2021 was the year of elections across globe

As the coronavirus and its variants spread in 2021, voters in many countries headed to the polls to cast their ballots in various elections.

In Central Asia, people in Kyrgyzstan voted in general and presidential elections as well as in constitutional referendums.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year hold on power came to an end, Iran’s conservative presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi managed to take over the post from Hassan Rouhani, the head of the reformist government.

Russia’s parliamentary elections in September saw the pro-Kremlin United Russia party win over half the seats.

One of Europe’s most prominent politicians, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bid farewell to politics after serving for her nation for 16 years.

This year also marked the first legislative elections in Qatar, with voters casting their ballots to elect members of the Shura Council.