{{short description|Impact of COVID-19 on political systems}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} [[File:2020 SONA Pres. Duterte.jpg|thumb|[[Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic|Social distancing measures]] employed at President [[Rodrigo Duterte]]'s [[2020 State of the Nation Address (Philippines)|2020 State of the Nation Address]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines]]]] {{COVID-19 pandemic sidebar|expanded=issues}} The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] has influenced politics around the world; it affected the governing and political systems of multiple countries, reflected in states of emergency,{{cite journal |last1= Lundgren |first1= Magnus|last2= Klamberg |first2= Mark|last3= Sundström |first3= Karin |last4= Dahlqvist |first4= Julia|date= 2020 |title=Emergency Powers in Response to COVID-19: Policy Diffusion, Democracy, and Preparedness |journal= Nordic Journal of Human Rights |volume= 38 |issue= 4 |pages= 305–318 |doi= 10.1080/18918131.2021.1899406 |doi-access= free |arxiv= 2007.00933 }} suspensions of legislative activities, isolation or deaths of multiple politicians and reschedulings of [[election]]s due to fears of spreading the virus. The pandemic has triggered broader debates about political issues such as the relative advantages of [[democracy]] and [[autocracy]],{{cite journal |last1= Ang |first1= Yuen Yuen |date= 2020 |title= When COVID-19 meets centralized, personalized power |journal= Nature Human Behaviour |volume= 4 |issue= 5 |pages= 445–447 |doi= 10.1038/s41562-020-0872-3 |pmid= 32273583 |s2cid= 215532797 |doi-access= free }}{{cite journal |author1-link=David Stasavage |last1= Stasavage |first1= David |date= 2020 |title= Democracy, Autocracy, and Emergency Threats: Lessons for COVID-19 From the Last Thousand Years |journal= International Organization |volume= 74 |pages= E1–E17 |doi= 10.1017/S0020818320000338 |doi-access= free }} how states respond to [[Crisis|crises]],{{cite journal |last1= Lipscy |first1= Phillip |date= 2020 |title= COVID-19 and the Politics of Crisis |journal= International Organization |volume= 74 |pages= E98–E127 |doi= 10.1017/S0020818320000375 |s2cid= 225135699 |doi-access= free }}{{Cite journal |last1=Abulof |first1=Uriel |last2=Le Penne |first2=Shirley |last3=Pu |first3=Bonan |date=2021 |title=The Pandemic Politics of Existential Anxiety: Between Steadfast Resistance and Flexible Resilience |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01925121211002098 |journal=International Political Science Review |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=350–366 |doi=10.1177/01925121211002098|s2cid=234827071 |url-access=subscription }} politicization of beliefs about [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|the virus]],{{cite journal |last1=Druckman |first1=James |author1-link=James N. Druckman |last2=Klar |first2=Samara |date=2020 |title=How Affective Polarization Shapes Americans' Political Beliefs: A Study of Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic |journal=Journal of Experimental Political Science |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=223–234 |doi=10.1017/XPS.2020.28 |doi-access=free |s2cid=222312130|pmc=7550884 }} and the adequacy of existing frameworks of [[Multilateralism|international cooperation]].{{cite journal |last1= Fazal |first1= Tanisha |date= 2020 |title= Health Diplomacy in Pandemical Times |journal= International Organization |volume= 74 |pages= E78–E97 |doi= 10.1017/S0020818320000326 |s2cid= 229265358 |doi-access= free }} Additionally, the pandemic has, in some cases, posed several challenges to democracy, leading to it being undermined and damaged.{{Cite journal|last1=Lewkowicz|first1=Jacek|last2=Woźniak|first2=Michał|last3=Wrzesiński|first3=Michał|date=2022|title=COVID-19 and erosion of democracy|url=|journal=Economic Modelling|volume=106|article-number=105682|doi=10.1016/j.econmod.2021.105682|pmid=34776576|pmc=8571542|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/22/us-list-backsliding-democracies-civil-liberties-international|title=US added to list of "backsliding" democracies for first time|date=22 November 1954|access-date=24 November 2021|website=The Guardian|publisher=Agence France-Presse in Stockholm}} ==General impacts== [[File:Krajské volby 2020, Olomouc.jpg|thumb|Anti-pandemic precautions during the 2020 Czech regional elections]] ===Leader popularity=== There is evidence that the pandemic had initially caused a [[rally 'round the flag effect]] in many countries, with government approval ratings rising in [[Italy]] (+27 percentage points), Germany (+11), France (+11), and the United Kingdom between April and July 2020.{{cite web|url=https://europeelects.eu/2020/04/02/rally-around-the-flag-corona-and-voting-behaviour-in-europe/|title=EU Parliament Projection: Corona Rallies Europeans Around the Flag|last=Schminke|first=Tobias Gerhard|date=2 April 2020|website=[[Europe Elects]]|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/3/31/21199702/rally-round-the-flag-coronavirus|title=Trump's coronavirus poll bump, explained|last=Yglesias|first=Matthew|date=31 March 2020|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=6 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://voxeu.org/article/rallying-effect-lockdowns|title=COVID-19 lockdowns have increased support for incumbents, trust in government, and satisfaction with democracy|author=((Peter John Loewen, Damien Bol, Marco Giani, and André Blais))|date=7 May 2020|website=[[VoxEU]]|language=en|access-date=11 July 2020}} This short-term increase has become less pronounced over time, with approval ratings changing often due to how each country has handled the pandemic; the United Kingdom, for example, saw a drop from an approval rating of 51% in March 2020 to 41% in July 2021, while France saw an increase from 27% to 35% in the same time-frame.{{Cite web|title=Global Leader Approval Ratings|url=https://morningconsult.com/global-leader-approval/|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Morning Consult|language=en-US}} In the United States, President [[Donald Trump]] saw a 6-point drop in approval,{{cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/308675/trump-job-rating-slides-satisfaction-tumbles.aspx|title=Trump's Job rating slides; U.S. satisfaction tumbles|last=McCarthy|first=Justin|date=16 April 2020|website=Gallup|language=en|access-date=21 April 2020}} while state governors have seen increases as high as 55 points for New York Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]], 31 points for North Carolina Governor [[Roy Cooper]], and 30 points for Michigan Governor [[Gretchen Whitmer]]. A review of polling before and one month into the pandemic suggests that incumbent governments around the world gained on average 4.7% on polls of voting-intention as the rally-round-the-flag effect kicked in, with governments who went to re-election during the pandemic mostly maintaining said improvement up until their election.{{cite web |title=Pandemic Politics: Incumbent Governments Voting Intention |date=10 May 2021 |url=https://armariuminterreta.site/2021/05/10/pandemic-politics-iv/ |publisher=Armarium Interreta |language=en-AU |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514035919/https://armariuminterreta.site/2021/05/10/pandemic-politics-iv/ }} In Israel, the virus begun to rapidly spread after the [[2020 Israeli legislative election|March 2020 election]]. The incumbent PM [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] did not win enough seats to form a coalition, and the presidential mandate to form a coalition was given to his contender, [[Benny Gantz]]. However, Netanyahu's pandemic politics brought his party the ''[[Likud]]'' to reach peak public support (41-43 seats during the first wave of April–May 2020), pushing Gantz to ask Israel's president to transfer the mandate to Netanyahu so that the latter could form, and head, a new government.{{Cite journal |last1=Abulof |first1=Uriel |last2=Le Penne |first2=Shirley |date=2021 |title=A Fearmonger at the Tiller: Israel's Pandemic Politics |url=https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/israel-studies-review/36/3/isr360302.xml |journal=Israel Studies Review |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=19–25 |doi=10.1177/01925121211002098|s2cid=234827071 |url-access=subscription }} ===States of emergency=== At least 84 countries declared a [[state of emergency]] in response to the pandemic, which led to fears about misuse of power.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/international/2020/04/23/would-be-autocrats-are-using-covid-19-as-an-excuse-to-grab-more-power|title=Would-be autocrats are using covid-19 as an excuse to grab more power|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=27 April 2020|issn=0013-0613}} [[Reporters Without Borders]] has claimed that 38 countries have restricted [[freedom of the press]] as a result. Other examples include banning mass protests, postponing elections or holding them while the opposition cannot effectively campaign, selectively enforcing lockdown rules on political opponents, handing out relief payments to political supporters, or scapegoating minorities.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/04/23/autocrats-see-opportunity-in-disaster|title=Autocrats see opportunity in disaster|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=27 April 2020|issn=0013-0613}} Many countries have also unveiled large-scale [[surveillance]] programs for [[contact tracing]], leading to worries about effects on [[privacy]].{{cite web|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2020/03/beware-the-implications-of-coronavirus-surveillance?lang=en|title=Beware the Implications of Coronavirus Surveillance|last=Feldstein|first=Steven|website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|date=31 March 2020 |language=en|access-date=6 April 2020}} === Human rights and freedoms === {{Further|Human rights issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic}} Whilst the emergency powers enacted by governments in order to stem the spread of the pandemic were made in the interests of protecting public health and minimizing risk to countries' economies and crucial services such as health care, they have inadvertently led to concerns over human rights and civil liberties. The [[Philippine government response to the COVID-19 pandemic|government response seen in the Philippines]] led to accusations of government forces violently detaining, attacking, and even killing citizens who flouted public health restriction laws.{{Cite web|date=8 September 2020|title=Killings in Philippines Up 50 Percent During Pandemic|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/08/killings-philippines-50-percent-during-pandemic|access-date=27 January 2021|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} Violent clashes between citizens and armed government authorities have also been seen in countries including [[2021 Greek protests|Greece]], the [[COVID-19 anti-lockdown protests in the United States|United States]], and [[Protests over COVID-19 policies in Germany|Germany]].{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Police fire water cannon at anti-lockdown protesters in Germany|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-lockdown-protest-berlin-police-b1724879.html|access-date=27 January 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}} Human rights and civil liberties have also been threatened through digital surveillance technology by multiple governments, leading to concerns over human rights to privacy, freedom, expression and association.{{Cite web|date=6 October 2015|title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights|url=https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/|access-date=28 January 2021|website=www.un.org|language=en}} The Ecuadorean government introduced a new GPS tracking system without associated data handling legislation, leaving users' details exposed and insecure.{{Cite web|date=1 July 2020|title=Ecuador: Privacy at Risk with Covid-19 Surveillance|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/01/ecuador-privacy-risk-covid-19-surveillance|access-date=28 January 2021|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} In [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea|South Korea]], health authorities launched a track and trace app which asked users to disclose personal information, leading to concerns over both privacy and the potential for discrimination.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=The Petrie-Flom Center|date=9 June 2020|title=COVID-19 in South Korea: Privacy and Discrimination Concerns|url=http://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2020/06/09/south-korea-global-responses-covid19/|access-date=28 January 2021|website=Bill of Health|language=en-US}} Furthermore, the right to [[freedom of movement]] has been curtailed by many national governments during the pandemic, with 186 countries enacting [[Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic|border restrictions]] in response to the pandemic.{{cite journal |last1=Kenwick |first1=Michael R. |last2=Simmons |first2=Beth A. |title=Pandemic Response as Border Politics |journal=International Organization |year=2020 |volume=74 |issue=S1 |pages=E36–E58|doi=10.1017/S0020818320000363 |s2cid=225588635 |doi-access=free }} In relation, the ongoing discrimination faced by minorities, in particular, has also been a root cause in the socio-economic factors which has affected the freedoms and rights of the most vulnerable populations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/report/covid-19-and-its-effect-inequality-and-democracy|title=COVID-19 and Its Effect on Inequality and Democracy|website=Council on Foreign Relations |date=31 March 2021 }} === Democracy === According to a 2020 Freedom House report, "the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a crisis for democracy around the world".{{Cite web|title=Democracy under Lockdown|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/special-report/2020/democracy-under-lockdown|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Freedom House|language=en}} The COVID-19 pandemic has opened up gaps in the action of [[democracy]], largely due to the heavy practical and logistical disruption the virus and its subsequent "[[COVID-19 lockdowns|lockdown]]" restrictions have caused. Across the world, national governments found themselves with no other choice but to suspend, cancel, or postpone numerous democratic elections at both national and subnational governmental levels.{{Cite web|title=Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections {{!}} International IDEA|url=https://www.idea.int/news-media/multimedia-reports/global-overview-covid-19-impact-elections|access-date=27 January 2021|website=www.idea.int|language=en}} The 2020 Freedom House report also highlighted a variety of responses relating to government mishandling of the pandemic against the best interests of its citizens, such as denial of the existence of COVID-19 in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]] and [[COVID-19 pandemic in Nicaragua|Nicaragua]], and the promotion of unsafe or unproven treatments in [[COVID-19 misinformation by governments#Brazil|Brazil]] and [[COVID-19 misinformation by governments#Tanzania|Tanzania]]. This is due to factors that have been weakened such as "checks against abuses of power, protection of vulnerable groups, transparency and anti-corruption, free media and expression, and credible elections." As governments were entrusted with unprecedented powers to protect public health, even the strongest democracies "failed to guard themselves against abuse of power," said an [[op-ed]] on [[Newsweek]].{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Le Dong Hai |date=13 May 2022 |title=Is authoritarianism the new normal for Asia? |url=https://www.newsweek.com/authoritarianism-new-normal-asia-opinion-1706120 |access-date=31 May 2022 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}} This is because, [[emergency powers]] grant governments the ability to '"make regulations without an act of parliament"{{Cite web |last1=Nice |first1=Alex |last2=Hogarth |first2=Raphael |last3=Marshall |first3=Joe |last4=Haddon |first4=Catherine |last5=Lily |first5=Alice |date=22 March 2021 |title=Government emergency powers and coronavirus |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/emergency-powers |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Institute for Government}} These powers are typically intended to take "rapid action" and combat instability. Emergency powers have been used by some governments to extend state power{{cite web |last1=Belin |first1=Célia |last2=De Maio |first2=Giovanna |title=DEMOCRACY AFTER CORONAVIRUS: FIVE CHALLENGES FOR THE 2020s |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FP_20200817_democracy_covid_belin_demaio.pdf |website=Brookings |publisher=Brookings Institution |access-date=10 January 2023 |ref=?}} This arguably occurred in Moscow, where tens of thousands of cameras with facial-recognition features were supposedly installed to track contagion, however, these systems risk remaining in place after the pandemic. According to a 2020 Brookings Institution report, "the challenges posed by the need for mass surveillance suggest that the resilience of democratic regimes cannot be taken for granted". The same study highlighted foreign disinformation surrounding COVID-19 as a threat to democracy, stating that the pandemic presented an opportunity for malign actors to "multiply the production of fake news, conspiracy theories, and manipulated information", it further stated that "Russia and China exploited the chaos induced by COVID-19 to promote their geopolitical interests and continue to destabilise western democracies". An article on the journal ''[[Democratic Theory]]'' comments that the side effect of COVID-19 and will have a "long-term effect on established democracies around the world".{{Cite journal|last1=Rapeli|first1=Lauri|last2=Saikkonen|first2=Inga|date=1 December 2020|title=How Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Democracy?|url=https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/democratic-theory/7/2/dt070204.xml|journal=Democratic Theory|language=en-US|volume=7|issue=2|pages=25–32|doi=10.3167/dt.2020.070204|s2cid=224918228|issn=2332-8894|url-access=subscription}} Part of this long-term effect includes the increasing prevalence of [[democratic backsliding]]; while proportional responses to a global pandemic are necessary, excessive measures under abusive enforcement have raised concerns that democracy, in nations where it is already unstable, is declining worldwide.{{Cite journal|last1=Edgell|first1=Amanda B.|last2=Lachapelle|first2=Jean|last3=Lührmann|first3=Anna|last4=Maerz|first4=Seraphine F.|date=1 September 2021|title=Pandemic backsliding: Violations of democratic standards during Covid-19|journal=Social Science & Medicine|language=en|volume=285|article-number=114244|doi=10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114244|pmid=34399291|pmc=8417367|issn=0277-9536}} === Media freedom === {{Further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism}} [[Freedom of the press|Media freedom]], in its many forms, has also been [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism|greatly impacted]] during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=IPI-Admin|title=COVID-19 Media Freedom Monitoring|url=https://ipi.media/covid19-media-freedom-monitoring/|access-date=28 January 2021|website=International Press Institute|language=en-US}} Multiple governments introduced restrictions on websites to prevent reportage on the spread of misinformation and hide poor representations of themselves.{{Cite web|title=Information Isolation: Censoring the COVID-19 Outbreak|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/report-sub-page/2020/information-isolation-censoring-covid-19-outbreak|access-date=28 January 2021|website=Freedom House|language=en}} The Chinese government attempted to control the global narrative on their initial unwillingness and inability to contain the initial outbreak by censoring millions of pieces of content containing over 2,000 keywords related to the pandemic on the leading communication platform [[WeChat]] and the live-streaming platform [[YY.com|YY]]. In addition, nations such as [[Bangladesh]] and [[Egypt]] have blocked international news outlets from their respective Internet systems under the guise of spreading false information. This removal of the ability of media outlets to criticise governments represented a breach of freedom of expression under Article 19 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights|UDHR]]. These restrictions allowed media outlets and journalists to be prosecuted and imprisoned more easily, often unfairly and arbitrarily.{{Cite web|title=2016 Violations of press freedom barometer {{!}} Reporters without borders|url=https://rsf.org/en/barometer|access-date=28 January 2021|website=RSF|language=en}} === Political discourse === Abulof, Le Penne and Pu [[Discourse analysis|analyzed public discourse]] through the NOW (News on the Web) corpus and [[Google Trends]]. Their findings indicate that 2020 saw a dramatic rise in thinking about 'death' and 'mortality,' worldwide. They also found that the words most associated with this morbidity since 2004 are 'Covid' and 'coronavirus,' and that similar trends appear in other languages. They argue that the rise is due to both the pandemic itself and pandemic politics – politicians fostering, using, and abusing, existential anxiety on a mass scale. In another discourse analysis, speeches about the pandemic delivered by [[Donald Trump]] and [[Jair Bolsonaro]] show ideological polarization to be the most frequent strategy, suggesting that political discourse can be a potential source of societal manipulation.{{Cite journal |last1=Kakisina |first1=Peggy A. |last2=Indhiarti |first2=Tantri R. |last3=Al Fajri |first3=Muchamad Sholakhuddin |date=2022 |title=Discursive Strategies of Manipulation in COVID-19 Political Discourse: The Case of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro |journal=SAGE Open |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=1–9 |article-number=21582440221079884 |doi=10.1177/21582440221079884|s2cid=247153554 |doi-access=free }} A study on speeches made by 20 heads of government around the world during the pandemic shows that women spoke more frequently about the pandemic's impact on the individual, while men underscored war metaphors to describe COVID-19 and their response.{{Cite journal |last1=Dada |first1=Sara |last2=Ashworth |first2=Henry Charles |last3=Bewa |first3=Marlene Joannie |last4=Dhatt |first4=Roopa |date=2021 |title=Words matter: political and gender analysis of speeches made by heads of government during the COVID-19 pandemic |journal=BMJ Global Health |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |article-number=e003910 |doi=10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003910 |issn=2059-7908 |pmc=7849321 |pmid=33514593}} ==Impact on international relations== {{main|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international relations}} ===European Union=== {{main|European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic}} The Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez]] stated that "If we don't propose now a unified, powerful and effective response to this economic crisis, not only the impact will be tougher, but its effects will last longer and we will be putting at risk the entire European project", while the Italian Prime Minister [[Giuseppe Conte]] commented that "the whole European project risks losing its raison d'être in the eyes of our own citizens".{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/28/eu-will-lose-its-raison-d-etre-if-it-fails-to-help-during-covid-19-crisis-italy-s-pm-warns|title=EU will lose its 'raison d'etre' if it fails to help during COVID-19 crisis, Italy's PM warns|date=28 March 2020}} From 4 to 19 March, Germany banned the export of [[personal protective equipment]],{{cite news |title=Germany bans export of medical protection gear due to coronavirus |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-germany-exports/germany-bans-export-of-medical-protection-gear-due-to-coronavirus-idUSL8N2AX3D9 |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=Reuters |date=4 March 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Germany lifts export ban on medical equipment over coronavirus |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-exports/germany-lifts-export-ban-on-medical-equipment-over-coronavirus-idUSKBN2162SH |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=Reuters |date=19 March 2020 |language=en}} and France also restricted exports of medical equipment, drawing criticism from EU officials who called for solidarity.{{cite news |last1=Tsang |first1=Amie |title=E.U. Seeks Solidarity as Nations Restrict Medical Exports |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/07/business/eu-exports-medical-equipment.html |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=7 March 2020}} Many [[Schengen Area]] countries closed their borders to stem the spread of the virus.{{cite magazine |title=Coronavirus Is a Critical Test for the European Union |url=https://time.com/5805783/coronavirus-european-union/ |access-date=2 April 2020 |magazine=Time |language=en}} ====Jointly issued debt==== {{main|Corona bonds}} Debates over how to respond to the epidemic and its economic fallout have opened up a rift between [[Northern Europe|Northern]] and [[Southern Europe]]an member states, reminiscent of debates over the 2010s [[European debt crisis]].{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/30/coronavirus-pandemic-europe-north-south-eurobond/|title=Fighting Pandemic, Europe Divides Again Along North and South Lines|last=Johnson|first=Keith|website=Foreign Policy|date=30 March 2020 |language=en-US|access-date=2 April 2020}} Nine EU countries—Italy, France, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Luxembourg—called for "[[corona bonds]]" (a type of [[eurobond (eurozone)|eurobond]]) in order to help their countries to recover from the epidemic, on 25 March. Their letter stated, "The case for such a common instrument is strong, since we are all facing a symmetric external shock."{{cite news |last1=Amaro |first1=Silvia |title=Nine European countries say it is time for 'corona bonds' as virus death toll rises |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/nine-eu-countries-say-its-time-for-corona-bonds-as-virus-deaths-rise.html |access-date=28 March 2020 |work=CNBC |date=25 March 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=The EU can't agree on how to help Italy and Spain pay for coronavirus relief |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/27/economy/corona-bonds-eu/index.html |access-date=28 March 2020 |work=CNN}} Northern European countries such as Germany, Austria, Finland, and the Netherlands oppose the issuing of joint debt, fearing that they would have to pay it back in the event of a default. Instead, they propose that countries should apply for loans from the [[European Stability Mechanism]].{{cite news |title=Italy's future is in German hands |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-italy-future-germany/ |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=POLITICO |date=2 April 2020}} Corona bonds were discussed on 26 March 2020 in a [[European Council]] meeting, which dragged out for three hours longer than expected due to the "emotional" reactions of the prime ministers of Spain and Italy.{{cite news |title=Virtual summit, real acrimony: EU leaders clash over 'corona bonds' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/26/virtual-summit-real-acrimony-eu-leaders-clash-over-corona-bonds-151291 |access-date=28 March 2020 |work=POLITICO |language=en}} European Council President [[Charles Michel]]{{cite news |last1=Bayer |first1=Lili |title=EU response to corona crisis 'poor,' says senior Greek official |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-response-to-coronavirus-crisis-poor-says-senior-greek-official/ |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=POLITICO |date=1 April 2020}} and [[European Central Bank]] head [[Christine Lagarde]] have urged the EU to consider issuing joint debt.{{cite news |title=What are 'corona bonds' and how can they help revive the EU's economy? |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/26/what-are-corona-bonds-and-how-can-they-help-revive-the-eu-s-economy |access-date=28 March 2020 |work=euronews |date=26 March 2020 |language=en}} Unlike the [[European debt crisis]]—partly caused by the affected countries—southern European countries did not cause the coronavirus pandemic, therefore eliminating the appeal to national responsibility. ====Civil liberties==== Many countries resorted to states of emergency, curtailing civil liberties and awarding executives wider powers. Sixteen member nations of the European Union issued a statement warning that certain emergency measures issued by countries during the coronavirus pandemic could undermine the principles of rule of law and democracy on 1 April. They announced that they "support the European Commission initiative to monitor the emergency measures and their application to ensure the fundamental values of the Union are upheld."{{Cite news |url=https://www.government.nl/documents/diplomatic-statements/2020/04/01/statement-by-belgium-denmark-finland-france-germany-greece-ireland-italy-luxembourg-the-netherlands-portugal-spain-sweden |title=Statement by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden |date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404024952/https://www.government.nl/documents/diplomatic-statements/2020/04/01/statement-by-belgium-denmark-finland-france-germany-greece-ireland-italy-luxembourg-the-netherlands-portugal-spain-sweden |archive-date=4 April 2020}} The statement does not mention Hungary, but observers believe that it implicitly refers to a Hungarian law granting [[plenary power]] to the Hungarian Government during the coronavirus pandemic. The following day, the Hungarian Government joined the statement.{{Cite news |url=https://444.hu/2020/04/02/trolldiplomacia-a-maximumon-a-magyar-kormany-is-csatlakozott-a-jogallamisagot-vedo-europai-nyilatkozathoz |title=Trolldiplomácia a maximumon: A magyar kormány is csatlakozott a jogállamiságot védő európai nyilatkozathoz |date=2 April 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://index.hu/belfold/2020/04/02/a_magyar_kormany_is_csatlakozott_ahhoz_kiallashoz_ami_kimondatlanul_ugyan_de_ellene_szol/ |title=A magyar kormány is csatlakozott ahhoz a kiálláshoz, ami kimondatlanul ugyan, de ellene szól |date=2 April 2020}} The [[National Assembly (Hungary)|Hungarian parliament]] passed the law granting plenary power to the Government by qualified majority, 137 to 53 votes in favor, on 30 March 2020. After promulgating the law, the [[President of Hungary]], [[János Áder]], announced that he had concluded that the time frame of the Government's authorization would be definite and its scope would be limited.{{Cite news |url=https://nepszava.hu/3072783_megvolt-a-ketharmad-a-kormanyparti-tobbseg-megszavazta-a-felhatalmazasi-torvenyt |title=Megvolt a kétharmad, a kormánypárti többség megszavazta a felhatalmazási törvényt |date=30 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://hvg.hu/itthon/20200330_A_Fideszketharmad_elfogadta_a_felhatalmazasi_torvenyt |title=A Fidesz-kétharmad elfogadta a felhatalmazási törvényt |date=30 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://index.hu/belfold/2020/03/30/koronavirus-torveny_koronavirus_szavazas_parlament/ |title=Megszavazta az Országgyűlés a koronavírus-törvényt, Áder pedig ki is hirdette |date=30 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://444.hu/2020/03/30/ader-janos-mar-ala-is-irta-a-felhatalmazasi-torvenyt |title=Áder János már alá is írta a felhatalmazási törvényt |date=30 March 2020}} [[Ursula von der Leyen]], the [[President of the European Commission]], stated that she was concerned about the Hungarian emergency measures and that it should be limited to what is necessary and Minister of State [[Michael Roth (politician)|Michael Roth]] suggested that economic sanctions should be used against Hungary.{{Cite news |url=https://news.trust.org/item/20200402100718-9f3pd/ |title=EU executive chief concerned Hungary emergency measures go too far |date=2 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404024630/https://news.trust.org/item/20200402100718-9f3pd/ |archive-date=4 April 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/eu-sanctions-over-hungarys-virus-measures-should-be-considered-german-official-says |title=EU sanctions over Hungary's virus measures should be considered, German official says |date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404025218/https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/eu-sanctions-over-hungarys-virus-measures-should-be-considered-german-official-says |archive-date=4 April 2020}} The heads of thirteen member parties of the [[European People's Party]] (EPP) made a proposal to expunge the Hungarian [[Fidesz]] for the new legislation on 2 April. In response, Viktor Orbán expressed his willingness to discuss any issues relating to Fidesz's membership "once the pandemic is over" in a letter addressed to the Secretary General of EPP [[Antonio López-Istúriz White]]. Referring to the thirteen leading politicians' proposal, Orbán also stated that "I can hardly imagine that any of us having time for fantasies about the intentions of other countries. This seems to be a costly luxury these days."{{Cite news |url=https://index.hu/kulfold/eurologus/2020/04/03/orban_nincs_idom_most_erre_neppart_kizaras/ |title=Orbán a Néppártnak: Most nincs időm erre! |date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404045745/https://index.hu/kulfold/eurologus/2020/04/03/orban_nincs_idom_most_erre_neppart_kizaras/ |archive-date=4 April 2020}} During a video conference of the foreign ministers of the European Union member states on 3 April 2020, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, [[Péter Szijjártó]], asked for the other ministers to read the legislation itself not its politically motivated presentations in newspapers before commenting on it.{{Cite news |url=https://index.hu/kulfold/eurologus/2020/04/03/szijjarto_jogallamisag_kulugyminiszterek_koronavirus_jarvany_vedekezes |title=Szijjártó looked virtually into the eyes of his critics |date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404033955/https://index.hu/kulfold/eurologus/2020/04/03/szijjarto_jogallamisag_kulugyminiszterek_koronavirus_jarvany_vedekezes |archive-date=4 April 2020}} ==== Brexit ==== The pandemic had an impact on the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[Brexit|departure from the European Union]], with border checks on EU imports initially delayed until July 2021{{Cite web|date=12 June 2020|title=Brexit: full controls on goods entering UK will not apply until July 2021|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/12/brexit-full-border-controls-on-goods-entering-uk-will-not-apply-until-july-2021|access-date=11 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} and then delayed again to 2022 in an attempt to mitigate supply issues caused by the pandemic.{{Cite web|date=11 March 2021|title=UK forced to delay checks on imports from EU by six months|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/11/uk-forced-to-delay-import-checks-on-eu-goods-by-six-months-2022-border-post-not-ready|access-date=11 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} The [[European Commission–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dispute]] also led to a dispute over the [[Northern Ireland Protocol]].{{Cite news|date=30 January 2021|title=EU vaccine export row: Bloc backtracks on controls for NI|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55865539|access-date=12 August 2021}} Some analysts have suggested that the [[economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]] has masked the [[Impact of Brexit on the UK|impacts of Brexit]] on the UK.{{Cite news|last=Giles|first=Chris|date=1 July 2021|title=Covid pandemic masks Brexit impact on UK economy|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/fbb70741-34cc-4f54-a66b-a2e4b9445f5b|access-date=13 October 2021}} ==== Moldova-Romania collaboration ==== {{Excerpt|Collaboration between Moldova and Romania during the COVID-19 pandemic}} ===Japan–South Korea relations=== [[Japan–South Korea relations]] worsened as a result of the pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/covid-19-aggravates-an-already-tense-korea-japan-relationship/|title=COVID-19 Aggravates an Already Tense Korea-Japan Relationship|last=Gibson|first=Jenna|website=thediplomat.com|language=en-US|access-date=30 March 2020}} After [[Japan]] declared it would start quarantining all arrivals from [[South Korea]], the South Korean government described the move as "unreasonable, excessive and extremely regrettable", and that it couldn't "help but question whether Japan has other motives than containing the outbreak".{{Cite news|last=Farrer|first=Justin McCurry Martin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/06/coronavirus-quarantine-plans-ignite-row-between-south-korea-and-japan|title=Coronavirus quarantine plans ignite row between South Korea and Japan|date=6 March 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 March 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} Some South Korean media have offered opinions to improve relations with Japan through mask assistance to Japan.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/05/202_288239.html|date=21 April 2020|title=Face mask aid to Japan|website=The Korea Times|access-date=10 May 2020}} In addition, some local governments in Japan who did not disclose their names have also announced their intention to purchase masks in Korea.{{cite web|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1005761951|title=[단독] 일본 지자체도 "한국 마스크 구입 도와달라"|website=SBS news|date=24 April 2020|language=ko|access-date=10 May 2020}} When this fact became known, some online commentators in Japan expressed that they were against receiving mask donations from Korea, worrying that it would not be a purely goodwill donation but tied to Japanese government concessions on controversial topics such as the [[Liancourt Rocks dispute|contested]] [[Liancourt Rocks]] and [[World War II]] [[comfort women]] sexual slavery.{{cite web|url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/202004201543311493|date=20 April 2020|title=한국의 마스크 지원 검토에 일본 누리꾼들 "공짜보다 비싼 건 없다"|language=ko|publisher=Hankook Ilbo|access-date=10 May 2020}} Although local Korean media suggested that masks could be donated via Japan's sizable [[Koreans in Japan|Korean-Japanese]] population, the Korean government noted, in the spring of 2020, that it was not considering support toward Japan at that time.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/04/356_288762.html|date=29 April 2020|title=Korea-Japan ties getting worse in pandemic|website=The Korea Times|access-date=10 May 2020}} On the contrary, inside Japan, an editorial was published stating that the Korean government should donate medical supplies, such as face masks, covertly and that the Japanese government should accept such donations.{{cite web|url=http://www.segye.com/newsView/20200507519400|date=7 May 2020|title=日 칼럼 "한국이 일본에 익명으로 마스크 지원해줄 수는 없을까?"|language=ko|publisher=Segye Ilbo|access-date=10 May 2020}} ===China=== {{Further|China–United States relations#COVID-19}} The United States has criticised the [[Government of China|Chinese government]] for its handling of the pandemic, which began in the Chinese province of [[Hubei]].{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/03/26/relations-between-china-and-america-are-infected-with-coronavirus|title=Relations between China and America are infected with coronavirus|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=30 March 2020|issn=0013-0613}} In [[Brazil]], the Congressman [[Eduardo Bolsonaro]], son of President [[Jair Bolsonaro]], caused a diplomatic dispute with China when he retweeted a message saying: "The blame for the global coronavirus pandemic has a name and surname: the [[Chinese Communist Party|Chinese Communist party]]." Yang Wanming, China's top diplomat in Brazil, retweeted a message that said: "The Bolsonaro family is the great poison of this country."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/coronavirus-bolsonaro-son-china-row|title=Bolsonaro's son enrages Beijing by blaming China for coronavirus crisis|date=19 March 2020|work=The Guardian}} Some commentators believe the state [[propaganda in China]] is promoting a narrative that China's [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian system]] is uniquely capable of curbing the coronavirus and contrasts that with the chaotic response of the [[Liberal democracy|Western democracies]].{{cite news |title=China is winning the coronavirus propaganda war |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-china-winning-propaganda-war/ |work=Politico |date=18 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=China Is Fighting the Coronavirus Propaganda War to Win |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/20/china-coronavirus-propaganda-war-journalists-press-freedom/ |work=Foreign Policy |date=20 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: China showers Europe with virus aid while sparring with Trump |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/coronavirus-china-showers-europe-with-virus-aid-while-sparring-with-trump |work=The Straits Times |date=19 March 2020}} European Union foreign policy chief [[Josep Borrell]] said that "China is aggressively pushing the message that, unlike the US, it is a responsible and reliable partner."{{cite news |title=Governments reject Chinese-made equipment |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52092395 |work=BBC News |date=30 March 2020}} The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China|Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] has claimed that the United States military is behind the virus.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-30/coronavirus-china-diplomatic-backlash/12198674|work=ABC News|title=Coronavirus investigation call has made Australia a target, but we're not alone in feeling China's wrath |date=29 April 2020|language=en-AU|access-date=30 April 2020}} When [[Australia]] suggested an inquiry to better understand the origin of the pandemic and to undermine the [[World Health Organization]], the Chinese ambassador threatened with economic retaliation. The Chinese embassy to [[France]] has in turn claimed that French nursing homes were "abandoning their posts overnight ... and leaving their residents to die of hunger and disease". The Chinese government has also tried to directly influence statements of other governments in order to show the country in a more positive light, including in [[Germany]],{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-china-idUSKCN2280JW|title=Germany says China sought to encourage positive COVID-19 comments|date=27 April 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=30 April 2020|language=en}} and [[Wisconsin]].{{Cite web|url=https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2020/04/10/chinese-government-asks-wisconsin-senate-for-a-commendation/|title=Chinese government asks Wisconsin Senate for a commendation|last=Conklin|first=Melanie|date=10 April 2020|website=Wisconsin Examiner|language=en-US|access-date=30 April 2020}} [[China]] has sent aid to 82 countries, the [[World Health Organization]], and the [[African Union]], which is considered by some western media as to "counter its negative image in the early stage of the pandemic".{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-25/china-coronavirus-aid-seeks-to-shift-narrative-from-cover-up/12072296|title='A white jade for friendship': China's push to save countries from COVID-19|last1=Walsh|first1=Michael|last2=Walden|first2=Max|date=25 March 2020|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=30 March 2020|last3=Zhao|first3=Iris}}{{cite news |title=Faults in China-supplied coronavirus equipment reported in Europe |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/faults-in-china-supplied-coronavirus-equipment-reported-in-europe-1.4215628 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=30 March 2020}} According to Yangyang Cheng, a postdoctoral research associate at [[Cornell University]], "The Chinese government has been trying to project Chinese state power beyond its borders and establish China as a global leader, not dissimilar to what the U.S. government has been doing for the better part of a century, and the distribution of medical aid is part of this mission."{{cite news |title=As the U.S. Blames China for the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Rest of the World Asks China for Help |url=https://theintercept.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-china-world-power/ |work=The Intercept |date=18 March 2020}} Borrell warned that there is "a geo-political component including a struggle for influence through spinning and the 'politics of generosity'." Trade in medical supplies between the United States and China has also become politically complicated. Exports of face masks and other medical equipment to China from the United States (and many other countries) spiked in February, according to statistics from [[Trade Data Monitor]], prompting criticism from the ''[[Washington Post]]'' that the United States government failed to anticipate the domestic needs for that equipment.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/us-sent-millions-of-face-masks-to-china-early-this-year-ignoring-pandemic-warning-signs/2020/04/18/aaccf54a-7ff5-11ea-8013-1b6da0e4a2b7_story.html |title=U.S. sent millions of face masks to China early this year, ignoring pandemic warning signs |last1=Eilperin |first1=Juliet |last2=Stein |first2=Jeff |last3=Butler |first3=Desmond |last4=Hamburger |first4=Tom |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=18 April 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 }} Similarly, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', citing Trade Data Monitor to show that China is the leading source of many key medical supplies, raised concerns that [[China–United States trade war|US tariffs on imports from China]] threaten imports of medical supplies into the United States.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-tariffs-hamper-imports-of-sanitizer-disinfectants-11586683800 |title=U.S. Tariffs Hamper Imports of Sanitizer, Disinfectants, Some Companies Say |last1=Ferek |first1=Katy Stech |last2=Zumbrun |first2=Josh |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=12 April 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 }} ===United States in 2020=== In early March, European Union leaders condemned the United States' decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States.{{cite news |title=EU condemns Trump travel ban from Europe as virus spreads |url=https://apnews.com/4552fd280d06cf83c63e4cc9b08fe5ce |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=12 March 2020}} The U.S. came under scrutiny by officials from other countries for allegedly hijacking shipments of crucial supplies meant for other countries.{{cite web |last1=Toosi |first1=Nahal |title='Lord of the Flies: PPE Edition': U.S. cast as culprit in global scrum over coronavirus supplies |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/03/ppe-world-supplies-coronavirus-163955 |website=POLITICO |date=3 April 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Jerusalem |first1=Kim Willsher Oliver Holmes in |last2=Istanbul |first2=Bethan McKernan in |last3=Palermo |first3=Lorenzo Tondo in |title=US hijacking mask shipments in rush for coronavirus protection |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/02/global-battle-coronavirus-equipment-masks-tests |website=The Guardian |date=3 April 2020}} [[Jean Rottner]], the [[List of current presidents of the regional councils of France and the Corsican Assembly|President]] of France's [[Regional council of Grand Est]], accused the United States of disrupting face mask deliveries by buying at the last minute.{{Cite news |url=http://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200402-china-coronavirus-face-mask-france-stolen-us |title=Face masks from China intended for France 'hijacked' by US at the last minute |date=2 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403204445/http://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200402-china-coronavirus-face-mask-france-stolen-us |archive-date=3 April 2020}} French officials stated that Americans came to the airport tarmac and offered several times the French payment as the shipment was prepared for departure to France. Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, asked [[Bill Blair (politician)|Bill Blair]], the [[Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness|Public Safety Minister]], and [[Marc Garneau]], the [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Transportation Minister]], to investigate allegations that medical supplies originally intended for Canada were diverted to the United States.{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/490969-trudeau-worried-supplies-meant-for-canada-have-been-diverted-to |title=Trudeau worried supplies meant for Canada have been diverted to US |date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403204813/https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/490969-trudeau-worried-supplies-meant-for-canada-have-been-diverted-to |archive-date=3 April 2020}} German politician [[Andreas Geisel]] accused the United States of committing "modern piracy" after reports that 200,000 N95 masks meant for German police were diverted during an en-route transfer between airplanes in Thailand to the United States,{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/03/mask-wars-coronavirus-outbidding-demand |title=US accused of 'modern piracy' after diversion of masks meant for Europe |date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403205041/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/03/mask-wars-coronavirus-outbidding-demand |archive-date=3 April 2020}} but later changed his statement after he clarified that the mask orders were made through a German firm, not a U.S. firm as earlier stated, and the supply chain issues were under review.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/04/coronavirus-latest-news/#link-GQ4VHJ7T2ZGQPD3VUWO5W6QZRU |title=Berlin backtracks after accusing U.S. of 'piracy' when 200,000 masks went missing |date=5 April 2020}} Due to shortages in coronavirus tests, Maryland Governor [[Larry Hogan]] had his wife [[Yumi Hogan]], who was born in South Korea, speak with the South Korean ambassador and afterwards multiple South Korean companies stated that they would send tests to Maryland.{{Cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/marylands-governor-a-republican-is-willing-to-spar-with-trump-for-supplies/ar-BB127y8P?li=BBnb7Kz |title=Maryland's Governor, a Republican, Is Willing to Spar With Trump for Supplies |date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406000712/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/marylands-governor-a-republican-is-willing-to-spar-with-trump-for-supplies/ar-BB127y8P?li=BBnb7Kz |archive-date=6 April 2020}} On 2 April 2020, President Trump invoked the [[Defense Production Act of 1950]] to halt exports of masks produced by [[3M]] to Canada and Latin America. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that it would be a mistake for both their countries to limit trade of essential goods or services, including medical supplies and professionals, and remarked that this moves in both directions.{{cite web |last1=Forrest |first1=Maura |title=Trudeau warns U.S. against denying exports of medical supplies to Canada |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/03/3m-warns-of-white-house-order-to-stop-exporting-masks-to-canada-163060 |website=POLITICO |date=3 April 2020}} The Canadian government turned to China and other places for crucial medical supplies, while they sought a constructive discussion about the issue with the Trump administration.{{cite web |last1=Blatchford |first1=Andy |title=Trump's moves to hold medical supplies tip Trudeau to China |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/04/coronavirus-canada-trudeau-china-164969 |website=POLITICO |date=4 April 2020}} As of 30 December 2020, two federal politicians, eight state politicians, and five local politicians have died from COVID-19.{{Update inline|date=October 2021|reason=Almost a year out of date by now}}{{Cite web|title=Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Government_official,_politician,_and_candidate_deaths,_diagnoses,_and_quarantines_due_to_the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020|access-date=3 January 2021|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} The pandemic has been cited as one of the primary reasons for Trump's defeat in the [[2020 U.S. Presidential Election]].{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/how-covid-19-led-to-donald-trumps-defeat-150110|title=How COVID-19 led to Donald Trump's defeat|first1=Abel|last1=Brodeur|first2=Leonardo|last2=Baccini|first3=Stephen|last3=Weymouth|website=The Conversation|date=7 December 2020 }} This is due to the political turmoil in the United States caused by pitting Republicans against Democrats over policy and procedure.{{cite journal |last1=Sabahelzain |first1=Majdi M |last2=Hartigan-Go |first2=Kenneth |last3=Larson |first3=Heidi J |title=The politics of Covid-19 vaccine confidence |journal=Current Opinion in Immunology |date=August 2021 |volume=71 |pages=92–96 |doi=10.1016/j.coi.2021.06.007 |pmid=34237648 |pmc=8206618 }} The difference in views on the pandemic ultimately led to dissatisfaction with federal response. Trump's successor, [[Joe Biden]], claimed that his Administration's "number one priority" is to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, which led to the passing of the [[American Rescue Plan]] stimulus package.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/biden-names-covid-19-experts-calls-pandemic-top-priority-for-transition/588629/|title = Biden names COVID-19 experts, calls pandemic top priority for transition}} According to a report by [[Reuters]], the United States ran a [[Propaganda in the United States|propaganda]] campaign to spread disinformation about the [[Sinovac Biotech|Sinovac]] Chinese [[COVID-19]] vaccine, including using fake social media accounts saying that the Sinovac vaccine contained pork-derived ingredients and was therefore ''[[haram]]'' under [[Sharia|Islamic law]].{{Cite news |last1=Bing |first1=Chris |last2=Schechtman |first2=Joel |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Pentagon Ran Secret Anti-Vax Campaign to Undermine China during Pandemic |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ |work=[[Reuters]]}} The campaign primarily targeted people in the [[Philippines]] and used a social media [[hashtag]] for "China is the virus" in [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]. The campaign, which ran from 2020 to 2021, was overseen by [[Special Operations Command Pacific]] General [[Jonathan P. Braga]]. According to Reuters, Braga and other military officials who favored the campaign justified the program as a response to China's [[vaccine diplomacy]] and [[COVID-19 misinformation by China|COVID-19 disinformation by China]] directed against the U.S.{{Cite web |last=Toropin |first=Konstantin |date=2024-06-14 |title=Pentagon Stands by Secret Anti-Vaccination Disinformation Campaign in Philippines After Reuters Report |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/14/pentagon-stands-secret-anti-vaccination-disinformation-campaign-philippines-after-reuters-report.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614223757/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/14/pentagon-stands-secret-anti-vaccination-disinformation-campaign-philippines-after-reuters-report.html |archive-date=2024-06-14 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=[[Military.com]] |language=en}} Reuters wrote that United States was concerned that "China's offers of assistance were tilting the geopolitical playing field across the developing world, including in the Philippines." However some American public health experts, after being briefed by Reuters on the Pentagon's covert anti-vax campaign, had condemned it as unjustifiable, and that it had unethically endangered innocent lives for potential geopolitical gain. === World Health Organization === The head of the [[World Health Organization]], [[Tedros Adhanom]], claimed that he had been "severely discriminated against", and had received death threats and racist insults, claiming that "This attack came from [[Taiwan]]".{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/taiwan-protests-who-leader-s-accusations-of-taipei-led-racist-campaign-20200409-p54ilz.html|title=Taiwan protests WHO leader's accusations of Taipei-led racist campaign|date=9 April 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=10 April 2020}} The foreign ministry of Taiwan protested this accusation, indicating "strong dissatisfaction and a high degree of regret" and that the Taiwanese people "condemn all forms of discrimination and injustice". On 7 April 2020, United States President [[Donald Trump]] threatened to cut funding to the WHO.{{Cite news|last=Shear|first=Michael D.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-who.html|title=Trump Attacks W.H.O. Over Criticisms of U.S. Approach to Coronavirus|date=7 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 April 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} On 7 July 2020, the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] announced that the United States would formally withdraw from the WHO.{{Cite news|last1=Hinshaw|first1=Drew|last2=Armour|first2=Stephanie|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-says-u-s-has-pulled-out-of-the-world-health-organization-11594150928|title= Trump Moves to Pull U.S. Out of World Health Organization in Midst of Covid-19 Pandemic|date=7 July 2020|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=7 July 2020|language=en-US}} On 22 January 2021, president Joe Biden re-admitted the United States to the World Health Organization.{{Cite web|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/01/22/scientists-applaud-biden-decision-rejoin-world-health-organization/4243377001/|title = Biden administration renewed support for World Health Organization is 'good news for America and the world,' scientists say}} === Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development === The [[OECD]] Secretary-General [[José Ángel Gurría|Angel Gurría]] wrote that "This is the third and greatest economic, financial and social shock of the 21st century, and it demands a modern, global effort akin to the last century's [[Marshall Plan]] and [[New Deal]] – combined.{{Cite web|title=OECD Secretary-General: coronavirus "war" demands joint action – OECD|url=http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/oecd-secretary-general-coronavirus-war-demands-joint-action.htm|website=oecd.org|access-date=2020-05-07}}" COVID-19 has a strong regional and global impact, calling for differentiated governance and policy responses from local to international levels. A coordinated response by all levels of government can minimize crisis-management failures.{{Cite web|title=OECD|url=https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=128_128287-5agkkojaaa&title=The-territorial-impact-of-covid-19-managing-the-crisis-across-levels-of-government|website=read.oecd-ilibrary.org|access-date=7 May 2020}} ===International Court of Justice=== The [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) planned to discuss the [[Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute]] in March 2020. The ICJ also delayed public hearings over [[Maritime border dispute between Kenya and Somalia|maritime border disputes between Somalia and Kenya]] until March 2021.{{Cite web|title=Latest developments {{!}} Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean (Somalia v. Kenya) {{!}} International Court of Justice|url=https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/161|access-date=1 December 2020|website=www.icj-cij.org}} Both hearings were postponed due to the pandemic.{{Cite web|date=17 March 2020|title=Guyana: Hearing of border controversy matter postponed|url=https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/guyana-hearing-of-border-controversy-matter-postponed/|access-date=5 June 2020|website=St. Lucia News Online|language=en-US|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231136/https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/guyana-hearing-of-border-controversy-matter-postponed/}}{{Cite news|date=22 May 2020|title=Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean (Somalia v. Kenya) Public hearings postponed until March 2021|work=International Court of Justice|url=https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/case-related/161/161-20200522-PRE-01-00-EN.pdf|access-date=1 December 2020}} === Global ceasefire === {{Main|Global ceasefire}} The coronavirus pandemic appears to have worsened conflict dynamics;{{Cite report |last=Mustasilta|first=Katariina|date=2020|title=FROM BAD TO WORSE?: The impact(s) of Covid-19 on conflict dynamics |jstor=resrep25022 |jstor-access=free |publisher=European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)}} it has also led to a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a global ceasefire. On 23 March 2020, United Nations Secretary-General [[António Guterres]] issued an appeal for a global ceasefire as part of the United Nations' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=23 March 2020|title=Transcript of the Secretary-General's virtual press encounter on the appeal for global ceasefire|url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2020-03-23/transcript-of-the-secretary-generals-virtual-press-encounter-the-appeal-for-global-ceasefire|access-date=1 August 2020|website=United Nations Secretary-General|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=23 March 2020|title=COVID-19: UN chief calls for global ceasefire to focus on 'the true fight of our lives'|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059972|access-date=1 August 2020|website=UN News|language=en}} On 24 June 2020, 170 UN Member States and Observers signed a non-binding statement in support of the appeal,{{Cite web|date=24 June 2020|title=170 signatories endorse UN ceasefire appeal during COVID crisis|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/06/1066982|access-date=1 August 2020|website=UN News|language=en}} rising to 172 on 25 June 2020. On 1 July 2020, the UN Security Council passed resolution [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2532|S/RES/2532 (2020)]], demanding a "general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda," expressing support for "the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Special Representatives and Special Envoys in that respect," calling for "all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause" of at least 90 consecutive days, and calling for greater international cooperation to address the pandemic. === NATO === {{See also|Second Cold War}} The planned [[NATO]] "Defender 2020" military exercises in Germany, Poland and the Baltic states was held on a reduced scale.{{cite news |title=How coronavirus derailed the largest Nato exercise in 25 years |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-coronavirus-derailed-the-largest-nato-exercise-in-25-years |work=The Spectator |date=20 March 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Emmott |first1=Robin |title=NATO scales down exercises due to coronavirus |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nato/nato-scales-down-exercises-due-to-coronavirus-idUSKBN21627V |access-date=21 October 2020 |work=Reuters |date=19 March 2020}} The ''[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]]'' reported that [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]]'s general secretary [[Kate Hudson (activist)|Kate Hudson]] criticised the holding of the exercise during the pandemic, saying "it jeopardises the lives not only of the troops from the U.S. and the many European countries participating but the inhabitants of the countries in which they are operating."{{cite news |title=Nato must end 'dangerous and irresponsible' military exercise on Russia's border, campaigners say |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/nato-must-end-dangerous-and-irresponsible-military-exercise-on-russias-border-campaigners-say |work=Morning Star |date=18 March 2020}} [[List of NATO exercises|Defender-Europe 21]], one of the largest [[U.S. Army]], NATO-led military exercises in Europe in decades, began in mid-March 2021 and lasted until June 2021. It included "nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas" in [[Estonia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]], [[Kosovo]] and other countries.{{cite news |title=Massive, Army-led NATO exercise Defender Europe kicks off |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/03/15/massive-army-led-nato-exercise-defender-europe-kicks-off/ |work=[[Army Times]] |date=15 March 2021}}{{cite news |title=NATO, US to stage large-scale military exercises around Serbia until summer |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/nato-us-to-stage-large-scale-military-exercises-around-serbia-until-summer/ |work=[[Euractiv]] |date=22 March 2021}}{{cite news |title=Germany Says Russia Seeking To 'Provoke' With Troop Buildup At Ukraine's Border |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-military-germany-nato/31203229.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=14 April 2021}} === Vaccine diplomacy === {{Main|Vaccine diplomacy}} After [[deployment of COVID-19 vaccines]] began in December 2020, [[vaccine diplomacy]] was adopted by many nations that manufactured vaccines or possessed vaccine supplies,{{Cite journal|last1=Su|first1=Zhaohui|last2=McDonnell|first2=Dean|last3=Li|first3=Xiaoshan|last4=Bennett|first4=Bindi|last5=Šegalo|first5=Sabina|last6=Abbas|first6=Jaffar|last7=Cheshmehzangi|first7=Ali|last8=Xiang|first8=Yu-Tao|date=15 September 2021|title=COVID-19 Vaccine Donations—Vaccine Empathy or Vaccine Diplomacy? A Narrative Literature Review|journal=Vaccines|volume=9|issue=9|page=1024|doi=10.3390/vaccines9091024|issn=2076-393X|pmc=8470866|pmid=34579261|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Sharun|first1=Khan|last2=Dhama|first2=Kuldeep|date=1 October 2021|title=COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy and Equitable Access to Vaccines Amid Ongoing Pandemic|journal=Archives of Medical Research|language=en|volume=52|issue=7|pages=761–763|doi=10.1016/j.arcmed.2021.04.006|issn=0188-4409|pmc=8062433|pmid=33941393}} notably [[Vaccine Maitri|India]]{{Cite journal|last1=Sharun|first1=Khan|last2=Dhama|first2=Kuldeep|date=1 October 2021|title=India's role in COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy|url=|journal=Journal of Travel Medicine|volume=28|issue=7|article-number=taab064|doi=10.1093/jtm/taab064|pmid=33870417|pmc=8083264|issn=1708-8305}} and [[Chinese government response to COVID-19|China]].{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=Seow Ting|date=6 July 2021|title=Vaccine diplomacy: nation branding and China's COVID-19 soft power play|url=|journal=Place Branding and Public Diplomacy|volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=64–78|language=en|doi=10.1057/s41254-021-00224-4|issn=1751-8059|pmc=8259554}} ==Impact on national politics== {{Incomplete list|date=May 2021}} ===Argentina=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina}}{{See also|Argentine COVID-19 vaccination scandal}} The [[2020–2021 Argentinian protests|protests in Argentina in 2020 and 2021]] are a series of demonstrations that take place from May 2020 in different parts of the country. The reasons are diverse, with the common denominator being discontent over the successive extensions of the isolation measures adopted to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease. For this reason, some media describe the protests as "antiquarantine." 4 5 6 Other slogans expressed opposition to the government, denial of the existence of the pandemic and demands for more freedom, among others.7 8{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The demonstrations were held in different parts of the country, with the epicenter in the city of Buenos Aires. In general, the participants did so from their vehicles in order to keep their distance from other people, although in some cases the attendees did not comply with the prevention measures established by the authorities.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} On 12 August 2021, a photo was leaked of a birthday party hosted by First Lady [[Fabiola Yáñez]] where President [[Alberto Fernández]] was present among many others during strict quarantine in July 2020. On 13 August 2021, the opposition presented a formal [[impeachment]] against Fernández asking for his removal for violating restrictions.{{cite news |title=Festejos en Olivos: la oposición presenta hoy el pedido de juicio político contra Alberto Fernández |trans-title=Celebrations in Olivos: the opposition today presents the request for impeachment against Alberto Fernández |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/festejos-en-olivos-la-oposicion-evalua-un-pedido-de-juicio-politico-a-alberto-fernandez-nid12082021/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=[[La Nación]] |date=13 August 2021 |language=Spanish}} ===Belgium=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium}} On 17 March 2020, [[Sophie Wilmès]] was sworn in as [[Prime Minister of Belgium]]. Seven opposition parties pledged to support the [[Minority government|minority]] [[Wilmès II Government]], in its [[Wilmès I Government|previous composition]], with [[plenary power]] to handle the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium|coronavirus pandemic in Belgium]].{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/sophie-wilmes-legt-eed-af-als-premier~adca7ad7/|title=Sophie Wilmès legt eed af als premier|publisher=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=17 March 2020|language=nl}} ===Brazil=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil}} President [[Jair Bolsonaro]] has been criticized for his handling of the crisis.{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/coronavirus-bolsonaro-brazil-panelaco.html|title=Could the Coronavirus Topple Jair Bolsonaro?|last=Dias|first=Isabela|date=20 March 2020|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=22 March 2020}} He has referred to the pandemic as a "fantasy".{{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2020/03/10/bolsonaro-diz-que-questao-do-coronavirus-e-muito-mais-fantasia.ghtml|title=Bolsonaro diz que 'pequena crise' do coronavírus é 'mais fantasia' e não 'isso tudo' que mídia propaga|website=G1|date=10 March 2020 |language=pt-br|access-date=22 March 2020}} According to one poll, 64% of Brazilians reject the way Bolsonaro has handled the pandemic, while 44.8% support his [[impeachment]], an all-time high.[https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2020-03-19/gestao-de-bolsonaro-do-coronavirus-e-reprovada-por-64-e-45-se-dizem-a-favor-de-impeachment.html "Gestão de Bolsonaro do coronavírus é reprovada por 64%, e 45% se dizem a favor de impeachment"]. ''El País''. 19 March 2020. During a speech by the president about the pandemic, many Brazilians participated in a ''[[panelaço]]'' protesting the president by [[banging pots and pans]] on balconies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51955679|title=Brazil coronavirus protesters urge 'Bolsonaro out'|date=19 March 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=22 March 2020|language=en-GB}}{{cite web|first=Tom |last=Phillips |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/jair-bolsonaro-dictatorship-rally-protest-brazil-president-denounced |title=Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro denounced for joining pro-dictatorship rally | World news |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 April 2020 |access-date=27 April 2020}} === Cambodia === {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia}} [[Cambodia]]n Prime Minister [[Hun Sen]] was granted new powers in a draft state of emergency law amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia]] in March 2020. Several human rights organisations criticised the draft law as an opportunistic move to further centralise power and restrict civil rights.{{Cite web|date=10 April 2020|title=Fears as Cambodia grants PM vast powers under Covid-19 pretext|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/10/fears-as-cambodia-grants-hun-sen-vast-power-under-covid-19-pretext|access-date=1 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2 April 2020|title=Cambodia: Emergency Bill Recipe for Dictatorship|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/02/cambodia-emergency-bill-recipe-dictatorship|access-date=1 August 2021|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}{{Cite web|title='State of Emergency' Draft Law Gives Gov't Sweeping Powers; Permits Human Rights Restrictions|url=https://www.voacambodia.com/a/state-of-emergency-draft-law-gives-gov-t-sweeping-powers-permits-human-rights-restrictions-/5353728.html|access-date=1 August 2021|website=VOA|date=31 March 2020 |language=en}} === Canada === {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Canada}} On 13 March 2020, the [[Parliament of Canada]] voted to suspend activity in both houses until 20 April for the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] and 21 April for the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]].{{Cite news |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/parliament-suspends-for-five-weeks-over-covid-19-concerns-1.4851501 |title=Parliament suspends for five weeks over COVID-19 concerns |date=13 March 2020 |work=CP 24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315013940/https://www.cp24.com/news/parliament-suspends-for-five-weeks-over-covid-19-concerns-1.4851501 |archive-date=15 March 2020}} The House of Commons' Health and Finance committees were granted the ability to hold weekly virtual meetings during the pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Aiello |first=Rachel |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/house-health-committee-holding-first-virtual-briefing-on-covid-19-efforts-1.4875766 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403050024/https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/house-health-committee-holds-first-virtual-briefing-on-covid-19-efforts-1.4875766 |archive-date=3 April 2020 |title=House health committee holding first virtual briefing on COVID-19 efforts |date=31 March 2020 |work=[[CTV News]] |access-date=31 March 2020}} The leadership contests of the [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|Conservative Party of Canada]], [[2020 Green Party of British Columbia leadership election|Green Party of British Columbia]], [[2020 Quebec Liberal Party leadership election|Quebec Liberal Party]] and [[2020 Parti Québécois leadership election|Parti Québécois]] were postponed.{{Cite news|last=Canadian Press|first=The|url=https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2020/03/26/canadian-press-newsalert-conservatives-suspend-partys-leadership-race/|title=Conservatives suspend party's leadership race in face of COVID-19 crisis|date=26 March 2020|work=National Newswatch|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-date=22 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522044119/https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2020/03/26/canadian-press-newsalert-conservatives-suspend-partys-leadership-race/}}{{cite news |last=Rothbauer |first=Kevin |title=B.C. Greens suspend leadership race due to COVID-19 |url=https://www.albernivalleynews.com/news/b-c-greens-suspend-leadership-race-due-to-covid-19 |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=Alberni Valley News |date=27 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=Quebec Liberal Party suspends its leadership contest due to COVID-19 pandemic |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-liberal-party-suspends-its-leadership-contest-due-to-covid-19-pandemic/ |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=CTV News |agency=Canadian Press |date=20 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=COVID-19: Le Parti Québécois met sa course à la direction en pause |url=https://www.journaldequebec.com/2020/03/28/covid-19-le-parti-quebecois-met-sa-course-a-la-direction-en-pause |access-date=28 March 2020 |work=Le journal de Montreal |date=29 March 2020}} On 1 December 2020, the Canadian federal government announced plans for a $100 billion to kick-start the countries post-pandemic economy. This is its biggest relief package since the Second World War and it will account for about to 3-4% of Canada's GDP and will bring the countries deficit to $381.6 billion.{{cite news |title=Canada unveils largest economic relief package since WW2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55139229 |work=BBC News |date=December 2020 |access-date=24 January 2021}} On 7 January the Canadian government made it compulsory that travellers to Canada must have returned a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel. It was introduced to try to prevent new strains of COVID-19 from entering the country.{{cite web |title=COVID-19: Travel, quarantine and borders |url=https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid |website=Government Of Canada |date=17 December 2020 |access-date=24 January 2021}} This was to extends the restrictions on entry further from 26 March 2020 which saw a requirement that made it mandatory to isolate after entering Canada except if you were from the USA.{{cite web |title=Canada: Coronavirus movement restrictions and quarantine |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2020/649392/EPRS_ATA(2020)649392_EN.pdf |website=European Parliament |access-date=24 January 2021}} ===China=== {{see also|COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China}} Multiple provincial-level administrators of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) were dismissed over their handling of the quarantine efforts in central China. Some experts believe this is likely in a move to protect Communist Party general secretary [[Xi Jinping]] from people's anger over the coronavirus outbreak.{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/analysis-china-hubei-officials-sacked-xi-jinping-protected-2020-2 |title=China sacked a brace of top officials in Hubei province, likely in a move to protect Xi Jinping from people's anger over the coronavirus outbreak |last=Bostock |first=Bill |work=Business Insider |access-date=26 February 2020 |date=13 February 2020}} A few countries have been using the epidemic to build [[Foreign relations of China|political bridges]] with [[Government of China|Beijing]], raising accusations that these countries, which include [[Cambodia]] among others, were putting politics before health.{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/21/hun-sen-is-more-worried-about-beijing-than-the-coronavirus/ |title=Hun Sen Is More Worried About Beijing Than the Coronavirus |last=Wilson |first=Audrey |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |date=21 February 2020 |access-date=3 March 2020}} Existing [[China–United States trade war|tensions]] between the United States and China may have delayed a coordinated effort to combat the outbreak in Wuhan.{{cite web |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/peering-around-the-corner-the-geopolitics-of-the-coronavirus/ |title=Peering around the corner: The geopolitics of the coronavirus |work=[[Atlantic Council]] |access-date=3 March 2020}} Political scientist [[Victor Shih]] noted that certain features of COVID-19 made a strong response from Xi Jinping early in the pandemic more likely: First, COVID-19 mostly affected urban residents in dense major cities where the majority of mid-level Communist party officials lived. Second, COVID-19 spread so rapidly and easily that the authorities were compelled to act, or else risk losing control of it entirely.{{Cite book|last=Shih|first=Victor C.|chapter=China's Leninist Response to COVID-19: From Information Repression to Total Mobilization|jstor=10.3998/mpub.11927713.6 |title=Coronavirus Politics|pages=67–85|date=19 April 2021|editor-last=Greer|editor-first=Scott L.|series=The Comparative Politics and Policy of COVID-19|publisher=University of Michigan Press|doi=10.3998/mpub.11927713|isbn=978-0-472-90246-0|s2cid=229443500|url=https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/68032 |editor2-last=King|editor2-first=Elizabeth J.|editor3-last=Fonseca|editor3-first=Elize Massard da|editor4-last=Peralta-Santos|editor4-first=André}} Outlets such as ''[[Politico]]'', ''[[Foreign Policy]]'', and [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] have reported that efforts from China to send aid to other countries and claim without evidence that the virus originated in the United States are a [[Propaganda in China|propaganda]] push for global influence while deflecting blame for its handling of the outbreak.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-china-winning-propaganda-war/|title=China is winning the coronavirus propaganda war|date=18 March 2020|work=Politico}} ==== Hong Kong ==== {{see also|COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong|2020 Hong Kong national security law}} [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests|Protests in Hong Kong]] strengthened due to fears of immigration from mainland China.{{cite web |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/wuhan-virus-hong-kong-protests-china-12348984 |title=Hong Kong protesters torch planned Wuhan virus quarantine building |publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]] |access-date=26 February 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206010849/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/wuhan-virus-hong-kong-protests-china-12348984 }} A [[Witman Hung partygate|2022 political scandal]] occurred when reports emerged politician [[Witman Hung]] had held a birthday party in contravention with public health regulations. === Denmark === {{Further|2020 Danish mink cull}} === France === {{Further|COVID-19 pandemic in France}} A [[criminal negligence]] probe was launched by the [[Cour de Justice de la République]] into senior government officials' actions during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in France|COVID-19 pandemic]]. In October 2020, police raided the homes of several senior officials, including former prime minister [[Édouard Philippe]], as part of the probe.{{Cite news|last=Pineau|first=Elizabeth|date=15 October 2020|title=Police raid homes of French officials in coronavirus probe|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-probe-idUSKBN2701FG|access-date=11 September 2021}} In September 2021, former [[Minister of Health (France)|Health Minister]] [[Agnès Buzyn]] was charged with "endangering the lives of others" for her actions during the pandemic.{{Cite web|title=Ex-French health minister charged over COVID handling|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/10/ex-french-health-minister-charged-over-handling-covid-pandemic|access-date=11 September 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}} ===Hungary=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary}} The [[National Assembly (Hungary)|Hungarian Parliament]] gave the government [[plenary power]] which authorizes it to override acts and to [[rule by decree]] to the extent that is "necessary and proportional" in order to "prevent, manage, and eradicate the epidemic and to avoid and mitigate its effects".{{cite web|url=https://index.hu/english/2020/03/30/hungary_coronavirus_act_parliament_viktor_orban_fidesz_sweeping_powers_indefinite_term/|title=Hungarian Coronavirus Act passes, granting Viktor Orbán unprecedented emergency powers|last=Zoltán|first=Kovács|date=30 March 2020|website=index.hu|language=en|access-date=6 April 2020}} The law prescribes that the government is to report back to the parliament, or if it's unable to convene, to its speaker and the leaders of the parliamentary groups, regularly about the measures it has taken. The law also suspends [[by-elections]] and referendums for the duration of the emergency.{{cite web|last=Liu |first=Abraham |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-viktor-orban-rule-by-decree/ |title=Hungary's Viktor Orbán wins vote to rule by decree |work=Politico |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020}} The [[Constitutional Court of Hungary]] is authorized to hold sessions via electronic communications networks. The act also criminalizes "statements known to be false or statements distorting true facts" with 1 to 5 years imprisonment "if done in a manner capable of hindering or derailing the effectiveness of the response effort". The opposition had demanded a 90-day [[Sunset provision|sunset clause]] to the emergency powers in return for its support, but had its amendments voted down and therefore opposed the act. [[Human Rights Watch]] described the legislation as an authoritarian takeover, due to the rule of decree supposedly without parliamentary or judicial scrutiny and for criminal penalties for the publishing of "false" or "distorted" facts, and gave support to the European Commission using [[Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union|Article 7]] against Hungary. Criticism and concern regarding the decree stemmed from existing [[democratic backsliding|backsliding]] of Hungarian democracy under the premiership of [[Viktor Orbán]] and his majority-ruling [[Fidesz]] party since Orbán began his second tenure as [[Prime Minister of Hungary|Prime Minister]] in 2010. Orbán has been accused by opposition leaders and other critics of his premiership of shifting Hungary towards [[authoritarianism]] by centralizing legislative and executive power through [[Constitution of Hungary#2011 Constitution|Constitutional reforms]] passed in 2011 and 2013, curbing civil liberties, restricting freedom of speech to the extent that some independent media outlets once critical of his rule have since been acquired by allies of Orbán, and weakening other institutional [[separation of powers|checks on Orbán's power]] including the Constitutional Court and judiciary. Critics of the Orbán/Fidesz government expressed concern that the emergency plenary powers may not be rescinded once the pandemic subsides, and could be abused to dubiously prosecute independent journalists critical of his coronavirus response or his governance more broadly, and curtail other freedoms of speech and expression. Some observers suggest that any significant misuse of or, once the crisis subsides, failure to rescind the plenary powers by Orbán government could place Hungary at great risk of becoming the European Union's first [[dictatorship]], in violation of E.U. regulations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/01/hungarys-authoritarian-takeover-puts-european-union-risk#|title=Hungary's Authoritarian Takeover Puts European Union at Risk|date=1 April 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404030627/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/01/hungarys-authoritarian-takeover-puts-european-union-risk|archive-date=4 April 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/victor-orbans-power-grab-in-hungry-heightens-fears-of-dictatorship-in-eu-83h3g9lpm|title=Victor Orban's power grab in Hungary heightens fears of dictatorship in EU|date=2 April 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/03/31/hungary-no-longer-a-democracy-after-coronavirus-law/|title=HUNGARY 'NO LONGER A DEMOCRACY' AFTER CORONAVIRUS LAW|date=31 March 2020}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200401-how-coronavirus-legislation-could-create-the-eu-s-first-dictatorship|title=How coronavirus legislation could create the EU's first dictatorship|date=1 April 2020}} A petition against the legislation was signed by over 100,000 people. [[Péter Jakab]], the president of the opposition party [[Jobbik]], said that the bill put Hungarian democracy in quarantine. Nézőpont, a pro-government polling agency, conducted a poll that showed that 90% of Hungarians supported extending emergency measures and 72% supported strengthening the criminal code.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52095500 |title=Coronavirus: Hungary government gets sweeping powers |date=30 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330144929/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52095500 |archive-date=30 March 2020}} In response to news reports about the state of emergency being a danger to democracy, Foreign Minister [[Péter Szijjártó]] called them "fake news and lies" and stated that the measures that Hungary had adopted were not unprecedented in Europe. He specifically stated that there were unfounded reports in mainstream media about the government's unlimited authorization and the closing down of the Parliament.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2020/04/09/peter-szijjarto-hungary-foreign-minister-amanpour-viktor-orban-democracy.cnn|title=Szijjártó: "Fake news and lies" spread on Hungary|date=10 April 2020}} European Commission vice-president Věra Jourová after a thorough examination confirmed that Hungary's recently adopted emergency measures do not break any EU rules.{{Cite web|url=https://euobserver.com/tickers/148218|title=[Ticker] Jourova: Hungary decree law does not break EU rules yet|website=EUobserver|date=29 April 2020 }} ===Iran=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Iran}} The [[Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran]] has been heavily affected by the virus.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/coronavirus-pummels-iran-leadership-as-data-show-spread-is-far-worse-than-reported/2020/03/04/7b1196ae-5c9f-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html |title=Coronavirus pummels Iran leadership as data show spread is far worse than reported |last=Cunningham |first=Erin |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=15 March 2020}} The spread of the virus has raised questions about the future survival of the regime.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/03/will-irans-regime-survive-coronavirus/ |title=Will Iran's Regime Survive Coronavirus? |date=12 March 2020 |work=[[National Review]] |access-date=15 March 2020}} Iran's President [[Hassan Rouhani]] wrote a public letter to world leaders asking for help, saying that his country doesn't have access to international markets due to the [[United States sanctions against Iran]].{{cite news |title=U.S. sanctions 'severely hamper' Iran coronavirus fight, Rouhani says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-iran/us-sanctions-severely-hamper-iran-coronavirus-fight-rouhani-idUSKBN2110HL |work=Reuters |date=14 March 2020}} On 3 March 2020, [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|Iranian Parliament]] was shut down after having 23 of the 290 members of parliament reported to have had tested positive for the virus.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/8-percent-iran-parliament-has-coronavirus-it-released-54000-prisoners-2020-3|title=8% of Iran's parliament has the coronavirus, and it released 54,000 prisoners as the country descends into chaos|last=Haltiwanger|first=John|name-list-style=vanc|website=Business Insider|access-date=4 March 2020|date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304001925/https://www.businessinsider.com/8-percent-iran-parliament-has-coronavirus-it-released-54000-prisoners-2020-3|archive-date=4 March 2020|url-status=live}} === Ireland === {{Main|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in the Republic of Ireland}} The [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland]] has had a considerable [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in the Republic of Ireland|impact on domestic politics]]. Gatherings attended by political figures while public health restrictions were in place became the subject of controversy. The [[Oireachtas Golf Society scandal]] resulted from a gathering attended by numerous members of [[Oireachtas]], Ireland's parliament.{{Cite web|title=The event, the guests, the garda investigation – everything we know so far about the golf dinner that cost Dara Calleary his job|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/the-event-the-guests-the-garda-investigation-everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-golf-dinner-that-cost-dara-calleary-his-job-39467915.html|access-date=10 December 2021|website=independent|date=21 August 2020 |language=en}} The [[Katherine Zappone controversy]] involved a gathering attended by politician [[Katherine Zappone]] and others.{{Cite web|title=Katherine Zappone 'assured by hotel' that party with 50 friends, including Tánaiste, was in line with Covid-19 restrictions|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/katherine-zappone-assured-by-hotel-that-party-with-50-friends-including-tanaiste-was-in-line-with-covid-19-restrictions-40717044.html|access-date=10 December 2021|website=independent|date=4 August 2021 |language=en}} ===Israel=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Israel}} Pandemic and politics interlaced in Israel soon after the onset of the COVID-19 global spread and interacted with the country's March 2020 election. Facing criminal charges and unable to form a coalition, PM [[Netanyahu]] urged the establishment of a National Emergency Government (NEG). Abulof and Le Penne argue that Netanyahu succeeded partly through fearmongering. Suggesting that "If I fall, Israel falls", Netanyahu compared the COVID-19 crisis to the Holocaust, qualifying "unlike the holocaust, this time – this time, we identified the danger in time," saying that NEG headed by him is needed "like before the Six-Day War," to "save the country." Pandemic politics also affected Israel's foreign relations. On 28 March 2020, the [[United Nations]] Special Coordinator for the [[Middle East]] Peace Process, [[Nickolay Mladenov]] praised the Israel and [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian authorities]] for their coordination in tackling the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] pandemic. Mladenov appreciated the response strategy, especially for focusing on [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], as the region faces a relatively substantial risk of the disease spreading. Since the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|novel coronavirus crisis]], Israel permitted the entry of significant medical and aid supplies inside Gaza.{{cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060572|title=COVID-19: UN envoy hails strong Israel-Palestine cooperation|access-date=28 March 2020|website=UN News|date=28 March 2020}} ===Kosovo=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo}} On 18 March, Interior Minister Agim Veliu was sacked due to his support for declaring a state of emergency to handle the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo|coronavirus pandemic]] which would have given power to the Kosovo Security Council chaired by [[Hashim Thaçi]]. The [[Democratic League of Kosovo]], the junior partner leader of the coalition, filed a no-confidence vote motion in retaliation for the sacking and on 25 March eighty two members of the [[Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo|Kosovo Assembly]] voted in favor of the motion.{{Cite news |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/03/19/kosovos-crisis-hit-govt-threatened-with-no-confidence-vote/ |title=Kosovo's Crisis-Hit Govt Threatened with No-Confidence Vote |date=19 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326004128/https://balkaninsight.com/2020/03/19/kosovos-crisis-hit-govt-threatened-with-no-confidence-vote/ |archive-date=26 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.trtworld.com/europe/kosovo-govt-toppled-by-no-confidence-vote-amid-coronavirus-34859 |title=Kosovo govt toppled by no-confidence vote amid coronavirus |date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326004241/https://www.trtworld.com/europe/kosovo-govt-toppled-by-no-confidence-vote-amid-coronavirus-34859 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |access-date=26 March 2020 }} === Malaysia === {{Main|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Malaysia}} {{Further|2020–21 Malaysian political crisis|COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia}} [[File:Muhyiddin Yassin (51087589446) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Malaysian Prime Minister [[Muhyiddin Yassin]] resigned after 17 months in power, as his government's response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia|COVID-19 pandemic]] led to a [[2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis|loss of political support]].]] A [[2020–21 Malaysian political crisis|political crisis in Malaysia]] coincided with the onset of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia|COVID-19 pandemic in the country]].{{Cite journal|date=7 February 2020|title=Malaysia's political crisis|url=|journal=Strategic Comments|volume=26|issue=2|pages=vii–ix|doi=10.1080/13567888.2020.1756352|s2cid=221060594}} The [[Pakatan Harapan]] coalition government collapsed when party [[Malaysian United Indigenous Party]] withdrew, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister [[Mahathir Mohamad]] and eventual replacement with [[Muhyiddin Yassin]] and a new [[Perikatan Nasional]] coalition. A [[2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia|large outbreak at a Tablighi Jamaat religious event]] and spread of the virus across the country thought to have been exacerbated by the political instability,{{Cite web|date=22 March 2020|title=How Mass Pilgrimage at Malaysian Mosque Became Coronavirus Hotspot |website=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/03/17/world/asia/17reuters-health-coronavirus-malaysia-mosque.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322192328/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/03/17/world/asia/17reuters-health-coronavirus-malaysia-mosque.html|archive-date=22 March 2020|access-date=25 April 2021}} which newly appointed [[Minister of Health (Malaysia)|Health Minister]] [[Adham Baba]] used to criticize his predecessor [[Dzulkefly Ahmad]], despite the absence of a clear government responsible at the time of the event.{{Cite web|last=Ram|first=Sadho|date=19 April 2020|title=Fact-Checking Dr Adham Baba's Claim That PH Failed To Contain The Tabligh Cluster|url=https://says.com/my/news/fact-checking-dr-adham-baba-s-claim-that-previous-govt-failed-to-contain-the-tabligh-covid-19-cluster|access-date=25 April 2021|website=SAYS|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Hakim|first=Akmal|title=After "Warm Water Method", Health Minister Reportedly Had Video Conference With "500 Countries" {{!}} TRP|url=https://www.therakyatpost.com/2020/04/19/after-warm-water-method-health-minister-reportedly-had-video-conference-with-500-countries/|access-date=25 April 2021|website=The Rakyat Post|date=19 April 2020 |language=en-US}} Amid ongoing political instability, [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] warned politicians in May 2020 that he "would like to advise against dragging the country once again into a political mess that brings uncertainties" given the ongoing health crisis.{{Cite web|last=Chin|first=Emmanuel Santa Maria|title=King tells lawmakers not to drag the country into another political mess amid Covid-19 {{!}} Malay Mail|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/18/king-tells-lawmakers-not-to-drag-the-country-into-another-political-mess-am/1867229|access-date=25 April 2021|website=www.malaymail.com|date=18 May 2020 |language=en}} Prime Minister Muhyiddin blamed the [[2020 Sabah state election]] for a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases across the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Sabah|state]] and country.{{Cite web|date=6 October 2020|title=Sabah election spurred Malaysia virus surge, says prime minister|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3104421/coronavirus-malaysia-pm-blames-sabah-election-among|access-date=25 April 2021|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}} In January 2021, a [[2021 Malaysian state of emergency|State of Emergency]] was declared, suspending all elections and parliament, and the government were empowered to pass laws without oversight in response to the pandemic and [[2020–21 Malaysian political crisis|ongoing political instability]].{{Cite web|date=12 January 2021|title=Malaysia declares Covid state of emergency amid political turmoil|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/malaysia-declares-covid-state-of-emergency-amid-political-turmoil|access-date=25 April 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} The declaration attracted political controversy. Some MPs resigned from the coalition in response, leading the loss of the government's required majority in the [[Dewan Rakyat]].{{Cite web|title=Umno MP retracts support for Muhyiddin, Perikatan now only has the backing of 110 MPs out of 220|url=https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/umno-mp-retracts-support-muhyiddin-123134564.html|access-date=26 April 2021|website=malaysia.news.yahoo.com|date=9 January 2021 |language=en-MY}} Opposition leader [[Anwar Ibrahim]] criticised the declaration, saying this was an effort for the government to maintain power and that 115 other MPs were against it.{{Cite web|last=Kaur|first=Minderjeet|date=23 January 2021|title=At least 115 MPs reject emergency, claims Anwar|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/23/at-least-115-mps-reject-emergency-claims-anwar/|access-date=26 April 2021|website=Free Malaysia Today (FMT)|language=en-US}} Malaysia's king allowed parliament to reconvene to debate the measures, but the government blocked parliament from doing so, attracting rare criticism from the monarch.{{Cite web|date=29 July 2021|title=Malaysia PM under pressure to quit after stern royal rebuke|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/malaysia-pm-under-pressure-to-quit-after-stern-royal-rebuke-parliament-malaysia-kuala-lumpur-anwar-ibrahim-mahathir-mohamad-b1892891.html|access-date=19 August 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}} Continued debate was later cut short by COVID-19 cases in parliament, causing it to be suspended again.{{Cite web|date=31 July 2021|title=Malaysia suspends Monday's Parliament session, citing risk of Covid-19 infection|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-suspends-mondays-parliament-session-citing-risk-of-covid-infection|access-date=19 August 2021|website=The Straits Times}} In July 2021, the largest political party [[United Malays National Organisation|UMNO]] withdrew support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin and called for his resignation, citing dissatisfaction with his handling of the pandemic. They cited an extension of the nationwide "[[Malaysian movement control order#Total lockdown (FMCO)|total lockdown]]", a record surge in COVID-19 infections, as well as dissatisfaction with the [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia|economic response]].{{Cite web|last=Anand|first=Ram|date=8 July 2021|title=Umno withdraws support for Malaysia PM Muhyiddin, calls for his resignation|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/umno-withdraws-support-for-malaysias-pm-muhyiddin-calls-for-his-resignation|access-date=16 July 2021|website=The Straits Times}}{{Cite web|date=8 July 2021|title=What do Malaysia's latest political twists mean for Muhyiddin?|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3140382/what-do-latest-political-twists-malaysia-mean-pm-muhyiddin|access-date=16 July 2021|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}} The government eventually [[2020–21 Malaysian political crisis|collapsed]] in August 2021 after MPs withdrew their support over its COVID-19 response, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister [[Muhyiddin Yassin]] and dissolution of his [[Muhyiddin cabinet|government]]. This made Muhyiddin the country's shortest serving premier, in office for only 17 months.{{Cite web|title=Malaysia's Muhyiddin resigns after troubled 17 months in power|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/16/malaysias-muhyiddin-resigns-after-troubled-17-months-in-power|access-date=17 August 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}} === Myanmar === {{Further|2021 Myanmar coup d'état|2021 Myanmar protests|COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar}}During the [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état]], State Counsellor [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] and President [[Win Myint]] were detained and charged by the [[Tatmadaw]] over allegations of breaching COVID-19 restriction laws.{{Cite web|date=3 February 2021|title=Aung San Suu Kyi, Win Myint to face charges as NLD calls for 'unconditional' release|url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/aung-san-suu-kyi-win-myint-to-face-charges-as-nld-calls-for-unconditional-release/|access-date=29 April 2021|website=Frontier Myanmar|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=3 February 2021|title=Myanmar Coup: Aung San Suu Kyi charged with military for "transceiver and handshake"|url=https://eminetra.co.nz/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi-charged-with-military-for-transceiver-and-handshake/165536/|access-date=3 July 2021|website=Eminetra New Zealand|language=en-US|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217063650/https://eminetra.co.nz/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi-charged-with-military-for-transceiver-and-handshake/165536/}} Healthcare workers working on the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar|COVID-19 pandemic response in the country]] protested against the coup by refusing to work, which sparked a widespread [[2021 Myanmar protests|protest and civil disobedience movement]] across the country against the military.{{Cite web|date=3 February 2021|title=Myanmar doctors stop work to protest coup as UN considers response|url=https://www.afr.com/world/asia/myanmar-doctors-stop-work-to-protest-coup-as-un-considers-response-20210203-p56z7z|access-date=29 April 2021|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=9 February 2021|title=Coronavirus testing collapses in Myanmar after coup|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-myanmar-coup-idUSKBN2A90CK|access-date=29 April 2021}} === Russia === {{Main|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Russia}} === Peru === {{Further|Vacunagate}} ===Slovenia=== On its 1st Session on 13 March 2020, immediately following its confirmation, the [[13th Government of Slovenia|13th Government]] set up an informal Crisis Management Staff (CMS) of the Republic of Slovenia in order to contain and manage the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia|COVID-19 epidemic]]. Head of the Staff was Prime Minister [[Janez Janša]] and its secretary was former [[Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency|SOVA]] director [[Andrej Rupnik]]. CMS was composed of all government members (prime minister and ministers) and other experts and civil servants in an advisory capacity.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-03-14-1-redna-seja-vlade-republike-slovenije/|title=1. redna seja Vlade Republike Slovenije {{!}} GOV.SI|website=Portal GOV.SI|date=13 March 2020 |language=sl|access-date=14 March 2020}} Head of the Health Group was [[Bojana Beovič]].{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-03-14-spremenjeno-diagnosticiranje-za-realnejse-nacrtovanje-ukrepov-za-obvladovanje-epidemije/|title=Spremenjeno diagnosticiranje za realnejše načrtovanje ukrepov za obvladovanje epidemije {{!}} GOV.SI|website=Portal GOV.SI|date=14 March 2020 |language=sl|access-date=14 March 2020}} [[Jelko Kacin]], former minister and ambassador to [[NATO]], was the official spokesman of the Staff, he had a similar role during the [[Ten-Day War|1991 Slovenian war of independence]].{{cite web|url=https://www.24ur.com/novice/slovenija/na-kriznem-stabu-o-morebitnih-novih-ukrepih-vec-znanih-obrazov-tudi-jelko-kacin.html|title=Govorec kriznega štaba Kacin: V nedeljo sestanek direktorjev bolnišnic|website=24ur.com|language=sl|access-date=14 March 2020}} Crisis Management Staff was abolished on 24 March 2020 after the political transition was completed, its functions were transferred on the responsible ministries. Health Experts Group was transferred under the Ministry of Health. Kacin became the official government spokesperson on the topic.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-03-24-6-redna-seja-vlade-republike-slovenije/|title=6. redna seja Vlade Republike Slovenije {{!}} GOV.SI|website=Portal GOV.SI|date=24 March 2020 |language=sl|access-date=24 March 2020}} Government never proposed the declaration of emergency to the National Assembly, which would suspend the Assembly's powers and transfer them to the President of the Republic [[Borut Pahor]] to rule by decrees with the force of law, which are still subject to the National Assembly's approval once it gains its powers back. The provision is only applicable if the National Assembly is unable to meet in the session.{{cite web|url=https://www.us-rs.si/en/about-the-court/legal-basis/constitution/|title=Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia|date=11 April 2020|website=Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia}} Assembly however passed a Rules of Procedure Amendment to enable itself a "long-distance" session using technology.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/poslanci-podprli-spremembe-referendumskega-zakona-naklonjeni-tudi-sejam-na-daljavo/519755|title=Poslanci podprli spremembe referendumskega zakona, naklonjeni tudi sejam na daljavo|website=RTVSLO.si|language=sl|access-date=11 April 2020}} ===South Korea=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea}} Diplomatic [[Japan–South Korea relations|relations between Japan and South Korea]] worsened, as South Korea criticized Japan's "ambiguous and passive quarantine efforts", after Japan announced anybody coming from South Korea will be placed in two weeks' quarantine at government-designated sites.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus quarantine plans ignite row between South Korea and Japan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/06/coronavirus-quarantine-plans-ignite-row-between-south-korea-and-japan |work=The Guardian |date=6 March 2020 |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308134434/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/06/coronavirus-quarantine-plans-ignite-row-between-south-korea-and-japan |archive-date=8 March 2020 |url-status=live }} Following the outbreak of the virus in South Korea over 1,450,000 people signed a petition supporting the impeachment of President [[Moon Jae-in]] due to him sending masks and medical supplies to China to aid them in their response to the virus outbreak.{{Cite news |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/09/moon-jae-in-china-coronavirus-impeachment-south-korea-president/ |title=South Korea's President Tried to Help China Contain the Coronavirus. Now People Want Him Impeached. |date=9 March 2020 |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312080924/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/09/moon-jae-in-china-coronavirus-impeachment-south-korea-president/ |archive-date=12 March 2020 |url-status=live }} Moon administration's continuing handling of the crisis has however been noted in other sectors of the Korean society and internationally. An opinion poll by Gallup Korea in March 2020 showed Moon's approval rating rising by 5% to 49%.{{cite web|url=https://www.gallup.co.kr/dir/GallupKoreaDaily/GallupKoreaDailyOpinion_392(20200313).pdf|title=데일리 오피니언 제392호(2020년 3월 2주) – 총선 기대, 차기 정치 지도자, 코로나19, 마스크 관련 인식|work=한국갤럽|date=13 March 2020}} In April 2020, Moon's [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party]] won a record landslide in the country's [[Legislative elections in South Korea|legislative election]] for [[List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2020–2024|21st session until 2024]].{{cite web|date=16 April 2020|title=Moon's Democrats win South Korea general election in landslide|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/South-Korea-election/Moon-s-Democrats-win-South-Korea-general-election-in-landslide|access-date=10 May 2020|work=Nikkei Asian Review}}{{cite web|date=16 April 2020|title=Ruling party sweeps to landslide victory in South Korean elections|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/04/16/Ruling-party-sweeps-to-landslide-victory-in-South-Korean-elections/7011587025642/|access-date=10 May 2020|work=United Press Agency}} Maintaining the quality of universal healthcare is paramount to South Korea, because the country's population is aging rapidly, and the government's health policy reaction to the long COVID-19 pandemic will remain a crucial issue in future elections.{{cite book |jstor=10.3998/mpub.11927713.8 |chapter=Institutions Matter in Fighting Covid-19 |last1=Park |first1=June |title=Coronavirus Politics |year=2021 |pages=105–126 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |doi=10.3998/mpub.11927713 |isbn=978-0-472-03862-6 |s2cid=229443500 |url=https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/68032 }} ===Spain=== {{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Spain}} On 12 March 2020, the [[Congress of Deputies]] voted to suspend activity for a week after multiple members had tested positive for the virus.{{Cite news |url=https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-03-13/more-spanish-politicians-confirm-they-have-been-infected-with-the-coronavirus.html |title=More Spanish politicians confirm they have been infected with the coronavirus |date=9 March 2020 |work=El Pais |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316212824/https://english.elpais.com/society/2020-03-13/more-spanish-politicians-confirm-they-have-been-infected-with-the-coronavirus.html |archive-date=16 March 2020 |url-status=live }} When the [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress of Deputies]] approved the extension of the [[State of Alarm]] on 18 March, it was the first time that opposition parties [[Popular Party (Spain)|Popular Party]] and [[Vox (Spain)|Vox]] had supported the government in a vote while separatist parties, such as [[Catalan Republican Left]], abstained from the vote. The response to the coronavirus has been complicated by the fact that [[Pedro Sánchez]] is leading [[PSOE]] (in coalition with [[Unidas Podemos]]) [[minority government]] which is counting on support from opposition parties to enact coronavirus measures, especially with regards to economic stimulus. So far, the cabinet is discussing proposals to offer zero-interest loans to tenants to pay rent so that smaller landlords who depend on rent income can stay afloat. PP leader [[Pablo Casado]] complained that the government was not keeping him informed of developments on the coronavirus. [[Ciudadanos]] leader [[Inés Arrimadas]] said that she supports the government's actions.{{cite news |title=Government counting on opposition support for coronavirus measures despite lack of dialogue |url=https://english.elpais.com/politics/2020-03-31/government-counting-on-opposition-support-for-coronavirus-measures-despite-lack-of-dialogue.html?rel=mas |access-date=1 April 2020 |work=EL PAÍS |date=31 March 2020 |language=en}} The decentralized nature of Spanish politics led to a situation in the first phase of the pandemic in which Spain had the fastest increase of COVID-19 cases of any country in Europe due to poor intergovernmental coordination. The recentralization of health policy in the fall of 2020 should have a positive impact on Spain's ability to weather future crises.{{cite book |last=Dubin |first=Kenneth A. |date=2021 |chapter=Spain's Response to COVID-19 |editor-last=Greer |editor-first=Scott L. |editor2-last=King |editor2-first=Elizabeth J. |editor3-last=da Fonseca |editor3-first=Elize Massard |editor4-last=Peralta-Santos |editor4-first=André |title=Coronavirus Politics: The Comparative Politics and Policy of COVID-19 |pages=339–360 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |doi=10.3998/mpub.11927713 |isbn=978-0-472-03862-6 |jstor=10.3998/mpub.11927713.21 |s2cid=229443500 |url=https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/68032 |hdl=10419/248389 |hdl-access=free}} === Sweden === {{Excerpt|COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden#Politics}} === Tunisia === {{Main|2021 Tunisian political crisis}} A [[2021 Tunisian political crisis|2021 political crisis]] occurred in Tunisia when President [[Kais Saied]] dismissed the government amid a [[COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia|surge in COVID-19 cases]] and [[2021 Tunisian protests|protests over the economic fallout]].{{Cite web|date=6 July 2021|title=Tunisie: face au "tsunami" du Covid-19, des hôpitaux débordés|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20210706-tunisie-face-au-tsunami-du-covid-19-des-h%C3%B4pitaux-d%C3%A9bord%C3%A9s|access-date=10 August 2021|website=France 24|language=fr}} === United Kingdom === {{Main|British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic}} {{Further|COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom}} [[File:Hybrid Commons Chamber Rehearsal (E).jpg|thumb|A rehearsal for [[Virtual House of Commons|hybrid remote and in-person procedures]] in the UK's [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among parliamentarians in April 2020]] The [[British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic]] has been politically controversial, in particular the level of preparedness and the early response to the outbreak{{Cite journal|last=Abbasi|first=Kamran|date=4 February 2021|title=Covid-19: Social murder, they wrote—elected, unaccountable, and unrepentant|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n314|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=372|article-number=n314|doi=10.1136/bmj.n314|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33536181|s2cid=231791313|doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite web|title=No 10's letter to Keir Starmer only reinforces its failure on care homes|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2020/05/no-10s-letter-keir-starmer-only-reinforces-its-failure-care-homes|access-date=10 August 2021|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=13 May 2020|language=en}} and timing of subsequent lockdowns in autumn and winter 2020{{Cite web|date=22 September 2020|title=Boris Johnson adopts cautious approach to second UK coronavirus lockdown|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-cautious-approach-second-uk-coronavirus-lockdown/|access-date=10 August 2021|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}} that whether they influenced country's high death toll.{{Cite news|title=50,000 COVID-19 deaths and rising. How the UK keeps failing.|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-britain-newwave/|access-date=10 August 2021|website=Reuters|language=en}} [[Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic#Personal protective equipment|Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE)]] for health workers, as well as some supplies of PPE later procured proving to be inadequate, attracted controversy during the early months of the pandemic.{{Cite news|date=12 November 2020|title=Coronavirus: Safety officials had 'political' pressure to approve PPE|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54897737|access-date=11 August 2021}}{{Cite web|date=22 April 2020|title=What is the EU medical equipment scheme and why did UK opt out?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/coronavirus-what-is-eu-medical-equipment-scheme-why-did-uk-opt-out|access-date=11 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} A [[UK COVID-19 Inquiry|public inquiry]] into the government's handling was announced in May 2021 to take place in 2023 after demands from pressure group [[Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice]].{{Cite news|date=12 May 2021|title=Covid: Lessons to be learned from spring 2022 public inquiry - PM|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57088314|access-date=10 August 2021}} In May 2020, the actions of [[Boris Johnson]]'s senior aide, [[Dominic Cummings]], were the subject of [[Dominic Cummings scandal|a political scandal]] as he was accused of breaking [[British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic#First lockdown|lockdown]] rules while experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Johnson's defence of him, and Cummings' public press conference to defend his innocence both attracted criticism, as was the eventual rejection of widespread calls for Cummings to resign over the breach.{{Cite news|last=Weaver|first=Matthew|date=22 May 2020|title=Pressure on Dominic Cummings to quit over lockdown breach|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/22/dominic-cummings-durham-trip-coronavirus-lockdown|access-date=10 December 2020|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web|date=27 May 2020|title=Dominic Cummings: Tory unrest increases pressure on PM to sack adviser|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/26/tory-unrest-increases-pressure-pm-sack-dominic-cummings|access-date=10 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} Cummings left the government in late 2020, and subsequently criticised the government's response to the pandemic, including in a seven-hour testimony to the Commons Heath, and Science and Technology committees in May 2021.{{Cite news|date=26 May 2021|title=Dominic Cummings: The seven most explosive claims|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57254915|access-date=10 August 2021}} In August 2020, [[2020 United Kingdom school exam grading controversy|school exam grades standardisation algorithm attracted controversy.]] Whilst the algorithm was designed to combat grade inflation nearly 36% of students were one grade lower than teachers' predictions and 3% were down two grades.{{Cite news|title=A-levels and GCSEs: How did the exam algorithm work?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-53807730}} This resulted in public outcry.{{Cite news|title=A-levels: Anger over 'unfair' results this year|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53759832}} In response to the outcry, on 15 August, [[Gavin Williamson]] said that the grading system is here to stay, and there will be "no U-turn, no change". Two days later on 17 August, [[Ofqual]] and Gavin Williamson agreed to a u-turn and grades would now be reissued using unmoderated teacher predictions.{{Cite news|title=A-levels and GCSEs: U-turn as teacher estimates to be used for exam results|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53810655}} [[COVID-19 contracts in the United Kingdom|Government contracts]] related to the pandemic response have also attracted political controversy, with several senior politicians including [[Matt Hancock]] accused of [[cronyism]] by providing lucrative contracts to private companies connected to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].{{Cite web|date=22 April 2021|title=Fifth of UK Covid contracts 'raised red flags for possible corruption'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/22/fifth-of-uk-covid-contracts-raised-red-flags-for-possible-corruption|access-date=10 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=20 April 2021|title=Timeline: Covid contracts and accusations of 'chumocracy'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56319927|access-date=11 August 2021}} Hancock was found to have acted unlawfully by the High Court by not publishing details of a contract within 30 days.{{Cite news|date=21 February 2021|title=Coronavirus: 'Right' to delay contract transparency in pandemic, says Hancock|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56145490|access-date=11 August 2021}} The [[Greensill scandal]], which implicated former Prime Minister [[David Cameron]], involved Cameron lobbying the UK government to receive an emergency loan for supply chain financing firm [[Greensill Capital]] as part of the government's economic response to COVID-19, and highlighted links between civil servants and private companies.{{Cite web|date=19 March 2021|title=Cameron lobbied UK government on behalf of Greensill Capital – report|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/19/cameron-lobbied-uk-government-behalf-greensill-access-covid-loans-reports-says|access-date=10 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} COVID-19 related contracts culminated in a lobbying scandal involving Conservative MP [[Owen Paterson]], leading to his resignation despite initial attempts by the government to avoid Paterson's suspension from parliament.{{Cite web|date=6 November 2021|title=Boris Johnson sleaze crisis deepens amid pressure on Covid deals|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/06/johnson-sleaze-crisis-deepens-amid-pressure-on-covid-deals|access-date=7 November 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} It has also been suggested that the pandemic has highlighted regional inequalities in the UK including the purported [[North–South divide in England|North–South divide]]. Leaders in Northern England such as Mayor of Greater Manchester [[Andy Burnham]] and several Conservative MPs, including those in the [[Northern Research Group]], criticised the government when their regions were placed under [[COVID-19 local lockdown regulations in England|local lockdown regulations]] and later [[First COVID-19 tier regulations in England|tier regulations]] in England, citing the economic impact and accused the central government of providing inadequate fiscal support.{{Cite web|last=Bardsley|first=Andrew|date=10 October 2020|title=Northern leaders reject new furlough and 'won't surrender residents to hardship'|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/andy-burnham-coronavirus-furlough-scheme-19083669|access-date=11 August 2021|website=Manchester Evening News|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=15 October 2020|title=Manchester united: ministers' tier 3 talks enrage both Labour and Tories|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/15/manchester-united-ministers-tier-3-talks-enrage-both-labour-and-tories|access-date=11 August 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Bardsley|first=Andrew|date=20 October 2020|title=Extraordinary scenes as Andy Burnham learns of lockdown guidelines live on TV|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/andy-burnham-coronavirus-tier-three-19137922|access-date=11 August 2021|website=Manchester Evening News|language=en}} Controversies have arisen from government officials allegedly breaching public health advice or restrictions.{{Cite web|title=Lockdown: They told us to stay home - then went out. The political figures who broke the rules|url=https://news.sky.com/story/lockdown-they-told-us-to-stay-home-then-went-out-the-political-figures-who-broke-the-rules-11993219|access-date=13 December 2021|website=Sky News|language=en}} [[Catherine Calderwood]] and [[Neil Ferguson (epidemiologist)|Neil Ferguson]] resigned from their respective positions for travelling during the March 2020 lockdown. Health Secretary [[Matt Hancock]] became embroiled in a scandal in 2021 when photographs emerged of him breaching [[Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic|social distancing measures]] by kissing aide Gina Coladangelo in his workplace, which led to his resignation in June 2021.{{Cite news|date=27 June 2021|title=Matt Hancock quits as health secretary after breaking social distance guidance|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57625508|access-date=10 August 2021}} Following the July 2021 lifting of the legal requirement to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face coverings]] indoors, parliament became divided along ideological lines, with those who viewed them "as an unreasonable imposition on personal freedoms", mainly [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative MPs]], no longer wearing them whilst others continued to wear them.{{Cite news|last=Cameron-Chileshe|first=Jasmine|date=18 August 2021|title=Debate in UK parliament exposes divide over face masks|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2fd29862-0316-4319-a6ed-10a2ac8a3a31|access-date=8 December 2021}} Starting in December 2021, "[[Partygate]]" became a major political scandal, revolving around government and Conservative Party staff holding social gatherings during COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK, when these were prohibited.{{Cite web|date=7 December 2021|title=Boris Johnson says 'rules were followed' at No 10 party as Sunak denies attending|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-rishi-sunak-downing-street-party-b1971373.html|access-date=8 December 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=8 December 2021|title=PMQs: Boris Johnson sorry for offence caused by aides joking about lockdown party|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59580640|access-date=8 December 2021}}{{Cite web|last1=Meredith|first1=Sam|last2=Ellyatt|first2=Holly|date=31 January 2022|title=UK investigation into Downing Street Covid lockdown parties finds 'failures of leadership'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/31/uk-investigation-into-alleged-downing-street-parties-finds-serious-failure-to-observe-high-standards.html|access-date=2 February 2022|website=CNBC|language=en}} Boris Johnson and [[Rishi Sunak]] both received fixed penalty notices. The controversy eventually played a role in a later [[July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis|government crisis]] and Johnson's resignation.{{Cite news |date=7 July 2022 |title=Boris Johnson facing calls to quit as PM as soon as possible |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62064789 |access-date=11 October 2022}} Some political parties and politicians have opposed government pandemic restrictions. The [[COVID Recovery Group]] within the Conservative Party pushed to lift lockdown restrictions while they were in place.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} [[Nigel Farage]]'s Brexit Party rebranded as [[Reform UK]] in late 2020, with its primary focus being opposing [[COVID-19 lockdowns]].{{Cite news|date=2 November 2020|title=Nigel Farage: Brexit Party to focus on fighting lockdown|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54777346|access-date=10 August 2021}} The government implemented a [[Virtual House of Commons]] to minimise the spread of the virus among parliamentarians. The leader of the opposition, [[Keir Starmer]], his deputy [[Angela Rayner]], and other members of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] were investigated by the police for alleged breaches of COVID-19 regulations in the '[[Beergate]]' affair. They were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.{{cite web|last=Whannel |first=Kate |date=8 July 2022 |title=Sir Keir Starmer cleared by police over Durham lockdown beers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62095955 |website=BBC News}} ===United States=== {{Anchor|United States domestic}}{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|United States responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic}} Owing to the [[2020 stock market crash|stock market crash]], high unemployment claims, and [[Financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic|reduced economic activity]] caused by the coronavirus pandemic the [[United States Congress]] convened to create legislation to address the economic effects of the pandemic and passed the [[Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act]] (CARES Act). Representative [[Thomas Massie]] attempted to maneuver for a [[roll-call vote]], but there was insufficient demand [[Procedures of the United States Congress#Quorum and vote|among the quorum present]] and the House passed the bill by [[voice vote]] on 27 March.{{Cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Siobhan |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-lawmakers-race-to-washington-to-ensure-coronavirus-stimulus-passes-11585318472 |title=House Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Package |date=27 March 2020 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=27 March 2020 |last2=Andrews |first2=Natalie |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}} The outbreak prompted calls for the United States to adopt social policies common in other wealthy countries, including [[universal health care]], [[universal child care]], [[paid sick leave]], and higher levels of funding for public health.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Claire Cain |title=Could the Pandemic Wind Up Fixing What's Broken About Work in America? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/upshot/coronavirus-future-work-america.html |access-date=3 May 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=10 April 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Ian |title=Five ways the coronavirus could change American politics |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/495761-five-ways-the-coronavirus-could-change-american-politics |access-date=3 May 2020 |work=The Hill |date=2 May 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/13/opinion/americas-botched-response-coronavirus-is-problem-bigger-than-donald-trump/ |title=America's botched response to the coronavirus is a problem bigger than Donald Trump |website=[[Boston Globe]]}} Trump was also criticized for embracing medical populism, giving medical advice on Twitter and at press conferences.{{Cite web|title=Populism and COVID-19: Where Two Pandemics Meet|url=https://www.crossfirekm.org/articles/populism-and-covid-19-where-two-pandemics-meet|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Crossfire KM|language=en-US|archive-date=2 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232319/https://www.crossfirekm.org/articles/populism-and-covid-19-where-two-pandemics-meet}} Political analysts anticipated it may negatively affect Donald Trump's chances of re-election in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Martin |first2=Jonathan | name-list-style = vanc |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/us/politics/trump-vs-biden.html |title=Trump's Re-election Chances Suddenly Look Shakier |date=12 March 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=15 March 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news |last1=Lowrey |first1=Annie |title=The Economy Is Collapsing. So Are Trump's Reelection Chances. |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/most-important-number-trumps-re-election-chances/609376/ |access-date=3 May 2020 |work=The Atlantic |date=3 April 2020}} Some state emergency orders have waived [[open meeting law]]s that require the public have physical access to the meeting location, allowing meetings to be held by public teleconference.{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/14/metro/local-governments-take-lead-collaborate-improvise-manage-crisis/ |title=Local governments take the lead, collaborate, and improvise to manage crisis |website=[[The Boston Globe]]}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/state-waives-some-provisions-of-open-meetings-law-amid-pandemic/article_a30667ac-6573-11ea-a3cf-07e97a9da6ec.html |title=State waives some provisions of Open Meetings Law amid pandemic concerns |first=William J. |last=Kemble |website=Daily Freeman |access-date=20 March 2020 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320201351/https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/local-news/state-waives-some-provisions-of-open-meetings-law-amid-pandemic/article_a30667ac-6573-11ea-a3cf-07e97a9da6ec.html }} In February 2020, Senator [[Richard Burr]] sold over $1.6 million worth of stock before the [[2020 stock market crash|stock market crash]] using [[2020 Congressional insider trading scandal|insider knowledge from a closed Senate meeting]] where Senators were briefed on how coronavirus could affect the United States. Burr, after dumping the stock, called his brother-in-law who immediately called his own stockbroker. (The [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) was still investigating the apparent case of insider trading as of October 2021.) Stock transactions made by Senators [[Dianne Feinstein]], [[Kelly Loeffler]], and [[Jim Inhofe]] were also placed under scrutiny for possible insider trading in early 2020.{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818192535/burr-recording-sparks-questions-about-private-comments-on-covid-19 |title=Intelligence Chairman Raised Virus Alarms Weeks Ago, Secret Recording Shows |date=19 March 2020 |work=NPR |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320131233/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818192535/burr-recording-sparks-questions-about-private-comments-on-covid-19 |archive-date=20 March 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Faturechi|first=Robert|date=28 October 2021|title=Sen. Burr's Brother-in-Law Called Stock Broker One Minute After Call With Senator|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/richard-burr-sec-stock-dump-coronavirus_n_617b2849e4b079111a62b731|access-date=29 October 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en}} On 30 March 2020, the Department of Justice initiated a probe into the stock transactions with the SEC.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/politics/justice-stock-trades-lawmakers-coronavirus/index.html |title=Exclusive: Justice Department reviews stock trades by lawmakers after coronavirus briefings |date=30 March 2020 |work=The Hill |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331222559/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/politics/justice-stock-trades-lawmakers-coronavirus/ |archive-date=31 March 2020}} Captain [[Brett Crozier]] wrote a four-page memo requesting help for his crew, as a [[COVID-19 pandemic on USS Theodore Roosevelt|viral outbreak had occurred on board his ship]], the [[USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)|USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'']]. However, he was soon relieved of his command over the ship, because the memo was leaked to the public. The Acting Navy Secretary [[Thomas Modly]] initially justified his actions to fire Crozier, saying that the captain was "too naïve or too stupid" to be a commanding officer if he did not think that the information would get out to the public in this information age, but later issued an apology in which he acknowledged that Crozier intended to draw public attention to the circumstances on his ship.{{cite web |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |title=US navy official apologises for calling captain behind coronavirus memo 'naive or stupid' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/06/navy-coronavirus-ship-theodore-roosevelt-thomas-modly |website=The Guardian |date=7 April 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Macias |first1=Amanda |title=Acting Navy secretary quits after he ripped captain pleading for help over coronavirus |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/07/acting-navy-secretary-modly-quits-after-he-ripped-captain-pleading-for-help-over-coronavirus-outbreak-report-says.html |website=CNBC |date=7 April 2020}} Several members of Congress called for Modly's resignation for his handling of the situation, which he did on 7 April. Although [[New York (state)|New York]] Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] was initially praised for his leadership during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)|COVID-19 pandemic in New York]] when the state was the epicenter of the pandemic in April 2020, his administration became embroiled in a 2021 [[New York COVID-19 nursing home scandal|scandal over allegations of a cover-up]] of the number of deaths in nursing homes{{Cite web|title=The lighter days of CNN's Cuomo Brothers show are long gone|url=https://apnews.com/article/cnn-andrew-cuomo-chris-cuomo-096f81a0e4456a8f8ddb866d96d424b8|access-date=16 July 2021|website=AP NEWS|date=19 February 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite news|last1=McKinley|first1=Jesse|last2=Ferré-Sadurní|first2=Luis|date=12 February 2021|title=New Allegations of Cover-Up by Cuomo Over Nursing Home Virus Toll|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/nyregion/new-york-nursing-homes-cuomo.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/nyregion/new-york-nursing-homes-cuomo.html |archive-date=28 December 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=16 July 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}} into which the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] began several investigations.{{Cite web|date=19 March 2021|title=FBI reportedly investigating Cuomo role in shielding donors from Covid liability|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/19/andrew-cuomo-fbi-donors-nursing-homes|access-date=16 July 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} Cuomo resigned 23 August 2021 after increasing numbers of sexual harassment allegations were made public.{{Cite web|last1=Gregorian|first1=Dareh|last2=Finn|first2=Teaganne|date=10 August 2021|title=New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns after sexual harassment allegations|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/new-york-gov-andrew-cuomo-resigns-n1260310|access-date=10 August 2021|website=NBC News|language=en}} In 2022, U.S. Senator [[Jim Inhofe]] of Oklahoma announced he had COVID and said he would not serve out the remainder of his term. A year later, he told reporters: "Five or six others [serving in Congress] have [long COVID], but I'm the only one who admits it."{{Cite web |last=Boboltz |first=Sara |date=24 February 2023 |title=GOP Ex-Sen. Inhofe Retired Due To Long COVID After Opposing COVID Aid |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-ex-sen-inhofe-retired-due-to-long-covid-after-opposing-covid-aid_n_63f8e9b7e4b0735bf8777e81 |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} ====State politics==== {{Main|U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic}} [[File: Open Ohio Rally IMG 0910 (49799974031).jpg|thumb|Several hundred anti-lockdown protesters rallied at the [[Ohio Statehouse]] 20 April 2020.{{cite news |last1=Rouan |first1=Rick |title=Protesters at Statehouse demand state reopen as DeWine announces schools to remain closed |url=https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200420/protesters-at-statehouse-demand-state-reopen-as-dewine-announces-schools-to-remain-closed |access-date=3 May 2020 |work=[[The Columbus Dispatch]] |date=20 April 2020 |language=en |archive-date=25 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425004821/https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200420/protesters-at-statehouse-demand-state-reopen-as-dewine-announces-schools-to-remain-closed }}]]Multiple U.S. states suspended legislative activity including Colorado, Kentucky, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Vermont.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/coronavirus-and-state-legislatures-in-the-news.aspx |title=Coronavirus and State Legislatures in the News |date=13 March 2020 |work=NCSL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314123927/https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/coronavirus-and-state-legislatures-in-the-news.aspx |archive-date=14 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/13/legislature-to-temporarily-adjourn-due-to-coronavirus-concerns/ |title=Legislature to temporarily adjourn due to coronavirus concerns |date=13 March 2020 |work=NCSL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314123913/https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/13/legislature-to-temporarily-adjourn-due-to-coronavirus-concerns/ |archive-date=14 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/seven-cases-coronavirus-new-hampshire-schools-close/2091229/ |title=7th Case of Coronavirus in NH as State House Suspends Legislative Activities for a Week |date=14 March 2020 |work=NBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315014116/https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/seven-cases-coronavirus-new-hampshire-schools-close/2091229/ |archive-date=15 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/03/19/coronavirus-kentucky-general-assembly-temporarily-suspend/2879317001/ |title=Beshear rips into Senate budget proposal as Kentucky lawmakers hit pause on session |date=19 March 2020 |work=Courier Journal}} On 11 March 2020, New Mexico Governor [[Michelle Lujan Grisham]] vetoed $150 million worth on infrastructure projects due to the state losing $22 million in its general fund for every $1 decrease in the price of a barrel of oil as a result of the [[2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war|Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war]]. The Alaska Department of Revenue delayed its release of its budget forecast due to Alaska's dependence on oil prices.{{Cite news |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2020/03/13/states-expecting-big-revenue-hit-as-covid-19-slows-the-economy/ |title=States expecting big revenue hit as COVID-19 slows the economy |date=13 March 2020 |work=Roll Call |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314000216/https://www.rollcall.com/2020/03/13/states-expecting-big-revenue-hit-as-covid-19-slows-the-economy/ |archive-date=14 March 2020}} On 10 March, Georgia state senator [[Brandon Beach]] started showing symptoms of COVID-19 and was tested on 14 March. However, he attended a special session of the legislature on 16 March before his test results arrived on 18 March showing that he had tested positive. The entire Georgia state senate, their staffs, and Lieutenant Governor [[Geoff Duncan]] went into quarantine until 30 March.{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/488385-entire-georgia-legislature-urged-to-self-quarantine-after-senator-tests |title=Entire Georgia state legislature urged to self-quarantine after positive coronavirus test |date=19 March 2020 |work=Hill |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320053110/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/488385-entire-georgia-legislature-urged-to-self-quarantine-after-senator-tests |archive-date=20 March 2020}} Coronavirus restrictions also disrupted thousands of political campaigns across America, limiting the canvassing and in-person fundraising candidates have long-relied on to win office. Political insiders believe that could give incumbents a bigger advantage than normal.{{cite news |last1=Pransky |first1=Noah |title=Politicking in a Pandemic |url=https://www.lx.com/politics/throw-out-the-playbook-candidates-have-had-to-adapt-on-the-fly-politicking-in-a-pandemic/17852/ |access-date=19 August 2020 |agency=NBCLX |publisher=NBCLX |date=19 August 2020}} === Vietnam === {{Main|Việt Á scandal}} === Venezuela === {{See also|Negotiations during the Venezuelan crisis}} [[Reuters]] reported that during the pandemic, allies of both [[Nicolás Maduro]] and [[Juan Guaidó]] had secretly begun exploratory talks, according to sources on both sides.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-venezuela-politics-idUSKCN2232NX|title=Exclusive: Venezuela Socialists, opposition leaders begin secret talks amid pandemic – sources|date=21 April 2020|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=21 April 2020|language=en}} Guaidó and [[Ambassadors of the United States|U.S. Special Representative]] for [[2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis|Venezuela]] [[Elliott Abrams]] have denied that negotiations have taken place.{{cite web|url=https://efectococuyo.com/politica/guaido-no-hay-ningun-tipo-de-negociacion-o-mediacion-con-regimen-de-maduro/|title=Guaidó: No hay ningún tipo de negociación o mediación con régimen de Maduro|date=23 April 2020|website=[[Efecto Cocuyo]]|language=es|access-date=25 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/elliot-abrams-no-existe-negociacion-entre-oposicion-y-el-oficialismo/|title=Elliott Abrams: No existe negociación entre oposición y el oficialismo|last=Batiz|first=César|date=22 April 2020|website=[[El Pitazo]]|language=es|access-date=25 April 2020}} ==Impact on elections== === Argentina === The [[2021 Argentine legislative election|2021 legislative election]] had previously been scheduled to take place on 24 October 2021, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to 14 November 2021. ===Australia=== The five state [[Elections in Australia|elections]] held in [[Australia]] during the first 14 months of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]] have, in each case, returned the [[Morrison Government|incumbent government]] to power.Paull, John (2021). [http://www.academia.edu/49353757/Pandemic_Elections_and_the_Covid_Safe_Effect_Incumbents_Re_elected_in_six_Covid_19_Safe_Havens Pandemic Elections and the Covid-Safe Effect: Incumbents Re-elected in six COVID-19 Safe Havens],   Journal of Social and Development Sciences, 12(1), 17-24 These results have been viewed as a reward for maintaining a COVID-safe environment in their electorates. Four elections reinstated centre-left governments ([[Australian Labor Party|Labor]]) and the final one reinstated a centre-right government ([[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]]). The [[2021 Western Australian state election|election in Western Australia]] returned a State government with an unprecedented result winning 90% of seats. In contrast, in the [[2021 Tasmanian state election|Tasmanian election]] the status quo was maintained. Four of the elections were held in a timely manner, while the fifth (in Tasmania) was brought forward by one year, apparently to take advantage of the anticipated elector sentiment for rewarding governments that have maintained COVID-safe status. ===Bolivia=== On 21 March 2020, President [[Jeanine Áñez]] announced the interim government's decision to postpone the [[2020 Bolivian general election|snap election]]. Other presidential candidates had suggested postponing the election to prevent the spread of coronavirus through the congregation of large groups of people.{{Cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200321-bolivia-delays-presidential-elections-mandates-14-day-quarantine-against-virus |title=Bolivia delays presidential elections, mandates 14-day quarantine against virus |date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405223510/https://www.france24.com/en/20200321-bolivia-delays-presidential-elections-mandates-14-day-quarantine-against-virus |archive-date=5 April 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/electoral-court-postpones-bolivia-general-election-over-virus/1775807 |title=Electoral court postpones Bolivia general election over virus |date=22 March 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405223630/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/electoral-court-postpones-bolivia-general-election-over-virus/1775807 |archive-date=5 April 2020}} ===Chile=== A [[2020 Chilean national plebiscite|plebiscite]] on a new constitution and the convention that would write it was scheduled on 25 April, but on 19 March, political parties reached an agreement on postponing the plebiscite to 25 October. This agreement also postponed municipal and regional elections, from 25 October to 4 April 2021, with the primaries and second rounds of elections being postponed too.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/politica/constitucion/acuerdo-politico-por-elecciones-del-2020-plebiscito-se-postergara-para/2020-03-19/155155.html |title=Acuerdo político por elecciones del 2020: Plebiscito se postergará para el 25 de octubre |work=Cooperativa |date=23 March 2020 }} ===Dominican Republic=== On 13 April 2020, the electoral body of Dominican Republic decided to postpone the presidential and legislative elections which were originally scheduled for 17 May of the same year. The new selected date was 5 July 2020, and, in case none of the presidential candidates reached the absolute majority (50% + 1 vote), the second round will be held on 26 July.{{cite web |title=Resolución 042-2020 sobre posposición a causa de fuerza mayor por emergencia sanitaria de las elecciones ordinarias generales presidenciales y legislativas del 17 de mayo |url=https://jce.gob.do/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?EntryId=17643&Command=Core_Download&language=es-ES&PortalId=1&TabId=190}} The general election to elect the President and members of the Dominican Republic Congress, which was postponed from the scheduled 17 May 2020 date due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], was later held on 5 July 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53268860|title=Dominicans vote in election postponed over virus|work=BBC News|date=5 July 2020|access-date=6 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200705-polls-open-in-dominican-republic-presidential-election|title=Polls open in Dominican Republic presidential election|date=5 July 2020|website=France 24|access-date=6 July 2020}} ===Ethiopia=== On 31 March, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia delayed the [[2020 Ethiopian general election|House of Representatives elections]] that were originally scheduled for 29 August, due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Ethiopia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fanabc.com/english/nebe-says-impossible-to-hold-election-as-per-scheduled-due-to-covid-19/|title=NEBE Says Impossible To Hold Election As Per Scheduled Due To COVID-19|date=31 March 2020|work=fanabc.com|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522035630/https://www.fanabc.com/english/nebe-says-impossible-to-hold-election-as-per-scheduled-due-to-covid-19/|archive-date=22 May 2020}} ===France=== President [[Emmanuel Macron]] declared coronavirus as the "biggest health crisis in a century". On 12 March he stated that the first round of [[2020 French municipal elections|local elections]] would not be rescheduled.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51862828 |title=France's Macron defies coronavirus lockdown with elections |date=13 March 2020 |work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314013943/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51862828 |archive-date=14 March 2020}} The choice to maintain the elections, which took place on 15 March, generated significant controversy.{{Cite news |url=https://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2020/03/14/le-maintien-des-municipales-de-plus-en-plus-polemique_1781718 |title=Le maintien des municipales fait de plus en plus polémique |work=Libération |date=14 March 2020 }} On 16 March, he stated that the second round, originally scheduled for 22 March, would be delayed until 21 June.{{Cite news |url=http://www.leparisien.fr/elections/municipales/coronavirus-vers-un-report-du-second-tour-des-municipales-au-21-juin-16-03-2020-8281371.php |title=Coronavirus: le second tour des municipales reporté |work=Le Parisien|date=16 March 2020 }} ===Hong Kong=== {{main|Postponement of the 2020 Hong Kong legislative election}} The 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council election was originally scheduled on 6 September 2020 until it was postponed by the government for a whole year to [[2021 Hong Kong legislative election|5 September 2021]]. On 31 July 2020, [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] [[Carrie Lam]] announced that she was invoking the [[Emergency Regulations Ordinance]] to postpone the election under its emergency powers, citing the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong|recent resurgence of the COVID-19 cases]], adding that the move was supported by Beijing.{{cite news|title=LegCo General Election postponed for a year|url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202007/31/P2020073100898p.htm|date=31 July 2020|work=Hong Kong Government}} ===Indonesia=== The [[2020 Indonesian local elections]] were scheduled to be held on 23 September was postponed, and the Indonesian [[General Elections Commission]] proposed postponement to 9 December at the earliest, which was then approved by the [[People's Representative Council]] and then signed into law by President [[Joko Widodo]] on 5 May. The election's previous budget of around US$550 million was reallocated towards pandemic management and control.{{cite news |title=Govt, House agree to reschedule 2020 regional elections' voting day to Dec. 9 |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/15/govt-house-agree-to-reschedule-2020-regional-elections-voting-day-to-dec-9.html |access-date=10 May 2020 |work=The Jakarta Post |date=15 April 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Prasetia |first1=Andhika |title=Jokowi Resmi Terbitkan Perppu, Pilkada 2020 Digeser ke Desember |url=https://news.detik.com/berita/d-5003710/jokowi-resmi-terbitkan-perppu-pilkada-2020-digeser-ke-desember |access-date=10 May 2020 |work=detiknews |date=5 May 2020 |language=id-ID}} ===Italy=== A [[2020 Italian constitutional referendum|referendum]] on a constitutional amendment to decrease the number of members of parliament from 630 to 400 in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber]] and from 315 to 200 in the [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate]] was initially scheduled to be held on 29 March, but was postponed to 20 and 21 September following the outbreak of the virus in Italy.{{cite web |url=https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/rinviato-referendum-29-marzo-sul-taglio-dei-parlamentari |title=inviato il referendum del 29 marzo sul taglio dei parlamentari |date=5 March 2020 |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314100154/https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/rinviato-referendum-29-marzo-sul-taglio-dei-parlamentari |archive-date=14 March 2020 |url-status=live }} {{cite web|url=https://dait.interno.gov.it/elezioni/notizie/decreto-di-indizione-del-referendum-per-riduzione-dei-parlamentari|title=Decreto di indizione del referendum per la riduzione dei parlamentari|date=20 July 2020|access-date=19 August 2020}} ===Kiribati=== The first round of the [[2020 Kiribati parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] was originally planned to be held on 7 April 2020, but was later moved to 15 April, with the second round planned for the next week due to the coronavirus pandemic although there were no cases in the country at the time.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411125/kiribati-to-go-to-polls-for-elections-in-april |title=Kiribati to go to polls for elections in April |website=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=6 March 2020 |access-date=6 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410113923/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411125/kiribati-to-go-to-polls-for-elections-in-april |archive-date=10 April 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/413994/delayed-start-for-kiribati-elections |title=Delayed start for Kiribati elections |website=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=10 April 2020 |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410114020/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/413994/delayed-start-for-kiribati-elections |archive-date=10 April 2020 |url-status=live}} ===Latvia=== On 6 April 2020, the [[Prime Minister of Latvia|Prime Minister]] – [[Krišjānis Kariņš]] – announced the government's decision to postpone the [[2020 Riga City Council election|Riga City Council elections]]. Originally, the elections were scheduled for 25 April; election posters had already appeared. As the pandemic developed, the elections were rescheduled for 6 June but were not held until 29 August 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/election/riga-elections-take-place-today.a372272/|title=Rīga elections take place today|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]]|language=en|date=29 August 2020|access-date=27 December 2020}} ===New Zealand=== On 17 August 2020, [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Jacinda Ardern]] announced that the [[2020 New Zealand general election|upcoming election]] would be delayed by almost 4 weeks from 19 September to 17 October. The country's biggest city, [[Auckland]], had seen a recent rise in cases of COVID-19 and was placed on a restrictive 3 week lockdown. Due to safety concerns and an inability for political parties to campaign properly, Ardern agreed to a call from opposition and government parties to delay the election. The [[New Zealand]] election returned an increased majority for the [[incumbent]] government of Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]]. Before the 2020 election, the Labour Party held government in coalition with two other parties (the Greens and [[NZ First]]). The election returned the first majority Labour government for NZ since 1946. === Malaysia === {{Further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Malaysia|2020–2021 Malaysian political crisis}} The [[2020 Sabah state election]] went ahead in September 2020 with certain Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in place, but was later blamed for a surge in COVID-19 cases in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Sabah|Sabah]] and across the country by Prime Minister [[Muhyiddin Yassin]]. In December 2020, a State of Emergency was invoked to postpone by-elections in two constituencies, one of which was thought to be the epicentre of a COVID-19 outbreak.{{Cite web|title=Malaysia invokes emergency to stop by-elections as COVID-19 cases rise|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-malaysia-emergency-stop-by-elections-sabah-perak-cases-13783994|access-date=25 April 2021|website=CNA|language=en|archive-date=18 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218040918/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-malaysia-emergency-stop-by-elections-sabah-perak-cases-13783994}} In January 2021, a [[2021 Malaysian state of emergency|State of Emergency]] was declared nationwide, suspending all elections. After the nationwide emergency ended in August 2021, a localised one was almost immediately declared in [[Sarawak]], postponing a [[2022 Sarawak state election|state election until 2022]] due to the risk of COVID-19.{{Cite web|title=Dr Sim: No election in Sarawak until after Feb 2, 2022 due to Emergency|url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/07/31/dr-sim-no-election-in-sarawak-until-after-feb-2-2022-due-to-emergency/|access-date=24 August 2021|website=Borneo Post Online|date=31 July 2021 |language=en-US}} ===Paraguay=== {{further|2021 Paraguayan municipal elections}} In March 2020, the Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral (TSJE), the local elections regulatory agency, decided to postpone the municipal elections to elect Mayors and Councilors of municipal boards of the 261 districts of the country that was initially planned for 8 November 2020.[https://www.efe.com/efe/america/politica/paraguay-posterga-sus-elecciones-municipales-y-partidarias-por-el-coronavirus/20000035-4193727 Paraguay posterga sus elecciones municipales y partidarias por el coronavirus] ===Philippines=== {{further|2022 Philippine general election|2021 Palawan division plebiscite|2021 Maguindanao division plebiscite}} On 10 March 2020, the [[Commission on Elections (Philippines)|Commission on Elections]] (COMELEC) suspended nationwide voter registration until the end of the month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The registration period began 20 January and is scheduled to run until 30 September 2021.{{cite news |last1=Patinio |first1=Ferdinand |title=Comelec suspends voter registration amid Covid-19 threat |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096013 |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=9 March 2020}} The suspension was later extended to last until the end of April. The issuance of voter's certification is also suspended until further notice. The next nationwide elections scheduled in the Philippines is in [[2022 Philippine presidential election|May 2022]].{{cite news |title=COMELEC extends suspension of voter registration to April 30 |url=https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/27/comelec-extends-suspension-voter-registration-april-30.html |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=CNN Philippines |date=27 April 2020 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522044548/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/27/comelec-extends-suspension-voter-registration-april-30.html }} The [[2021 Palawan division plebiscite|plebiscite]] to ratify legislation which proposes the division of [[Palawan]] into three smaller provinces scheduled for May 2020 was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [[Palawan Provincial Board|Palawan's provincial legislature]] called for a special session and passed a resolution allowing their governor to ask COMELEC to postpone the plebiscite.{{cite news |last1=Magdayao |first1=Aira Genesa |title=Postponement of Palawan division plebiscite sought |url=https://palawan-news.com/postponement-of-palawan-division-plebiscite-sought/ |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=Palawan News Online |date=26 March 2020}} The plebiscite was postponed to and successfully held on 13 March 2021, with voters rejecting the division of their province.{{Cite news|last=Jaymalin|first=Mayen|title=All set for Palawan plebiscite|work=The Philippine Star|url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/03/12/2083638/all-set-palawan-plebiscite|access-date=11 March 2021}} ===Poland=== Initially the Polish government chose to not delay the [[2020 Polish presidential election|presidential election]], a decision which caused controversy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/04/16/a-postal-vote-in-poland-could-entrench-populists|title=A postal vote in Poland could entrench populists|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=20 April 2020|issn=0013-0613}} Polling has shown 78% of the population to prefer postponing the election. The opposition to the ruling party [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] has argued that the pandemic conditions prevent effective campaigning, and hence reduce the competitiveness of the election. On 27 March, some candidates for the presidential election failed to collect 100,000 signatures due to the coronavirus pandemic with only twelve presidential candidates having successfully collected over 100,000 signatures. Seven candidates submitted petitions with less than 100,000 signatures, but plan to appeal the central election commission's refusal to register them in the presidential election citing the coronavirus pandemic hampering the signature collection process.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} A change to Poland's election laws was proposed to allow postal voting for those over 60 and those under quarantine but not abroad, which was criticized as favoring the incumbent Law and Justice Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/29/polands-coronavirus-crisis-election-unleashes-political-warfare-154852|title=Poland's coronavirus-crisis election unleashes political warfare|website=POLITICO|date=29 March 2020 |language=en|access-date=2 April 2020}} Laws under discussion by parliament in mid-April define the entire [[Postal voting|vote to be postal]] and weaken the role of the electoral commission, despite postal workers unions saying this would be impossible. On 6 May, the Polish governing coalition announced the presidential election would be postponed due to the pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/908a36d593e86ae089a2f717371e99c9|title=Polish ruling coalition postpones Sunday presidential vote|date=6 May 2020|website=AP NEWS}} On 3 June 2020 [[Marshal of the Sejm]] [[Elżbieta Witek]] announced that first round of the delayed election would occur on 28 June 2020, with 12 July 2020 scheduled for the runoff, if it is necessary.{{Cite web|date=3 June 2020|title=Poland's postponed presidential election to be held June 28|url=https://apnews.com/39e5b76457ce8db4d69ac39bf8c89f93|access-date=8 June 2020|website=AP NEWS}} ===Russia=== On 25 March, President [[Vladimir Putin]] announced the postponement of the [[2020 Russian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]] scheduled for 22 April to a later date, which was later chosen to be 1 July.{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4301235 |title=Путин перенес голосование по Конституции из-за коронавируса|date=25 March 2020|website=Коммерсантъ|language=ru|access-date=3 May 2020}} Also, the [[Central Election Commission of Russia|Central Election Commission]] postponed about a hundred local elections scheduled for the period from 29 March to 21 June.{{cite journal |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4314450 |title=Коронавирус перенес выборы|date=3 April 2020|journal=Коммерсантъ|language=ru|access-date=3 May 2020}} Regional elections in more than 20 regions are due to be held on a "single election day" on 13 September. However, the campaign must start no later than 15 June. According to media reports, depending on the epidemiological situation, the Federal government allows the postponement of a single election day to December 2020 or the holding of these regional elections on a 2021 single election day.{{cite news |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2020/05/05/829594-edinomu-dnyu-golosovaniya |title=В ЦИК назвали допустимые сроки кампании по единому дню голосования|date=5 May 2020|website=Ведомости|language=ru|access-date=5 May 2020}} ===Serbia=== On 16 March 2020, the electoral commission postponed the [[2020 Serbian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] that was initially planned for 26 April.{{Cite news|date=16 March 2020|title=Serbia Delays Elections After Virus Triggers Emergency|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-16/serbia-delays-elections-after-virus-triggers-state-of-emergency|access-date=24 September 2020|website=Bloomberg.com}} === Singapore === The [[2020 Singaporean general election]] was held on 10 July 2020. The Elections Department had rolled out a series of measures in response to the pandemic to ensure that the elections can be held. No rallies and TV screenings pertaining to the election are to be held. Nomination centres will not admit members of the public and walkabouts, though allowed, should have safe distancing and minimal physical contact. Candidates are also not be allowed to make speeches, including during the campaigning, from campaigning vehicles, meaning that there will be no parades by the candidates held post-election.{{Cite news|title=Rules out: A Phase 2 general election will have no physical rallies, no screenings at coffee shops|url=https://mothership.sg/2020/06/general-election-in-phase-2/|access-date=18 June 2020|website=mothership.sg|language=en}} ===Spain=== The [[2020 Basque regional election]], scheduled for 5 April, were delayed, after an agreement between all the political parties represented in the Basque parliament; the [[2020 Galician regional election|Galician elections]] were also suspended.{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/espana/2020-03-16/urkullu-aplaza-las-elecciones-vascas-hasta-superar-la-crisis-del-coronavirus.html|title=Urkullu aplaza las elecciones vascas hasta superar la crisis del coronavirus|last=Gorospe|first=Pedro|date=16 March 2020|website=EL PAÍS|language=es|access-date=16 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/espana/2020-03-16/urkullu-aplaza-las-elecciones-vascas-hasta-superar-la-crisis-del-coronavirus.html|title=Galicia y País Vasco aplazan las elecciones hasta superar la crisis del coronavirus|last1=Vizoso|first1=Sonia|last2=Gorospe|first2=Pedro|date=16 March 2020|website=EL PAÍS|language=es|access-date=16 March 2020}} ===Sri Lanka=== On 19 March, Election Commissioner [[Mahinda Deshapriya]] announced that the [[2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election]] will be postponed indefinitely until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://newsin.asia/sri-lankas-general-election-postponed/|title=Sri Lanka's General Election postponed till country is freed from COVID-19|date=19 March 2020|website=NewsIn.Asia|language=en-US|access-date=19 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/93497|title=Sri Lanka's General Election postponed: Until the polls Country comes under Election Commission {{!}} Asian Tribune|website=asiantribune.com|access-date=19 March 2020|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319161742/http://www.asiantribune.com/node/93497}} Sri Lankan President [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]] initially insisted that scheduled forthcoming the election would proceed as planned on 25 April despite the coronavirus pandemic, and the authorities banned election rallies and meetings.{{cite web|url=https://colombogazette.com/2020/03/15/president-tells-saarc-leaders-april-election-will-go-ahead/|title=President tells SAARC leaders April election will go ahead|date=15 March 2020|website=Colombo Gazette|language=en-GB|access-date=16 March 2020}} ===Syria=== The [[2020 Syrian parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] originally scheduled for 13 April were delayed to 20 May to protect Syria from coronavirus.{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/syria-elections-postponed-over-coronavirus-183333853.html|title=Syria elections postponed over coronavirus|date=14 March 2020|work=Yahoo News|access-date=1 April 2020}} ===Trinidad and Tobago=== The [[2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election|general election]] originally scheduled for September might be delayed but "will be held when constitutionally due" despite the coronavirus.{{Cite news|url=https://www.looptt.com/content/pm-general-election-must-adhere-covid-19-rules|title=PM: General election must adhere to COVID-19 rules|date=28 May 2020|work=Loop News|access-date=28 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529085624/http://www.looptt.com/content/pm-general-election-must-adhere-covid-19-rules}} Pre-campaigning was partially suspended on 13 March following news of the first reported case of [[2020 coronavirus pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago|COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago]].{{cite news |title=Political parties halt activities over covid19 |url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/03/14/political-parties-halt-activities-over-covid19/ |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday |date=14 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=Two major parties put election campaigning on hold |url=https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/two-major-parties-put-election-campaigning-on-hold/article_c5ec536a-6593-11ea-8e9f-bf713f154ca5.html |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=Trinidad Express Newspapers |language=en}} ===United Kingdom=== On 13 March 2020, the [[2021 United Kingdom local elections|United Kingdom local elections]] that were meant to be held on 7 May were rescheduled by Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] to 6 May 2021 following the advice of the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] and in agreement with [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]].{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51876269 |title=Coronavirus: English local elections postponed for a year |date=13 March 2020 |work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313194513/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51876269 |archive-date=13 March 2020}} 309 local elections and 40 police and crime commissioner elections were going to be held on 7 May 2020{{cite news |last1=Proctor |first1=Kate |title=Local elections and London mayoral race postponed for a year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/local-london-mayoral-elections-postponed-year-coronavirus-uk |website=The Guardian |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=11 January 2023}} but all were postponed. The pivotal mayor of London election was set to be held on 7 May 2020 but it was postponed due to the increasing levels of coronavirus cases. On 27 March, the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] postponed their [[2021 Liberal Democrats leadership election|leadership election]], at first to May 2021, before moving it back to July 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52062239|title=Lib Dems suspend leadership contest until 2021|work=BBC News|date=27 March 2020|access-date=28 March 2020}} ===United States=== {{Anchor|Election impacts on the United States}} ====Presidential==== {{Main|2020 United States presidential election}} [[File:Electionsaltered.svg|thumb|right|States with at least one local, state, or federal primary election date or method of voting altered as of 5 August 2020]] The 2020 US presidential election continued to go ahead at the correct time without being cancelled or postponed which has never happened in the entire history in Presidential elections.{{cite web |last1=McKeever |first1=Amy |title=The U.S. has never delayed a presidential election. Here's why it's so tricky |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/united-states-never-delayed-presidential-election-why-tricky |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306125327/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/united-states-never-delayed-presidential-election-why-tricky |archive-date=6 March 2021 |website=National Geographic |date=31 July 2020 |access-date=11 January 2023}} If the elections was postponed or cancelled this would have been the first time in history in the US and may have likely led to political dispute. =====Campaign===== Political campaigns switched to online and virtual activities in mid-March to either avoid the spreading of coronavirus or to be in compliance with statewide social distancing rules.{{Cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/2020-presidential-campaigns-go-digital-during-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-03-20 |title=2020 presidential campaigns go digital during coronavirus outbreak |date=20 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403201145/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/2020-presidential-campaigns-go-digital-during-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-03-20 |archive-date=3 April 2020}} Former [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] and [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Bernie Sanders]] started giving online town halls and virtual fundraisers.{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/25/820741876/a-grounded-biden-campaign-is-trying-to-reach-voters-in-the-cloud |title=A Grounded Biden Campaign Is Trying To Reach Voters In The Cloud |date=25 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403201747/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/25/820741876/a-grounded-biden-campaign-is-trying-to-reach-voters-in-the-cloud |archive-date=3 April 2020}} President [[Donald Trump]]'s presidential campaign also shifted from in-person to virtual campaigning due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing rules made after his 2 March rally and both his and other Republican leadership offices based in Virginia were closed due to stay-at-home orders issued by Governor [[Ralph Northam]].{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/04/02/825467802/with-rallies-off-the-table-trumps-reelection-moves-to-virtual-campaigning |title=His Signature Rallies Are Off, So Here's How Trump's Campaign Has Moved Online |date=2 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403202343/https://www.npr.org/2020/04/02/825467802/with-rallies-off-the-table-trumps-reelection-moves-to-virtual-campaigning |archive-date=3 April 2020}} On 15 March, the first one-on-one debate of the [[2020 Democratic presidential primaries]] took place between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders in [[CNN]]'s [[Washington, D.C.]] studios and without an audience, as a result of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]]. The debate was moved from [[Arizona]], which is under a state of emergency and had 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on that date.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200315103553/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-election/amid-coronavirus-crisis-biden-and-sanders-go-head-to-head-in-democratic-debate-idUKKBN2120DK Results or revolution? Biden, Sanders present dueling visions while blasting Trump's coronavirus response] Reuters, 16 March 2020[https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-arizona.html Arizona: Latest updates on coronavirus] ''Live Science'', 15 March 2020 On 2 April, the [[2020 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]], which was originally scheduled to be held from 13 to 16 July, was delayed to the week of 17 August after the Democratic National Committee communicated with the presidential campaigns of [[Joe Biden]] and [[Bernie Sanders]].{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/politics/dnc-postponed-coronavirus/index.html |title=Democratic National Convention pushed back to August |date=2 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402234044/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/politics/dnc-postponed-coronavirus/ |archive-date=2 April 2020}} On 5 April Biden suggested "a virtual convention" may be necessary;[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/biden-suggests-democrats-hold-virtual-convention-amid-coronavirus-crisis-n1177076 Biden suggests Democrats may hold 'virtual convention' amid coronavirus crisis] NBC News, 5 April 2020 Trump told Fox News' [[Sean Hannity]] there was "no way" he would cancel the [[2020 Republican National Convention|Republican National convention]], scheduled to begin on 24 August in Charlotte, NC.[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/trump-biden-trade-barbs-over-possible-virtual-democratic-convention-n1177656 Trump, Biden trade barbs over possible virtual Democratic convention] By Adam Edelman, NBC News, 6 April 2020 House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] (D-CA) and Senators [[Amy Klobuchar]] (D-MN) and [[Ron Wyden]] (D-OR) expressed concern in early April that the pandemic might lower voter turnout in November. Closings of churches, universities, and driver's license centers will make it more difficult for voters to register and the Democracy Project at the [[Brennan Center for Justice]] expect turnout to be low, as it was during the 17 March [[2020 Illinois Democratic primary|Illinois Democratic primary]]. Georgia state House Speaker David Ralston (R), predicted that mailing absentee ballot request forms to all voters in the state during the coronavirus crisis would be "devastating" for GOP candidates, and President Trump said that some of the election reforms would make it harder for Republicans to win office.[https://thehill.com/homenews/house/490944-democrats-fear-coronavirus-impact-on-november-turnout Democrats fear coronavirus impact on November turnout] The Hill, 3 April 2020 There were calls to postpone the 2020 U.S. presidential election to 2021, but many constitutional scholars and lawmakers said it would be very difficult to do without amending the Constitution.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/03/nation/can-president-cancel-2020-election-over-coronavirus/|title=Can the president cancel the 2020 election over coronavirus? |website=The Boston Globe}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/3/21/21188152/trump-cancel-november-election-constitution-coronavirus |title=Can Trump cancel the November election because of coronavirus? |publisher=Vox |date=7 April 2020 |access-date=21 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/03/26/coronavirus-pandemic-trump-cannot-cancel-2020-election-column/2898418001/ |title=Trump can't cancel the 2020 election, even in a coronavirus pandemic |work=USA Today |access-date=21 April 2020}} =====Primaries===== On 12 March 2020, the [[North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party|North Dakota Democratic-NPL]] cancelled its state convention that was meant to be held from 19 to 22 March where statewide candidates would have been nominated and delegates to the [[2020 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] would have been selected.{{Cite news |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/4995662-ND-Dem-NPL-cancels-state-convention-due-to-virus-concerns-Republicans-going-ahead-for-now |title=ND Dem-NPL cancels state convention due to virus concerns; Republicans going ahead for now |date=12 March 2020 |work=Inforum |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314122351/https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/4995662-ND-Dem-NPL-cancels-state-convention-due-to-virus-concerns-Republicans-going-ahead-for-now |archive-date=14 March 2020}} On 13 March, the presidential primary [[2020 Louisiana Democratic primary|in Louisiana]] was postponed to 20 June by Secretary of State [[Kyle Ardoin]] and [[2020 Wyoming Democratic caucuses|Wyoming]] had its in-person portion of its caucus and all county conventions suspended and replaced with mail-in ballots.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/louisiana-postpones-democratic-primary-over-coronavirus-the-first-state-to-do-so.html |title=Louisiana postpones Democratic primary over coronavirus, the first state to do so |date=13 March 2020 |work=CNBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313235821/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/louisiana-postpones-democratic-primary-over-coronavirus-the-first-state-to-do-so.html |archive-date=13 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://k2radio.com/wyoming-democratic-party-suspends-in-person-caucus-conventions/ |title=WYOMING DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUSPENDS IN-PERSON CAUCUS, CONVENTIONS |date=13 March 2020 |work=K2 Radio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314000534/https://k2radio.com/wyoming-democratic-party-suspends-in-person-caucus-conventions/ |archive-date=14 March 2020}} On 14 March, the presidential primary in [[2020 Georgia Democratic primary|Georgia]] was moved from 24 March to 19 May;{{Cite news |url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/14/georgia-moves-presidential-primary-from-march-24-to-may-19/ |title=Georgia Moves Presidential Primary from March 24 to May 19 |date=14 March 2020 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315012528/http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/14/georgia-moves-presidential-primary-from-march-24-to-may-19/ |archive-date=15 March 2020}} on 9 April, the entire primary was again moved to 9 June.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-primary-delayed-again-june-during-coronavirus-emergency/W5ElsYWTsP5clpNAVTYXnO/|title=Georgia primary delayed again to June 9 during coronavirus emergency|first1=Mark|last1=Niesse|first2=The Atlanta|last2=Journal-Constitution|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} On 16 March, Secretary of State [[Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)|Michael Adams]] announced that the [[2020 Kentucky Democratic primary|Kentucky primaries]] would be moved from 19 May to 23 June and Governor [[Mike DeWine]] postponed the [[2020 Ohio Democratic primary|Ohio primaries]] despite legal challenges.{{Cite news |url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/16/kentucky-moves-primary-for-all-office-from-may-19-to-june-23/ |title=Kentucky Moves Primary for All Office from May 19 to June 23 |date=17 March 2020 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317112527/http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/16/kentucky-moves-primary-for-all-office-from-may-19-to-june-23/ |archive-date=17 March 2020}} On 19 March, Governor [[Ned Lamont]] moved the [[2020 Connecticut Democratic primary|Connecticut Democratic primary]] from 28 April to 2 June.{{Cite news |url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/19/connecticut-postpones-presidential-primary-from-april-28-to-june-2/ |title=Connecticut Postpones Presidential Primary from April 28 to June 2 |date=19 March 2020 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320051813/http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/19/connecticut-postpones-presidential-primary-from-april-28-to-june-2/ |archive-date=20 March 2020}} On 20 March, Indiana Governor [[Eric Holcomb]], Secretary of State [[Connie Lawson]], Republican state chairman Kyle Hupfer, and Democratic state chairman [[John Zody]] announced that Indiana's primaries were rescheduled from 5 May to 2 June.{{Cite news |url=https://wsbt.com/news/local/watch-live-governor-state-officials-to-give-update-on-indianas-primary-election |title=Governor announces Indiana primary moved from May 5 to June 2 |date=20 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321152134/https://wsbt.com/news/local/watch-live-governor-state-officials-to-give-update-on-indianas-primary-election |archive-date=21 March 2020}} On 21 March, Governor [[Wanda Vázquez Garced]] postponed the Puerto Rico [[2020 Puerto Rico Democratic primary|presidential primary]] from 29 March to 26 April. The [[Alaska Democratic Party]] canceled in-person voting for its [[2020 Alaska Democratic primary|presidential primary]] and extended its mail-in voting time to 10 April. Governor [[John Carney (Delaware politician)|John Carney]] postponed the Delaware [[2020 Delaware Democratic primary|presidential primary]] from 28 April to 2 June. The [[Democratic Party of Hawaii]] canceled in-person voting for its [[2020 Hawaii Democratic primary|presidential primary]] and delayed it from 4 April to sometime in May. Governor [[Gina Raimondo]] postponed the Rhode Island [[2020 Rhode Island Democratic primary|presidential primary]] at the request of the board of elections from 28 April to 2 June.{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/20/state-elections-primaries-changes-coronavirus-138393 |title=Which states are changing their primaries over coronavirus |date=24 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325110749/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/20/state-elections-primaries-changes-coronavirus-138393 |archive-date=25 March 2020}} On 27 March, Governor [[Tom Wolf]] signed into law legislation passed by the state legislature to postpone Pennsylvania's primaries from 28 April to 2 June.{{Cite news |url=https://temple-news.com/pennsylvania-primary-postponed-to-june-amid-covid-19-outbreak/ |title=Pennsylvania primary postponed to June amid COVID-19 outbreak |date=27 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327161536/https://temple-news.com/pennsylvania-primary-postponed-to-june-amid-covid-19-outbreak/ |archive-date=27 March 2020}} On 28 March, Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] announced at a news conference that New York's [[2020 New York Democratic primary|presidential primary]] would be postponed from 28 April to 23 June.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/28/politics/cuomo-new-york-presidential-primary/index.html |title=New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo moves state's presidential primary |date=28 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328191724/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/28/politics/cuomo-new-york-presidential-primary/ |archive-date=28 March 2020}} On 8 April, Governor [[Phil Murphy]] signed an executive order to reschedule the primary election scheduled to be held on 2 June to 7 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/murphy-officially-postpones-njs-primary-elections-to-july-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak.html|first1=Brent|last1=Johnson|title=Murphy officially postpones N.J.'s primary elections to July due to coronavirus outbreak|publisher=Advance Local Media LLC|date=8 April 2020|website=NJ.com}} On 30 March, the Kansas Democratic Party announced that its [[2020 Kansas Democratic primary|presidential primary]] would be conducted only through mail-in ballots, and Governor [[Brad Little]] and Secretary of State [[Lawerence Denney]] also announced that Idaho's primary elections would also be conducted entirety through mail-in ballots.{{Cite news |url=http://www.kake.com/story/41953325/kansas-democratic-presidential-primaries-move-to-mail-in-only-cancel-in-person-voting |title=Kansas Democratic presidential primaries move to mail-in only, cancel in-person voting |date=30 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404203658/http://www.kake.com/story/41953325/kansas-democratic-presidential-primaries-move-to-mail-in-only-cancel-in-person-voting |archive-date=4 April 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/idahocovidvoting/293-19f96702-993c-484b-b35f-fc50d67e9279 |title=Idaho primary will be conducted completely by mail |date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404203653/https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/idahocovidvoting/293-19f96702-993c-484b-b35f-fc50d67e9279 |archive-date=4 April 2020}} On 1 April, Governor [[Jim Justice]] signed an executive order to postpone West Virginia's primaries from 12 May to 9 June.{{Cite news |url=https://governor.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2020/Pages/COVID-19-UPDATE-Gov.-Justice-signs-executive-order-to-move-Primary-Election-to-June-9-after-consultation-with-Attorney-Gen.aspx |title=COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice signs executive order to move Primary Election to June 9 after consultation with Attorney General, Secretary of State |date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404204147/https://governor.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2020/Pages/COVID-19-UPDATE-Gov.-Justice-signs-executive-order-to-move-Primary-Election-to-June-9-after-consultation-with-Attorney-Gen.aspx |archive-date=4 April 2020}} Polling places in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona that were located in senior living facilities were moved and other health precautions were enacted.{{Cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-scramble-move-polling-places-nursing-homes-stock/story?id=69587292 |title=Polling places moved from nursing homes; other changes amid coronavirus concerns |date=13 March 2020 |work=The Baltimore Sun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314052301/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-scramble-move-polling-places-nursing-homes-stock/story?id=69587292 |archive-date=14 March 2020}} Local election directors in Maryland asked for the [[2020 Maryland Democratic primary|state's primary]] to be changed to only use mail-in ballots and former [[United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury|Deputy Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Mary J. Miller]] asked for Governor [[Larry Hogan]] to switch to mail-in ballots.{{Cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2020/03/13/officials-urge-maryland-to-hold-mail-in-only-primary-because-of-coronavirus/ |title=Officials urge Maryland to hold mail-in only primary because of coronavirus |date=13 March 2020 |work=The Baltimore Sun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314052304/https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-pol-mail-in-vote-20200313-asebi2ahqfab7a7yxhnoayy22a-story.html |archive-date=14 March 2020}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! State !! Original date !! New date |- | [[Puerto Rico]] || 29 March 2020 || 26 April 2020 |- | [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] || 24 March 2020 || 9 June 2020 |- | [[Connecticut]] || 28 April 2020 || 2 June 2020 |- | [[Delaware]] || 28 April 2020 || 2 June 2020 |- | [[Ohio]] || 17 March 2020 || 2 June 2020 |- | [[Pennsylvania]] || 28 April 2020 || 2 June 2020 |- | [[Rhode Island]] || 28 April 2020 || 2 June 2020 |- | [[Indiana]] || 5 May 2020 || 2 June 2020 |- | [[West Virginia]] || 12 May 2020 || 9 June 2020 |- | [[Louisiana]] || 4 April 2020 || 20 June 2020 |- | [[Kentucky]] || 19 May 2020 || 23 June 2020 |- | [[New York (state)|New York]] || 28 April 2020 || 23 June 2020 |- | [[New Jersey]] || 2 June 2020 || 7 July 2020 |} ===== General elections ===== In October 2020, the editors of the [[New England Journal of Medicine]] unanimously published an unprecedented editorial calling for the current American leadership to be voted out in the November election, writing "countries were forced to make hard choices about how to respond. Here in the United States, our leaders have failed that test. They have taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy."{{Cite web|first=Jacqueline|last=Howard|title=Prestigious medical journal calls for US leadership to be voted out over Covid-19 failure|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/07/health/nejm-editorial-political-leadership-bn/index.html|website=CNN|date=7 October 2020 }} Science Advances also published a research study that revealed "states with more COVID-19 fatalities were less likely to support Republican candidates."{{Cite journal|last1=Warshaw|first1=Christopher|author2-link=Lynn Vavreck|last2=Vavreck|first2=Lynn|last3=Baxter-King|first3=Ryan|date=1 October 2020|title=Fatalities from COVID-19 are reducing Americans' support for Republicans at every level of federal office|journal=Science Advances|language=en|volume=6|issue=44|article-number=eabd8564|bibcode=2020SciA....6.8564W|doi=10.1126/sciadv.abd8564|issn=2375-2548|pmc=7608793|pmid=33127688|doi-access=free}} In November 2020, Donald Trump lost his bid for reelection to former Vice President [[Joe Biden]], in an election dominated by COVID-19's impact on all aspects of American life.{{cite magazine|last1=Bennett |first1=Brian|last2=Bernenson|first2=Tessa|date=7 November 2020|title=How Donald Trump Lost The Election|url=https://time.com/5907973/donald-trump-loses-2020-election/|access-date=17 November 2020|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}} ====State==== =====Campaign===== Thirty-four Democratic and Republican candidates in New York signed a petition asking Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] for the primary petition signature amounts to be decreased or eliminated for the primaries to prevent spreading or contracting the virus during signature collection.{{Cite news |url=https://bklyner.com/state-congressional-candidates-sign-petition-to-stop-petitioning-during-coronavirus/ |title=State, Congressional Candidates Sign Petition to Stop Petitioning During Coronavirus |date=11 March 2020 |work=Bklyner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314124431/https://bklyner.com/state-congressional-candidates-sign-petition-to-stop-petitioning-during-coronavirus/ |archive-date=14 March 2020}} On 14 March, Cuomo reduced the signature requirement to 30% of the normal limit and moved the deadline from 2 April to 17 March.{{Cite news |url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/14/new-york-primary-petitions-cut-to-30-of-normal-but-petitioning-deadline-arrives-sooner/ |title=New York Primary Petitions Cut to 30% of Normal, but Petitioning Deadline Arrives Sooner |date=14 March 2020 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315012821/http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/14/new-york-primary-petitions-cut-to-30-of-normal-but-petitioning-deadline-arrives-sooner/ |archive-date=15 March 2020}} On 26 March, the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] said the pandemic would prevent third-party candidates from appearing on the ballot unless petitioning requirements were reduced.{{Cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-may-keep-thirdparty-presidential-candidates-off-the-ballot-come-november-002810766.html |title=Coronavirus may keep 3rd-party presidential candidates off the ballot |date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403203522/https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-may-keep-thirdparty-presidential-candidates-off-the-ballot-come-november-002810766.html |archive-date=3 April 2020}} =====Elections===== [[File:Election Day 2020 (50564518207).jpg|thumb|A masked voter casts a ballot at [[Roosevelt High School (Iowa)|Roosevelt High School]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa]].]] On 11 March 2020, the [[Michigan Democratic Party]] cancelled its state convention which was scheduled for 21 March.{{Cite news |url=https://michigandems.com/mdp-chair-lavora-barnes-statement-on-party-legacy-dinner-fundraiser-and-endorsement-convention/ |title=MDP Chair Lavora Barnes Statement on Party Legacy Dinner Fundraiser and Endorsement Convention |date=11 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321150331/https://michigandems.com/mdp-chair-lavora-barnes-statement-on-party-legacy-dinner-fundraiser-and-endorsement-convention/ |archive-date=21 March 2020}} The Utah [[Utah Republican Party|Republican]] and [[Utah Democratic Party|Democratic]] parties cancelled their in-person state conventions and the [[United Utah Party|United Utah]] replaced their caucuses and conventions with virtual meetings.{{Cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/3/12/21176714/coronavirus-utah-republican-party-democratic-party-election-convention-caucus |title=Utah Democrats, GOP cancel in-person state conventions, postpone caucus night |date=12 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321151057/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/3/12/21176714/coronavirus-utah-republican-party-democratic-party-election-convention-caucus |archive-date=21 March 2020}} On 16 March, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the postponement of the Texas state Senate District 14 special election from 2 May to 14 July.{{Cite news |url=https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-proclamation-postponing-special-election-for-texas-senate-district-14 |title=Governor Abbott Issues Proclamation Postponing Special Election For Texas Senate District 14 |date=16 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321151253/https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-proclamation-postponing-special-election-for-texas-senate-district-14 |archive-date=21 March 2020}} On 20 March, the North Carolina State Board of Elections announced that the Republican primary runoff for North Carolina's 11th Congressional district would be delayed to 23 June and Mississippi Governor [[Tate Reeves]] announced that the Republican primary runoff for the [[Mississippi's 2nd congressional district|2nd congressional district]] would be postponed to 23 June.{{Cite news |url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/national/nine-states-postpone-presidential-or-congressional-primary-elections/article_3fa227e3-9e68-5304-948e-f7a75723a1cb.html |title=Nine states postpone presidential or congressional primary elections |date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321151751/https://www.kulr8.com/news/national/nine-states-postpone-presidential-or-congressional-primary-elections/article_3fa227e3-9e68-5304-948e-f7a75723a1cb.html |archive-date=21 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/mississippi-latest-state-delay-elections-amid-pandemic-69712803 |title=Mississippi delays a GOP primary runoff amid pandemic |date=20 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326114645/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/mississippi-latest-state-delay-elections-amid-pandemic-69712803 |archive-date=26 March 2020}} On 23 March, special elections for the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] and [[Massachusetts Senate|Senate]] were postponed.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/2nd-hampden-and-hampshire-special-election-postponed-to-may/ |title=2nd Hampden and Hampshire special election postponed to May |date=24 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326114932/https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/2nd-hampden-and-hampshire-special-election-postponed-to-may/ |archive-date=26 March 2020}} On 15 March, South Carolina Governor [[Henry McMaster]] delayed all county and municipal elections in March and April to after 1 May.{{Cite news |url=https://www.scvotes.org/march-april-elections-postponed-due-coronavirus |title=March & April Elections Postponed Due to Coronavirus |date=15 March 2020 |work=South Carolina Votes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320052628/https://www.scvotes.org/march-april-elections-postponed-due-coronavirus |archive-date=20 March 2020}} On 18 March, Alabama Governor [[Kay Ivey]] delayed the state's primary runoffs from 31 March to 14 July, Missouri Governor [[Mike Parson]] delayed local elections from 7 April to 2 June, and Secretary of State Paul Ziriax announced that municipalities could reschedule elections from 7 April to a late date.{{Cite news |url=https://www.woodwardnews.net/news/state-election-board-secretary-declares-election-emergency-authorizes-local-entities/article_e5c057be-694d-11ea-9a2c-7b7a9335eb7b.html |title=State Election Board Secretary Declares Election Emergency: Authorizes Local Entities to Reschedule April 7 Elections |date=19 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326114353/https://www.woodwardnews.net/news/state-election-board-secretary-declares-election-emergency-authorizes-local-entities/article_e5c057be-694d-11ea-9a2c-7b7a9335eb7b.html |archive-date=26 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/18/alabama-postpones-run-off-primaries-from-march-31-to-july-14/ |title=Alabama Postpones Run-Off Primaries from March 31 to July 14 |date=18 March 2020 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319153616/http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/18/alabama-postpones-run-off-primaries-from-march-31-to-july-14/ |archive-date=19 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/18/missouri-governor-postpones-local-elections-from-april-7-to-june-2/ |title=Missouri Governor Postpones Local Elections from April 7 to June 2 |date=18 March 2020 |work=Ballot Access News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319152701/http://ballot-access.org/2020/03/18/missouri-governor-postpones-local-elections-from-april-7-to-june-2/ |archive-date=19 March 2020}} On 24 March, Secretary of State [[Barbara Cegavske]] and Nevada's seventeen county election officials announced that Nevada's June primaries would be conducted entirely through mail-in ballots.{{Cite news |url=https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Primary-Election-to-be-done-by-mail-due-to-COVID-19-concerns--569077821.html |title=Primary Election to be done by mail due to COVID-19 concerns |date=24 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326113419/https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Primary-Election-to-be-done-by-mail-due-to-COVID-19-concerns--569077821.html |archive-date=26 March 2020}} Secretary of State [[Paul Pate]] increased the absentee voting period for Iowa's June primaries and also postponed special elections in three counties.{{Cite news |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/23/iowa-secretary-state-extends-absentee-voting-period-june-primary-coronavirus-covid-19/2876215001/ |title=Iowa secretary of state extends absentee voting period for June primary due to coronavirus |date=23 March 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://sos.iowa.gov/news/2020_03_20.html |title=MEDIA RELEASE: Secretary Pate reschedules three special elections for July 7 |date=20 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326114143/https://sos.iowa.gov/news/2020_03_20.html |archive-date=26 March 2020}} ====== Wisconsin ====== {{see also|2020 Wisconsin Democratic primary|2020 Wisconsin Republican primary|2020 Milwaukee mayoral election}} In Wisconsin, a [[swing state]] with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature, a 7 April election for a state Supreme Court seat, the federal presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties, and several other judicial and local elections went ahead as scheduled. Due to the pandemic, at least fifteen other U.S. states cancelled or postponed scheduled elections or primaries at the time of Wisconsin's election.{{Cite news|last1=Corasaniti|first1=Nick|url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/2020-campaign-primary-calendar-coronavirus.html|title=15 States Have Postponed Their Primaries Because of Coronavirus. Here's a List.|date=7 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=8 April 2020|last2=Saul|first2=Stephanie}} With Wisconsin grappling with [[COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin|their own pandemic]], state Democratic lawmakers made several attempts to postpone their election, but were prevented by other Republican legislators. Governor [[Tony Evers]] called the Wisconsin legislature into a 4 April [[special session]], but the Republican-controlled [[Wisconsin State Assembly|Assembly]] and [[Wisconsin State Senate|Senate]] graveled their sessions in and out within seventeen seconds.{{Cite news|last1=Glauber|first1=Bill|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/04/04/wisconsin-legislature-adjourns-special-session-monday-voting-track-tuesday-election/2948444001/|title=In matter of seconds, Republicans stall Gov. Tony Evers' move to postpone Tuesday election|date=4 April 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|access-date=7 April 2020|last2=Marley|first2=Patrick}} In a joint statement afterwards, Wisconsin's state Assembly Speaker [[Robin Vos]] and Senate Majority Leader [[Scott L. Fitzgerald|Scott Fitzgerald]] criticized Evers for attempting to postpone the election, for not calling a special session earlier, and for reversing his previous position on keeping the election date intact.{{Cite news|last=Beck|first=Molly|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/03/tony-evers-calls-lawmakers-into-session-stop-person-voting/2940156001/|title=Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers calls special session to stop in-person voting, but Republican leaders say it should go forward|date=3 April 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|access-date=7 April 2020}} On 6 April, Evers attempted to move the election by an [[executive order]], but was blocked by the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]]. On the same day, a separate effort to extend the deadline for mailing [[absentee ballots]] was blocked by the [[Supreme Court of the United States]]. The only major concession achieved was that absentee ballots [[postmark]]ed by 7 April at 8 p.m. would be accepted until 13 April.{{Cite news|last1=Herndon|first1=Astead W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/wisconsin-primary-voting-coronavirus.html|title=Wisconsin Election Fight Heralds a National Battle Over Virus-Era Voting|date=6 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=7 April 2020|last2=Rutenberg|first2=Jim}} However, local media outlets reported that many voters had not received their requested absentee ballots by election day or, due to [[social distancing]], were unable to satisfy a legal requirement that they obtain a witness' signature.{{Cite news|last=Molly|first=Beck|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/07/state-officials-counting-absentee-voting-reduce-risk-tuesday-election-but-problems-getting-ballots-m/2953676001/|title=As election day arrives, voters hoping to avoid coronavirus say they are still waiting for absentee ballots|date=7 April 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|access-date=7 April 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Jannene|first=Jeramey|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2020/04/06/where-are-the-missing-ballots/|title=Where Are the Missing Ballots?|date=6 April 2020|work=Urban Milwaukee|access-date=7 April 2020}} Lawmakers' decision to not delay the election was sharply criticized by the editorial board of the local ''[[Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]]'', which had previously endorsed the Republican former governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]].{{Cite news|last=Epstein|first=Reid J.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/wisconsin-pandemic-primary-republicans.html|title=Why Wisconsin Republicans Insisted on an Election in a Pandemic|date=7 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=7 April 2020}} They called the election "the most undemocratic in the state's history."{{Cite news|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/solutions/2020/04/06/editorial-wisconsin-governor-tony-evers-right-stop-person-vote-during-coronavirus/2955827001/|title=Editorial: Evers' ban on in-person voting was the right call to ensure a safe, fair election during coronavirus pandemic|date=6 April 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|access-date=7 April 2020}} ''The New York Times'' characterized the election as "almost certain to be tarred as illegitimate," adding that the inability of the state's lawmakers to come to an agreement on moving the election was "an epic and predictable failure." The newspaper placed the political maneuvering as part of another chapter in "a decade of bitter partisan wrangling that saw [state Republicans] clinically attack and defang the state's Democratic institutions, starting with organized labor and continuing with voting laws making it far harder for poor and black residents of urban areas to vote."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/wisconsin-primary-election.html|title=Wisconsin Election: Voters Forced to Choose Between Protecting Their Health and Their Civic Duty|date=7 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=7 April 2020}} Republicans believed that holding the election on 7 April, when Democratic-leaning urban areas were hard-hit by the pandemic, would help secure them political advantages like a continued 5–2 conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court (through the elected seat of [[Daniel Kelly (Wisconsin judge)|Daniel Kelly]]).{{Cite news|last1=Herndon|first1=Astead W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/wisconsin-election-coronavirus.html|title=Voting in Wisconsin During a Pandemic: Lines, Masks and Plenty of Fear|date=7 April 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=8 April 2020|last2=Burns|first2=Alexander}} When the election went ahead on 7 April, access to easy in-person voting heavily depended on where voters were located. In smaller or more rural communities, which tend to be whiter and vote Republican, few issues were reported.{{Cite news|last=Herndon|first=Astead W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/wisconsin-democratic-voters.html|title=They Turned Out to Vote in Wisconsin During a Health Crisis. Here's Why.|work=The New York Times|date=7 April 2020 |access-date=8 April 2020}} In more urbanized areas, the pandemic forced the closure and consolidation of many polling places around the state despite the use of 2,500 [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] members to combat a severe shortage in poll workers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/07/wisconsin-april-7-presidential-primary-election-updates-voting-pandemic-milwaukee-polling-places/2959757001/|title=Election day live blog|date=7 April 2020|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|access-date=7 April 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Jannene|first=Jeramey|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2020/04/07/why-does-madison-have-more-voting-sites-than-milwaukee/|title=Why Does Madison Have More Voting Sites Than Milwaukee?|date=7 April 2020|work=Urban Milwaukee|access-date=7 April 2020}} The effects were felt most heavily in [[Milwaukee]], the state's largest city with the largest minority population and the center of the state's ongoing pandemic. The city's government was only able to open 5 of 180 polling stations after being short by nearly 1,000 poll workers. As a result, lengthy lines were reported, with some voters waiting for up to 2.5 hours and through rain showers.{{Cite news|last=Jannene|first=Jeramey|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2020/04/07/photo-gallery-long-lines-at-milwaukees-polling-places/|title=Long Lines at Milwaukee's Polling Places|date=7 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2020}} The lines disproportionately affected Milwaukee's large Hispanic and African-American population; the latter had already been disproportionately afflicted with the pandemic, forming nearly half of Wisconsin's documented cases and over half its deaths at the time the vote was conducted. However, by the time the election concluded, Milwaukee Election Commissioner Neil Albrecht said that despite some of the problems, the in-person voting ran smoothly.{{cite web|url=https://www.wuwm.com/post/milwaukee-election-chief-despite-some-issues-person-voting-went-smoothly|title=Milwaukee Election Chief: Despite Some Issues, In-Person Voting Went Smoothly|first=Marti|last=Mikkelson|website=wuwm.com|date=8 April 2020}} Similar problems with poll station closures and long lines were reported in [[Waukesha, Wisconsin|Waukesha]], where only one polling station was opened for a city of 70,000, and [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], where only 17 poll workers out of 270 were able to work. Other cities were able to keep lines much shorter, including the state capital of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], which opened about two-thirds of its usual polling locations, and [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], which opened all of its usual 15.{{Cite news|last=Bill|first=Ruthhart|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/election-2020/ct-wisconsin-primary-election-20200407-ge26ymidnje65iqdrfcvnziixm-story.html|title=In battleground Wisconsin, long voter lines, no election results and a missed opportunity to build toward November|date=7 April 2020|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=7 April 2020}} Voters across the state were advised to maintain social distancing, wear face masks, and bring their own pens.{{Cite news|last1=Shabad|first1=Rebecca|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/wisconsin-set-vote-national-guard-called-out-many-polling-places-n1178206|title=Wisconsin voters face long waits, lines amid coronavirus outbreak|date=7 April 2020|work=NBC News|access-date=7 April 2020|last2=Egan|first2=Lauren}} Vos, the state Assembly Speaker, served as an election inspector for in-person voting on 7 April. While wearing medical-like [[personal protective equipment]], he told reporters that it was "incredibly safe to go out" and vote, adding that voters faced "minimal exposure."{{Cite news|last=Kate|first=Sullivan|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/politics/wisconsin-robin-vos-protective-gear/index.html|title=Republican Wisconsin assembly speaker wears protective gear while telling voters they are 'incredibly safe to go out'|date=7 April 2020|work=CNN|access-date=7 April 2020}} === Venezuela === The Committee of Electoral Candidacies, in charge of appointing a new [[National Electoral Council (Venezuela)|National Electoral Council of Venezuela]] (CNE), announced that it would suspend its meetings until further notice because of the pandemic.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/politica/64502/comite-para-designar-nuevo-cne-suspendera-reuniones|title=Comité para designar nuevo CNE suspenderá reuniones|last=Murillo|first=Yuskerli|date=16 March 2020|website=[[El Universal (Caracas)]]|language=es|access-date=17 March 2020}} ==See also== *[[List of COVID-19 pandemic legislation]] *[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion]] *[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education]] *[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on science and technology]] *[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television]] *[[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{COVID-19 pandemic}} {{2020s in history}} {{subject bar|COVID-19|Politics|Medicine|Viruses|commons = y|commons-search = COVID-19|species = y|species-search = COVID-19|voy = y|voy-search = COVID-19|n = y|n-search = COVID-19|wikt = y|wikt-search = COVID-19|b = y|b-search = COVID-19|q = y|q-search = COVID-19|s = y|s-search = COVID-19|v = y|v-search = COVID-19|d = y}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Impact of the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic on politics}} [[Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics| ]] [[Category:2020 in politics]] [[Category:Health and politics]] [[Category:2021 in politics]] [[Category:2022 in politics]] [[Category:2020s in politics]] [[fr:Conséquences économiques, sociales et environnementales de la pandémie de Covid-19#Conséquences politiques]]