2018 will be a massive year for elections - and consultants

THE eyes of much of the world are currently on the United States with the Trump tax cuts which the president hopes will boost the prospects of the Republican Party in next November's congressional elections. However, beyond the United States, there is a wide range of eye-catching ballots in the next 12 months, across every continent, which will have very important ramifications for domestic politics, economics, and international relations for years to come.

In the Asia-Pacific, for instance, there is a Thai general election; Malaysian parliamentary ballot; and Pakistani general election. The Thai election, the first since the military coup in 2014, will be particularly closely watched with the country still badly divided between the Puea Thai party, the military and urban elites.

In the Middle East, there is an Egyptian presidential election; Bahrani parliamentary ballot; Iraqi general election; and Lebanese parliamentary ballot. The latter will be widely viewed coming soon after Prime Minister Saad Hariri's now rescinded resignation after he accused coalition partner Hezbollah, and Iran, of spreading discord across the region.