Malawi election ruling will have far-reaching impacts

Significance

The Court's heavy criticism of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) means that changes of both personnel and structure are likely. The judgement has also given momentum to the opposition and talks about forging a coalition -- which would have comprehensively defeated the ruling party had it been in place for the original election -- have already begun.

Impacts

• Significant energy and resources will be diverted to running a fresh election, deflecting attention away from pressing development concerns.
• The ruling is widely seen to have validated post-election popular protests and will encourage future mass mobilisation over controversies.
• The government will rely heavily on international donors to meet the cost of holding new elections given difficulties funding the 2019 poll.
• If the opposition can forge an effective coalition, a transfer of power is highly likely.
• The Kenyan and now Malawian legal precedents may embolden electoral courts elsewhere on the continent, especially in more democratic states.