These are the six dramatic elections which could rock Europe in 2018

REVEALED: These are the six dramatic elections which could rock Europe in 2018

EUROPE is only just beginning to reflect on a year of momentous votes in 2017.

By Rebecca Perring

PUBLISHED: 10:51, Tue, Jan 2, 2018 | UPDATED: 13:43, Tue, Jan 2, 2018

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Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban are hoping to maintain power

But here Express.co.uk takes a look at the six elections across the continent, which European Union leaders will be keeping a frantic eye on.
This year will see the return of scandal-hit Italian Silvio Berlusconi, while Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s Viktor Orban are set to dominate the polls in their bid for re-election.
Meanwhile, the EU is set to be rattled by elections in the Czech Republic amid growing fears the nation could join two other rebellious Central European countries - Hungary and Poland - on a collision course with the bloc.

Czech presidential elections - January 12-13 

Outspoken president Milos Zeman hopes to win another term in the upcoming vote.
The Czech leader poses a threat to the EU’s grip on power, along with prime minister Andrej Babiš, who has been painted as the Czech Donald Trump, if he manages to form a stable government. 

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Andrej Babiš is attempting to form a stable government

Mr Babiš has vowed to run the Czech Republic like a “family firm” and has been compared to US President Donald Trump due to his business background and anti-establishment message.
His election came as a blow to the EU because he railed against the bloc’s migration policy and spoke out against joining the euro during the campaign.
Meanwhile, Mr Zeman recently echoed the comments of other eastern European leader, like Hungary's Viktor Orban, in linking the influx of migrants from the Middle East to a rise in the terror threat to Europe.

Italian general election - March 4 

Polls indicate that anti-EU 5Star Movement has built a stable lead over other parties, with support of around 28 per cent against 24 per cent for the PD and 15 per cent for Forza Italia.

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Geert Wilders wants to 'de-Islamicise' the Netherlands, hopes clashes between Turkish-Dutch protesters and the police, along with Ankara's accusations of Dutch 'fascism', will help bolster his chances of finishing first

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But a new electoral law which encourages coalition building ahead of the vote, means Mr Berlusconi's centre-right bloc should emerge as the single largest political force, albeit without a clear parliamentary majority.
It comes after the four-time former prime minister's right-wing bloc relished a huge political victory in regional elections in Sicily.
Mr Berlusconi campaigned tirelessly for right wing coalition candidate Nello Musumeci, who was backed by the controversial former leader’s Forza Italia, the Northern League, and Brothers of Italy.
The regional Sicilian ballot, in which Berlusconi's candidate won big, was seen as a dry run for nationwide elections due before May.
This is despite Mr Berlusconi going through a very public divorce in 2014 following several sex scandals and he is currently attempting to face off a 2013 tax fraud conviction by calling on the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the ruling, allowing him to run in next year's elections.
Mr Berlusconi is due to stand trial on charges he bribed witnesses to silence them over accusations he paid for sex with young women.
In an earlier, related case, he was acquitted of having sex with one when she was still 17. He denies all wrongdoing.

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Putin hopes to maintain power in Russia

Russia elections - March 18 

Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for almost 18 years in various roles, is widely expected to be re-elected with a thumping majority.
His approval ratings remain above 80 per cent, according to pollsters at the independent Levada Centre.
It comes after his main opponent Alexei Navalny was blocked from standing in the poll, a move which sparked fears of a wider crackdown against those seeking to stand against the Russian leader.

Hungary’s elections - Spring 2018

Maverick Viktor Orban, who has been a thorn in the side of European Union leaders such as Angela Merkel, is set to storm to victory once again
But in the running is the far-right Jobbik party, who is currently seen as the ruling Fidesz party’s most serious opposition after attempts to shed its far-right reputation.
But a fine, received for illegal campaigning financing assistance, threatens their withdrawal from the elections.

Swedish general election - September 9 

Stefan Löfven is hoping to claim another term with his Social Democrats party.
However, his Green party coalition party members have been ranking low in the polls, meaning he may need to form an alliance with the conservative Moderates.
Meanwhile, anti-immigration party the Sweden Democrats have been making gains after a surge in support at the 2014 election.
Recent polls show them ranking at around 15 to 16 per cent, in comparison to 13 per cent in 2014. 

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Stefan Löfven is hoping to win another term

Polish local elections - Late 2018 

The elections will take place nearly a year after the EU Commission threatened to strip Warsaw of voting rights after a series of judicial reforms.
The eastern european state is currently on a collision course with Brussels, who claim the electoral reforms, which see the Polish government gain more control over the courts, are a threat to democracy.
The EU Commission has given Warsaw’s Law and Justice (Pis) party three months to reverse its reforms.
But Poland has remained steadfast and claimed like-minded allies such as Hungary would veto the ultimate sanction of suspending Poland's voting rights in the bloc.