Academic studies
Intervention measurements
Theoretical and empirical research on the effect of foreign electoral intervention had been characterized as weak overall as late as 2011; however, since then a number of such studies have been conducted. According to Dov H. Levin's 2020 book ''Meddling in the Ballot Box: The Causes and Effects of Partisan Electoral Interventions'', the United States intervened in the largest number of foreign elections between 1946 and 2000. A previous 2018 study by Levin found that foreign electoral interventions determined the identity of the winner in "many cases". The study also found suggestive evidence that such interventions increased the risk of democratic breakdown in the targeted states. Among 938 "competitive national level executive elections" examined by Levin from 1946 to 2000, the United States intervened in 81 foreign elections, while theIntervention types
In a 2012 study, Corstange and Marinov theorized that there are two types of foreign intervention: ''partisan intervention'', where the foreign power takes a stance on its support for one side, and ''process intervention'', where the foreign power seeks "to support the rules of democratic contestation, irrespective of who wins". Their results from 1,703 participants found that partisan interventions had a polarizing effect on political and foreign relations views, with the side favored by the external power more likely to favor improvements in relations between the two, and having the converse effect for those opposed by the power. In 2018, Jonathan Godinez further elaborated on Corstange and Marinov's theory by proposing that interventions can be specified as ''globally-motivated intervention'', where "a country intervenes in the election of another country for the interests, betterment, or well-being of the international audience," and ''self-motivated intervention'', where "a country intervenes in the election of another country to further the interests, betterment, or well-being of themselves." Godinez further theorized that the vested interest of an intervening country can be identified by examining a "threefold methodology": the tactics of intervention, stated motivation, and the magnitude of the intervention. Also in 2012, Shulman and Bloom theorized a number of distinct factors affecting the results of foreign interference: * Agents of interference: each with a descending effect on resentment caused by their intervention, these being nations,Albania
1991 election (by United States)
During the 1991 election campaign, politicians of the center-right1992 election (by United States and Italy)
TheAustralia
2019 election (by China)
In late 2019, media outlets around the world have reported on alleged efforts by the2022 election (by China)
In February 2022, theBangladesh
1973 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details from theBolivia
1964 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the CIA covertly financed media, political groups, trade unions, student groups and youth groups in order to break the influence of communists and alleged Cuban operatives in Bolivia, as well as to create a stable government that was pro-USA. Over $1,150,000 was dedicated to this task across 3 years. Starting in August 1964, the US government began to covertly fund the MNR (then the largest political party in Bolivia) during the elections. Following the 1964 military coup by General1966 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the CIA covertly funded groups supporting General Barrientos during the 1966 elections and his rivals in order to ensure they'd accept the legitimacy of the elections. With CIA assistance, Barrientos forces killed2002 election (by United States)
In the Bolivian elections of 2002, the U.S., which had been financing the eradication ofBrazil
1955 election (by United States)
Fearing a rise of1962 election (by United States)
According to Tim Weiner's book ''Legacy of Ashes'', the first use of the brand-new state-of-the-art taping system ordered byCanada
1962 and 1963 (by United States)
Canadian Prime Minister2019 election (by China)
The2021 election (by China)
The Rapid Response Mechanism Canada reported that it detected Chinese Communist Party (CCP) disinformation operations to dissuade voters from supporting the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2021 federal election. Kenny Chiu, an outspoken critic of Chinese government's crackdown on dissent and protest in Hong Kong, was a key target of this disinformation campaign.Chile
1964 election (by United States and Soviet Union)
Between 1960 and 1969, theIt was clear the Soviet Union was operating in Chile to ensure Marxist success, and from the contemporary American point of view, the United States was required to thwart this enemy influence: Soviet money and influence were clearly going into Chile to undermine its democracy, so U.S. funding would have to go into Chile to frustrate that pernicious influence.The U.S. involvement was later revealed by the Church Committee in 1975.
1970 election (by United States and Soviet Union)
According to information released as part of the findings of the Church Committee, the U.S.Congo-Kinshasa
1960 election (by Soviet Union, 1960)
The Soviet Union covertly supported the campaign of Patrice Lumumba'sCosta Rica
1966 election (by United States and Nicaragua)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, National Liberation Party (PLN) leader1970 election (by Soviet Union)
The KGB quietly aided the presidential campaign of José Figueres Ferrer by providing his campaign a loan of $300,000 via the Marxist-Leninist People's Vanguard Party in return for a promise of diplomatic recognition of the Soviet Union. Once reinstalled as President, Figueres kept his promise.1986 election (by United States)
TheCzechoslovakia
1990 election (by United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium)
According to ''Denmark
1973 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union covertly funded the1975 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union covertly funded theDominican Republic
1966 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US government supported the campaign of Joaquin Balaguer. The government planned to support him "in such a way that United States sponsorship cannot be proven in any way." Methods of supporting Balaguer include financial assistance, advice, media, information and classified forms of assistance.El Salvador
1984 election (by United States)
According to an article fromFinland
1956 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union overtly supported the electoral campaign of1962 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union overtly supported the electoral campaign ofFrance
1974 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details from the1988 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details from the2007 election (by Libya)
According to French newspaper ''2017 election (by Russia)
The 2017 Macron e-mail leaks were leaks of more than 20,000 e-mails related to the campaign of Emmanuel Macron during the 2017 French presidential elections, two days before the final vote. The leaks garnered an abundance of media attention due to how quickly news of the leak spread throughout the Internet, aided in large part by bots and spammers and drew accusations that the government ofGermany
1972 election (by Soviet Union)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US government felt that the KGB supported the Social Democratic Party of Germany-Free Democratic Party (Germany), Free Democratic Party social-liberal coalition and "instructed its chief operatives abroad to mobilize all resources in support of their victory". This was done to increase positive relations with East Germany1980 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details provided in the2017 election (by Turkey)
In August 2017, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for all his "countrymen" in Germany to vote against the CDU/CSU, the Social Democratic Party of Germany, SPD and the Green Party of Germany, Green Party in the upcoming German federal election. Erdoğan called these parties, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, "enemies of Turkey". Merkel condemned these statements, and responded that all Germans had to right to vote freely without foreign meddling in the electoral process. German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel affirmed Erdoğan's segments were an "unprecedented act of interference in the sovereignty of our country." There are at least 4 million Turks in Germany, people of Turkish origin in Germany, most of whom customarily align with the SPD or the Green Party politically.Greece
1958 election (by United States and Soviet Union)
During the 1958 election, the CIA "spent large sums of money" on a "wide variety of strategies" in order to covertly support the National Radical Union (ERE). In an exclusive interview with To Vima, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev heavily criticized NATO and claimed that NATO was preventing the resolution of the Cyprus conflict and that the "colonialists" were trying to impose an illegitimate constitution and partition on Cyprus. He also claimed that NATO leaders planned to install nuclear missiles on Greek soil, which would endanger Greek citizens in the event of a Nuclear warfare, nuclear war. This interview was considered by Konstantinos Karamanlis to be overt electoral interference in favour of anti-NATO parties like All-Democratic Agricultural Front, EDA and the Progressive Agricultural Democratic Union (PADE).1961 election (by United States)
During the 1961 election, the CIA covertly funded the National Radical Union (ERE) and the Centre Union (EK) in order to prevent a victory of the socialist All-Democratic Agricultural Front (EDA). The Greek military, then linked to the CIA, also played a role in ensuring the ERE was victorious by encouraging the public to vote for them.1974 election (by Soviet Union)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, following the legalization of the Communist Party of Greece in 1974, the Soviets covertly gave the party more than $2 million for its election campaign.Grenada
1984 election (by United States)
According to investigative journalist Bob Woodward, the CIA spent $675,000 on education and "getting out the vote" in Grenada after the United States invasion of Grenada, 1983 invasion. Woodward claims the CIA also used opinion polls to ensure a "strongly pro-US" candidate won the election.Guatemala
1958 election (by United States)
The CIA covertly aided the electoral campaign of José Luis Cruz Salazar (:es:José Luis Cruz Salazar, es) of the National Liberation Movement (Guatemala), National Liberation Movement with a payment of $97,000 in order to oust the government of Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes of the National Democratic Reconciliation Party in the 1958 Guatemalan general election, 1958 general election.Guinea
2010 election (by France)
Vincent Bolloré, a French billionaire close to then-French presidentIndia
1967 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details provided in the1977 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details provided in theIndonesia
1955 election (by United States)
The CIA covertly gave a over $1 million to centrist and progressive Muslim political parties to cut support for Sukarno and the Communist Party of Indonesia during the 1955 Indonesian legislative election, 1955 legislative election. The operation was a total failure. Later, the USA CIA activities in Indonesia, supported the anti-Sukarno Permesta rebellion in 1958 and the military-led Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, 1965 anti-communist massacres.Iran
1952 election (by United States)
Historian Ervand Abrahamian, in an interview with ''Democracy Now!'', said U.S. State Department documents declassified in 2017 reveal that the U.S. strategy was to undermine Mohammad Mosaddegh through parliament and the1980 election (by United States)
The United States covertly supported the campaign of Ahmad Madani, who later fled to the USA.Israel
1996 election (by United States)
U.S. President Bill Clinton later acknowledged that, in the wake of Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Clinton interfered on behalf of Shimon Peres against Benjamin Netanyahu. Clinton later said that he "tried to do it in a way that didn't overtly involve me".Italy
1948 election (by United States, Soviet Union and Vatican City)
In the 1948 Italian elections the administration of Harry Truman, allied with the Roman Catholic Church, funneled millions of dollars in funding to the Christian Democracy (Italy), Christian Democracy party and other parties through the War Powers Act of 1941 in addition to supplying military advisers, in an effort to prevent an election victory for the Popular Democratic Front (Italy), Popular Democratic Front (FDP), a united front comprising the Italian Socialist Party, Italian Socialist Party (PSI) and the Italian Communist Party, Italian Communist Party (PCI), both of which had played key roles in the wartime Italian resistance movement, resistance movement. At the advice of Walter Dowling, the U.S. also invited Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi on an official visit and made a number of related economic concessions. Conversely, the Soviet Union funneled as much as $10 million monthly to the communists and leveraged its influence on Italian companies via contracts to support them. However, many of their efforts were ''ad hoc'' in comparison, and the Christian Democrats eventually won in a landslide.1953 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union covertly provided funding for the Italian Communist Party during the elections.1958 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US believed that providing economic support would contribute to a "favorable election atmosphere" for centrist political parties. The US actively monitored the political situation in Italy and was anxious about a victory by the Italian Communist Party.1972 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details provided in the1976 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details provided in the1983 election (by United States and Saudi Arabia)
According to investigative journalist Bob Woodward, the CIA requested Saudi Arabia spend $2 million to assist in a secret operation to prevent a victory of the Italian Communist Party in the 1983 elections.Jamaica
1976 election (by United States)
Michael Manley and many other members of the People's National Party, PNP suspected "Project FUBELT, Chile style" CIA interference in the 1976 elections against his democratic socialist government.1980 election (by United States and Germany)
During the 1980 elections the CIA and Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Christian Democrats funded opposition groups against Michael Manley and the People's National Party, PNP.Japan
The Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan received secret American funds during the 1950s and 1960s.Tharoor, Ishaan (13 October 2016)1952 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian and evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner, the US interfered in Japan's first elections following the end of the US-led Occupation of Japan, Allied occupation of Japan, starting with publicly withholding details of the new US-Japanese security treaty from the public in order to stave off criticism of the government. The US also quietly funded the Liberal Party (Japan, 1945), Liberal Party in exchange for the party acting in US interests such as fighting off anti-base protests and supporting a military alliance with the USA.1955 election (by United States)
According evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US began to provide covert funding to the new Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party during Japanese elections.1958 election (by United States)
The CIA undertook a number of actions to ensure a victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party. This included diplomatic measures such as persuading the South Korean government to grant Japan more liberal fishing rights. Encouraging Vietnam and Indonesia to reach reparations agreements, delivering speeches promoting markets for Japanese exports, speeding the release of war criminals, covertly offering campaign funds, decreasing military spending and promising to relax military presence on the island (a sensitive issue in Japan) and quietly recruited allies in the party through bribes. The CIA also offered payments to Japan Socialist Party members in order to weaken potential anti-American movements.1960 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian and evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding and electoral advice to the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party, often disguising advisors as US-based businessman. By the early 1960s, annual payments of between $2 and $10 million to the party and individual politicians had become "so established and so routine," reported Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence Roger Hilsman, Roger Hillsman, that they were a normal part of bilateral relations.1963 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian and evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding and electoral advice to the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party, often disguising advisors as US-based businessman.1967 election (by United States)
According evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding to the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party during Japanese elections.1969 election (by United States)
According evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding to the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan), Liberal Democratic Party during Japanese elections. According to Weiner, the funding was terminated in the 1970s and he does not state is the US funded the LDP during the 1972 Japanese general election, 1972 elections.1972 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union covertly supported the Japan Socialist Party during the 1972 elections by pressuring Japanese companies that did trade with the USSR to financially support the Japan Socialist Party. In exchange for $10 million in contracts with the USSR, these companies provided $100,000 to the Japan Socialist Party.Korea
1948 election (by United Nations and the Soviet Union)
The 1948 Korean elections were overseen primarily by the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea, or UNTCOK. The United States planned to hold separate elections in the south of the peninsula, a plan which was opposed by Australia, Canada and Syria as members of the commission. According to Gordenker, the commission acted:in such a way as to affect the controlling political decisions regarding elections in Korea. Moreover, UNTCOK deliberately and directly took a hand in the conduct of the 1948 election.Conversely the
Laos
1955 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US government funded the Royal Lao Army, gave money to the government and provided food aid to villages to end supports for communism.1958 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US government deeply feared a possible Pathet Lao victory in Laos' elections. In response, they gave money to the royal government in order to carry out projects to boost living standards in rural villages (such as constructing schools, roads, medical facilities, wells and general building repairs). The program cost around $500,000. The US government also directly funded conservative candidates.1960 election (by United States and Thailand)
During the 1960 elections, the US and Thailand covertly funded the Committee for the Defence of National Interests and bribed their opponents to withdraw. The elections were rigged and marked with extensive fraud. This helped contribute to the 1960 Laotian coups.1967 election (by United States)
According to former CIA agent and US diplomat James R. Lilley the CIA worked to ensure "favorable" outcomes in the National Assembly of Laos. He claims "we thought it was important for Vang Pao to have more of a say in the political governing of the country. We figured out whom to support without letting our fingerprints show. As part of our nation building" effort in Laos, we pumped a relatively large amount of money to politicians who would listen to our advice." He also claims that CIA-friendly politicians won 54 out of 57 seats in the National Assembly and that he was called to "Mr. Tammany Hall" by a US Ambassador.Latvia
1998 election (by Russia)
During the Latvian elections, the Russian government overtly supported the pro-Russia National Harmony Party.Lebanon
1957 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, in response to growing communist activities in Lebanon and the threat of Syrian-Egyptian influence, the US government gave Lebanon $10 million in economic aid and $2 million in military aid. This was designed to be given to the population (via projects such as low-cost housing, highway construction, irrigation, flood control, rural electrification, water supplies and airport expansion) to boost popular support for the ruling government led by Camille Chamoun before the 1957 Lebanese general election, as well as enhancing the capabilities of the Lebanese military. This failed to stop instability breaking out the country, culminating with a US military intervention in the 1958 Lebanon crisis.Malaysia
1959 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, during the first elections to form the Malaysian parliament, the USA covertly aided the Alliance Party (Malaysia), Alliance Party who were running against the Malaysian Islamic Party and the Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front.Malta
1971 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, during the second elections Malta had following independence from the British Empire, the USA covertly aided the Nationalist Party (Malta), Nationalist Party who were running against the Labour Party (Malta), Malta Labour Party.Mauritius
1982 election (by United States)
The CIA covertly gave financial support to Seewoosagur Ramgoolam of the Labour Party (Mauritius), Mauritian Labour Party in the 1982 Mauritian general election, 1982 general election in an attempt to oust Anerood Jugnauth, Anerood Jugnath and the Mauritian Militant Movement-Mauritian Socialist Party alliance. This was due to fear that the MMM would close Mauritius' ports to the United States Navy and open up Soviet Armed Forces bases, in addition to challenging US claims to Diego Garcia. The US government authorized the Mauritian government to sell off food aid given to the country viaMongolia
1996 election (by United States)
During the 1996 Mongolian legislative election, 1996 Mongolian election, thatNew Zealand
2017 election (by China)
The heads of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and Government Communications Security Bureau confirmed attempted interference by China in the 2017 New Zealand general election.Nepal
1959 election (by United States and India)
The CIA covertly assisted via "covert operations" for B. P. Koirala, B.P. Koirala and the Nepali Congress, Nepalese Congress in winning the 1959 election. The Communist Party of India also funded the Communist Party of Nepal during the elections.Nicaragua
1984 election (by United States)
The United States covertly funded and bribed anti-Sandinista opposition leaders to boycott the 1984 elections and convince the world Nicaragua ran a "Soviet style" election.1990 election (by United States)
The United States heavily funded and assisted the anti-Sandinista opposition groups in Nicaragua to oust them from power.Pakistan
1970 election (by Soviet Union)
According to details from thePalestine
2006 election (by United States and Israel)
During the 2006 Palestinian elections, Israel hoped that Fatah would prevail over Hamas, the latter being a Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wanted to halt the elections if Hamas ran candidates. However, U.S. President George W. Bush objected to such election interference, and Hamas won, despite millions of clandestine dollars flowing from the Bush administration to Fatah during the closing weeks of the campaign.Swansbrough, Robert (2008).Panama
1984 election (by United States)
According to details released during Manuel Noriega's trial, the CIA and drug cartels funded the presidential campaign of Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino.1989 election (by United States)
The CIA covertly launched a campaign to oust General Manuel Noriega, then President of Panama, from office. CIA agents helped set up radio and TV transmitters for opposition groups and sanctions were placed on Panama. It was noted that the event happened after a failed coup with alleged US backing in 1988.Peru
1962 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, Richard N. Goodwin accused the CIA and State Department of funding the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance in the 1962 elections, starting in 1961. He also claimed the CIA supported the labor movement against Juan Velasco Alvarado.Poland
1947 election (by Soviet Union)
Although the agreements at the Yalta Conference called for "free and unfettered" elections in Poland,PolandPhilippines
1953 election (by United States)
The United States Government, including the2016 election (by China)
Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, alleged the Chinese officials in February 2019 bragged about having influenced the 2016 Philippine presidential election, 2016 presidential elections to favor President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte said the accusation is false, remarking that he did not need help from any foreign country to secure votes needed to win the elections.Russia
1996 election (by United States)
The first Russian president Boris Yeltsin won his second term in the 1996 Russian presidential election, 1996 presidential elections 1996 Boris Yeltsin presidential campaign#Team of Americans, A team of private US citizens, campaign experts organized by Felix Braynin, provided assistance to the Boris Yeltsin 1996 presidential campaign, Yeltsin campaign. The team consisted of Steven Moore, Joe Shumate, George Gorton and Richard Dresner, who worked in Russia four months and received $250,000, plus payment of all costs and unlimited budget to conduct surveys and other activities. Simultaneously the US administration ensured a US$10.2 billion International Monetary Fund loan to Russia to keep the Economy of Russia, national economy and pro-Western liberal government afloat. The loan funds were fraudulently misused by Yeltsin's inner circle, and the IMF knowingly turned a blind eye to these facts. Although the aggressive pro-Yeltsin campaign boosted his approval rate from an initial 6% to the 35% that he got during the first round of elections, and later made him win the second round against the Communist competitor, Gennady Zyuganov, with 54% to 41%, there were wide speculations that the official results were rigged.San Marino
1959 election (by United States and Italy)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US and Italy each provided San Marino's government with $850,000 in anticipation of the 1959 elections. This was done to prevent an electoral win of the previously successful Sammarinese Communist Party.Somalia
1964 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US began covert actions to influence the 1964 Somali parliamentary elections in order to ensure the election of government and parliamentary officials in Somalia favorably disposed to the West and allocated $200,000 for this purpose. The program was terminated in 1967.Sri Lanka
2015 election (by India)
It was alleged that the Indian Research and Analysis Wing had played a role in uniting the Sri Lankan opposition, to bring about the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa. There had been growing concern in the Indian government, on the increasing influence of economic and military rival China in Sri Lankan affairs. Rajapaksa further upped the ante by allowing 2 Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy submarines to dock in 2014, without informing India, in spite of a stand still agreement to this effect between India and Sri Lanka. The growing Chinese tilt of Rajapaksa was viewed by India with unease. Further, it was alleged, that a RAW agent, helped coordination of talks within the opposition, and convincing former PM Ranil Wickremasinghe not to stand against Rajapaksa, but to choose a common opposition candidate, who had better chances of winning. The agent is also alleged to have been in touch with Chandrika Kumaratunga, who played a key role in convincing Maithripala Sirisena to be the common candidate.Taiwan/Republic of China
2018 election (by China)
The Taiwan, Republic of China's leaders, including President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier William Lai, have repeatedly accused the People's Republic of China of spreading fake news via social media to influence voters and support candidates more sympathetic to Beijing ahead of the 2018 Taiwanese local elections. Chinese defector Wang Liqiang claimed he had been instructed to interfere in Taiwan's 2018 midterm elections as well as the upcoming race. “The story was not as shocking in Taiwan as it was in other parts of the world,” said Lev Nachman, a PhD candidate at the University of California, Irvine, studying social movements and focusing on Taiwan. “It is not news to Taiwanese people that China has been co-opting local organisations for political influence.”2020 election (by China)
In the run-up to the 2020 Taiwanese general election, organizations with links to mainland China launched libel lawsuits against journalists investigating their ties and coordination with Chinese government institutions such as the Taiwan Affairs Office.2022 election (by China)
In the run-up to the 2022 Taiwanese local elections, Taiwanese law enforcement carried out raids under the Anti-Infiltration Act on individuals suspected of buying votes on behalf of China. In October 2022, the Chinese government's Taiwan Affairs Office warned that the 2022 Taiwanese constitutional referendum was part of a push toward Taiwan independence movement, Taiwanese independence.Thailand
1969 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US government covertly supported Thanom Kittikachorn of the United Thai People's Party, although much of the information remains classified.Togo
2010 election (by France)
Vincent Bolloré, a French billionaire close to then-French presidentUkraine
2004 election (by Russia)
2014 election (by Russia)
Pro-Russian hackers launched a series of cyberattacks over several days to disrupt the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election, May 2014 Ukrainian presidential election, releasing hacked emails, attempting to alter vote tallies, and delaying the final result with Denial-of-service attack, distributed denial-of-service attacks. Malware that would have displayed a graphic declaring far-right candidate Dmytro Yarosh the electoral winner was removed from Ukraine's Central Election Commission (Ukraine), Central Election Commission less than an hour before polls closed. Despite this, Channel One Russia "reported that Mr. Yarosh had won and broadcast the fake graphic, citing the election commission's website, even though it had never appeared there." According to Peter Ordeshook: "These faked results were geared for a specific audience in order to feed the Russian narrative that has claimed from the start that ultra-nationalists and Nazism, Nazis were behind the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, revolution in Ukraine."United Kingdom
2016 Brexit referendum (by Russia, United States and Saudi Arabia)
There is ongoing investigation by the UK Electoral Commission, the UK Parliament's Culture Select Committee, and the US Senate, on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, United Kingdom European Union membership referendum of 23 June 2016. In May 2017, it was reported by the ''Irish Times'' that £425,622 had potentially been donated by sources in Saudi Arabia to the "vote leave" supporting Democratic Unionist Party for spending during the referendum. Some British politicians accused U.S. President Barack Obama of interfering in the Brexit vote by publicly stating his support for continued United Kingdom membership of the European Union.2019 Conservative Party leadership election (by Saudi Arabia)
Jeremy Hunt's donors include Ken Costa, investment banker with close ties to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.2019 election (by India)
During the 2019 United Kingdom general election, The ''Times of India'' reported that supporters of Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were actively campaigning for the Tories in 48 marginal seats, and the ''Today (BBC Radio 4), Today'' programme reported that it had seen WhatsApp messages sent to Hindus across the country urging them to vote Conservative. Some British Indians spoke out against what they saw as the BJP's meddling in the UK election.United States
1940 election (by Nazi Germany and the United Kingdom)
In October 1940, seeking to derail the reelection of incumbent U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Nazi Germany bribed a U.S. newspaper to publish a document that Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop hoped would convince American voters that Roosevelt was a "warmonger" and "criminal hypocrite". Leaking the captured Polish government document failed to have its intended effect, and Republican Party (United States), Republican Party presidential nominee Wendell Willkie lost the election.Levin, Dov H. (7 September 2016)1960 election (by Soviet Union)
Adlai Stevenson II had been the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party presidential nominee in 1952 United States presidential election, 1952 and 1956 United States presidential election, 1956, and the Soviets offered him propaganda support if he would run again for president in 1960, but Stevenson declined to run again. Instead, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev backed1968 election (by South Vietnam)
In the last months of the presidential election between Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced an October surprise, intended to aid Humphrey, by declaring a cessation to the bombing in the ongoing Vietnam War and a new round of peace negotiations. In response, Humphrey's popularity grew, eventually leading Nixon by three percentage points. However, the South Vietnamese government, in consultation with the Nixon campaign, announced three days prior to the election that they would not be participating in the talks, and Nixon went on to win the vote by less than a percentage point.1980 election (by Iran)
Throughout the 1980 United States presidential election, 1980 presidential election, Iran hostage crisis negotiations, negotiations were ongoing between the administration of Jimmy Carter and the government of Iran regarding 52 American citizens who had been taken hostage in November 1979. Although it was recognized that negotiations were nearing a successful conclusion, the government of Iran delayed their release until after the election, potentially in retaliation for the decision of Carter to admit the deposed Iranian leader Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to the United States for Treatment of cancer, cancer treatment. Opinions differ as to the intentional nature of the delay with regard to the outcome of the election. A ten-month investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives concluded that there was "virtually no credible evidence to support the accusations." However, former Iranian President Abolhassan Banisadr claimed there was a deal between Reagan and Iran to delay the release in exchange for arms. In a declassified memo from 1980, the CIA concluded "Iranian hardliners – especially Ruhollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Khomeini" were "determined to exploit the hostage issue to bring about President Carter’s defeat in the November elections."1984 election (by Soviet Union)
When Ronald Reagan was running for reelection as president, the Soviet Union opposed his candidacy and took active measures against it.Osnos, Evan; Remnick, David; Yaffa, Joshua (24 February 2017)1996 election (by China)
2012 election (by Israel)
In 2012, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to undermine President Barack Obama in favor of Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that the interference cost Israel aid. Netanyahu has denied that. The accusations included claims that Obama had deliberately snubbed Netanyahu, and another implied that an appearance in a television advertisement was designed by Netanyahu to give support to Romney.2016 (by multiple countries)
Interference in the 2016 election by entities connected to the Russian government was a scandal that dominated the news during the first half of Presidency of Donald Trump, the presidency of Donald Trump.2016 election (by Russia)
In October 2016, the U.S. government accused Russia of interfering in the 2016 United States elections using a number of strategies including the hacking of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and 2016 Democratic National Committee email leak, leaking its documents to WikiLeaks, which then leaked them to the media. Russia has denied any involvement. In response, on 29 December 2016, President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and broadened sanctions on Russian entities and individuals. In January 2017, following a British intelligence tip-off, the United States Intelligence Community, U.S. Intelligence Community expressed "Analytic confidence, high confidence" that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign designed to interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections, undermine confidence in the Politics of the United States, U.S. democratic process, harm Secretary Hillary Clinton's chances, and help Donald Trump win.2016 election (by Ukraine)
In July 2016, candidate Donald Trump was asked about the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Trump's statement indicating that he would recognize Crimea as Russian caused alarm in Ukraine, with the Ukrainian Ambassador to the USA Valeriy Chaly (diplomat), Valeriy Chaly writing an article critical of Trump for breaking from the Republican party platform. Other prominent Ukrainian politicians wrote highly critical social media posts, including former prime minister, Arseny Yatseniuk and interior minister Arsen Avakov. In August 2016, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and Ukrainian legislator Serhiy Leshchenko publicized ledgers alleging that Paul Manafort (Donald Trump's campaign manager) had received $12.7 million in illicit payments from Ukraine's pro-Russia Party of Regions. Manafort resigned from the Trump campaign shortly after. As part of Manafort's plea deal before his second trial in 2018, Manafort admitted to receiving over $60 million from pro-Russia political groups for his work in Ukraine, laundering more than $30 million of it through foreign companies and bank accounts to hide it from the IRS, thereby avoiding liability for $15 million in taxes. While it has been claimed that Ukraine appeared "to strain diplomatic protocol dictating that governments refrain from engaging in one another's elections", there is no evidence of a top-down effort by Ukraine to influence the 2016 US Presidential Election.2016 election (by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates)
Special counsel Robert Mueller investigated a meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and an emissary for two Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Gulf monarchies. In August 2016, Trump Jr. had a meeting with envoy representing Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and ''de facto'' ruler Mohammad bin Salman and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ''de facto'' ruler of the United Arab Emirates. The envoy offered help to the Trump presidential campaign,Mazzetti, Mark; Bergman, Ronen; Kirkpatrick, David D. (19 May 2018). The Mueller investigation concluded that Trump Jr. nor anyone accepted any offers of assistance2016 election (by Israel)
According to ''The Times of Israel'', Trump's longtime confidant Roger Stone "was in contact with one or more apparently well-connected Israelis at the height of the 2016 US presidential campaign, one of whom warned Stone that Trump was “going to be defeated unless we intervene” and promised “we have critical intell[sic].” The exchange between Stone and this Jerusalem-based contact appears in FBI documents made public".2018 (by Russia, China and Iran)
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats accused Russia, China and Iran of trying to influence the 2018 United States elections.2020 (by Russia, China, and Iran)
U.S. officials have accused Russia and Iran of trying to influence the 2020 United States elections. Donald Trump has separately accused China of influencing the election. On 13 February 2020, American intelligence officials advised members of the House Intelligence Committee that Russia was interfering in the 2020 election in an effort to get Trump re-elected. China and Iran were found to support the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign, candidacy of Joe Biden though no active election interference by either country was reported. ''Bloomberg News'' reported in January 2020 that American intelligence and law enforcement were examining whether Russia was involved in promoting disinformation to undermine Joe Biden as part of a campaign to disrupt the 2020 election. On 21 February 2020, ''2022 (by China)
In March 2022, the United States Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice indicted individuals, including a Ministry of State Security (China), Ministry of State Security officer, for surveilling and conspiring to smear and physically attack Chinese American political candidate Xiong Yan (dissident), Xiong Yan. In September 2022, Meta Platforms removed fake accounts linked to a China-based influence operation ahead of the 2022 United States elections. In October 2022, Mandiant reported that Chinese state-backed advanced persistent threat group Dragonbridge was attempting to dissuade Americans from voting in the 2022 midterm elections via fake social media accounts and falsified news articles. In early November 2022, Twitter disrupted several China-based fake account networks aimed at influencing the U.S. midterms.Venezuela
1958 election (by Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union covertly supported Wolfgang Larrazábal who represented a Democratic Republican Union-Communist Party of Venezuela coalition in the 1958 Venezuelan general election. Wolfgang lost to Rómulo Betancourt of Democratic Action (Venezuela), Democratic Action.Vietnam
1971 election (by United States)
According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian, the US government carried out a number of covert actions to ensure that Nguyễn Văn Thiệu would get elected. The CIA covertly funded Thiệu and his political allies, as well as pressuring political parties to act in a compliant way.See also
*Murchison letter regarding inadvertent British influence on the 1888 U.S. presidential election *United States involvement in regime change *United States involvement in regime change in Latin America *Russia involvement in regime change *Soviet involvement in regime change *Cambridge Analytica – British company worked in more than 200 elections around the world, including in Nigeria, the Czech Republic and Argentina. *Internet Research Agency – Russian company, funded by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, was implicated in interference in several elections in Europe and North America. *Fancy Bear, another Russian conduit for cyberwarfare implicated in interference in several elections in Europe and North America. *CIA influence on public opinion *State-sponsored Internet propagandaNotes
References
Further reading
* {{cite book , year=2020 , title=Rigged: America, Russia, and One Hundred Years of Covert Electoral Interference , author=David Shimer , publisher=Knopf , isbn=978-0525659006 Foreign electoral intervention, Electoral fraud Ethically disputed political practices