Elections were held in six countries over the weekend (October 25-27) across continents

While some threw up results along expected lines, some elections brought unexpected setbacks to ruling parties 

Elections were held in Bulgaria, Japan, Georgia, Lithuania, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan. Here is how these elections played out

Japan: After taking over as the premier following predecessor Fumio Kishida’s resignation, Shigeru Ishiba called snap elections last month

While he sought a renewed mandate from the people to strengthen the legitimacy of the new government, the voters delivered a historic defeat to Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

The LDP, which had ruled Japan since 2009, lost parliamentary majority. In the 465-member parliament, the LDP-led coalition won 215

Georgia: Georgia’s pro-Russia Georgia Dream (GD) party declared victory in Saturday’s elections

The Opposition United National Movement (UNM) has rejected the results and the European Union (EU) and United States have flagged allegations of voter fraud 

In more than a decade of rule, the GD has established an authoritarian regime in Georgia and has moved the country into Russia’s orbit

Lithuania: In the second round of elections in Lithuania on Sunday, the ruling Conservatives conceded defeat and Opposition Social Democrats (SD) party declared victory

The SDP is expected to maintain Lithuania’s hawkish stance against Russia and hefty defense spending, according to DW News

The latest round of polling was necessitated as parties failed to form a government after the June 9 election

Bulgaria is currently in the process of joining the EU and political instability and poor financial state have already delayed the accession

Uruguay: Uruguay’s Sunday vote threw up an inconclusive verdict and the nation is now headed to runoff elections and the second round of voting is scheduled for next month

With around 90 per cent of the votes counted, it became clear that neither of the two leading candidates would cross the 50 per cent-mark

Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan is set to elect a rubber-stamp parliament in the Sunday’s elections

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has ruled Uzbekistan since 2016 and even though he implemented liberal economic reforms and an eased his predecessor’s draconian restriction