than 50 presidential candidates and no clear front-runner, a December runoff seems inevitable in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

IVORY COAST: Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara is widely expected to prevail over a divided opposition and perhaps secure enough votes to avoid a runoff in the first presidential election since a disputed vote five years ago triggered violence that killed more than 3000 people.

POLAND: A parliamentary election is expected to shift power from the centrist, pro-market Civic Platform party to the socially conservative Law and Justice party, which favours more welfare spending to help the poor.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO: A constitutional referendum is being held to decide if the country's longtime president is eligible for a new term. Under current laws, 71-year-old President Denis Sassou N'Guesso is barred from seeking re-election when his second term expires next year. The referendum asks voters to change the constitution to scrap a two-term limit and 70-year-old age limit for candidates.

TANZANIA: Tanzanians turn out in large numbers to vote in general elections in which the ruling party, in power for decades, faces a strong challenge from a united opposition. The ruling party candidate, John Magufuli, is battling a former prime minister, Edward Lowassa, who defected to the opposition earlier this year, in a presidential race many analysts say is too close to predict.

UKRAINE: Elections for local councils and mayors are seen as a test of strength for President Petro Poroshenko's government and the oligarchs accustomed to running regions of the country. Voting is not taking place in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed rebels, and was scrapped at the last minute in Mariupol, a major port and steel city that rebels have been trying to capture for over a year.


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Source: AAP



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