The Middle East faces a series of sham elections

By Nicolas Pelham

Judging by election cycles, the Middle East is a paragon of democracy. Egypt will hold an election in December 2023, followed in 2024 by Algeria, Iran, Mauritania and Tunisia. Sadly, with the possible exception of Mauritania, the elections will be farcical. Results are decided in advance. Autocrats will record huge victories and extend their rule—while the region’s more-or-less democracies of Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Morocco continue to flounder. Ah, but we offer stability, say the despots.