2024 APRIL ISSUE
POLITICAL
ELECTIONS
AROUND
THE WORLD
IN 2024
Written by Andrew Sia
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From the Desk of the Publisher
We have reported earlier that 2024 is a year where 70 countries with the total of some 4 billion people will go on elections. We have shown our concerns as the rightists and populists are posing threats to the democracy that have been the rule for many decades.
We have divided the elections into three camps, free-and-fair; fiasco-and-farces and indeterminate.
The elections are critical for democracy and we mentioned that entering into 2025 could be an even greater ordeal.
Around half of the world’s population, or some 4 billion, live in places that are holding elections this year and these polls would decide who governs over the 70 countries. This is going to be a big test for the democratic system. At this time, the world has already 770 million people, or roughly 19%, casted their ballots, but the outlook is not particularly good.
The election results fall into three camps—free and fair; fiasco-and-farces and indeterminate.
So far, the election in Taiwan on January 13 which the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led by William Lai was the result of a free-and-fair election.
Pakistan’s February 8 was probably the country’s least clean election since the 1980s and was meddled by the armed forces. Their most popular politician, Imran Khan, was given a three-month sentence in jail and no party secured a majority in the election.
Bangladesh’s polls on January 7 saw Sheikh Hasina’s party picked up 222 of the 229 seats. The main opposition boycotted the election.
Senegal suspended its election on February 5, with its president Macky Sall, once viewed as a defender of liberals, but leans to dictatorship.
Mali original scheduled for election on February 4, but the date has passed without being rescheduled.
Countries like Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger all had coups.
El Salvador on February 4, its Nayib Bukele won a second term.
Azerbaijan on February 7 saw its ling-time dictator Aliyev won over 90% of the votes.
The above would fall into fiasco-and-farces elections.
Indonesia’s election was on February 14 and the pollster shown that Prabowo Subianto won 60% of the votes in its first round. But the circumstance around the election had suggested the country’s democratic character is stained as the outgoing president, Joko Widodo, is attempting control after bending the constitution to make his son, Gibran Rakabuming, the running mate of the victor.
This election result has fall into indeterminate election.
Our concern for the electoral democracy is the interferences of the technology that is using the tech platforms. We have noticed the following:
TikTok – a Chinese-controlled video app who has a billion users worldwide is crucial. In India it has banned TikTok.
YouTube has replaced Facebook – is a powerful app.
WhatsApp – using its voice-note feature allows illiterate people to receive propaganda. Private messaging groups can spread misinformation.
Another 60-odd elections are happening in countries with 3.4 billion people. Belarus and Russia are like playing charade. Iran’s poll in March can hardly be democratic.
Elections in European Parliament in June will be free and fair. The main concern are the hard-right parties, which are already in the government or polling above 20% in several European countries.
Mexico held polls in June last year, and Andrés López Obrado, the outgoing president is helping his preferred successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, to win. It is holding up against the populist threat.
India, has not set the date, but the most populous democracy of all, and Narendra Modi is on track of its third term as prime minister.
Then we come to the most important election of the year, the United States, and it is highly likely that we will see the rematch between Joe Boden and Donald Trump. Whoever would be the victor, it is critical for democracy and entering into 2025 could be an even greater ordeal.