North Korea's Rubber-Stamp Parliament Elections: Everything You Need to Know
Elections in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
Supreme People's Assembly (SPA)
The SPA is the highest legislative body in North Korea. Elections for the SPA are held every four to five years. The SPA consists of 687 members who are elected from single-member constituencies.
Local People's Assemblies (LPAs)
The LPAs are local legislative bodies in North Korea. Elections for the LPAs are held every four years. The LPAs consist of members who are elected from single-member constituencies.
2024 Parliamentary Elections
Parliamentary elections were expected to be held in North Korea in 2024. However, it is considered likely that these elections were delayed or canceled due to a lack of communication from the North Korean government.
2019 Parliamentary Elections
Parliamentary elections were held in North Korea on 10 March 2019. The elections were announced on 6 January 2019. Kim Jong-un did not stand in these elections, marking the first time that a North Korean ruler has not run for election to the SPA.
Voter Turnout and Results
Voter turnout in the 2019 parliamentary elections was reported to be 99.99%. All candidates were elected without opposition. This is consistent with previous elections in North Korea, where the ruling party has always won every seat.
Significance of the Elections
The parliamentary elections in North Korea are not considered to be free or fair. The elections are held under the control of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The WPK selects all candidates and ensures that they are elected without opposition.
The elections are primarily seen as a way for the WPK to maintain its grip on power. The elections do not provide voters with any real choice or opportunity to influence the direction of the country.
Comments