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Global Political Recap 2024: A Challenging Year For Incumbents And Traditional Parties

The year 2024 is poised to be remarkable for elections worldwide. International IDEA reports that at least 64 countries are conducting elections this year, encompassing presidential and parliamentary or legislative elections. The electoral landscape in various nations indicates that this year presents significant challenges for incumbents. The political pressures faced by incumbent leaders and traditional parties, which typically have deep political roots in their respective countries, are notably intense.

Moreover, the global economic challenges are influencing the political climate of 2024. Frustration regarding the global situation is reflected in the low voter turnout rates. According to IDEA's data, the overall participation rate worldwide hovers around just 61 percent.

Challenging times for incumbents

In one of the most prestigious elections globally, the Democratic Party in the United States faced defeat in the presidential election.

Former President Donald Trump of the Republican Party triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris. This recent election result marks the third consecutive defeat for the incumbent party in the United States. The difficulties faced by incumbents in this year's political contests are also evident in the United Kingdom. However, while the political landscape in the U.S. shifts to the right, the political dynamics in the U.K. have moved to the left.

In this election, the Labour Party secured a parliamentary majority, effectively ending the Conservative Party's reign, which had lasted for at least 14 years.

Additionally, a significant political shift occurred in Botswana, where the Democratic Party experienced its first defeat in over 50 years, marking a dramatic change in this southern African nation. Political pressure is significantly impacting the People Power Party in South Korea. In the elections held in April 2024, South Korean voters predominantly supported the Democratic Party, which is in opposition, securing the majority of seats in the National Assembly. This situation has placed considerable strain on President Yoon Suk Yeol of the People Power Party.

The intense political pressure even led President Yoon to declare a state of military emergency, during which he accused senior members of the Democratic Party of engaging in anti-state activities. However, the National Assembly unanimously revoked the military emergency after just six hours. Turning to other regions, despite remaining a strong party, incumbent parties are experiencing a decline in their power. A notable example is the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, which has lost its majority in parliament after having been in power for most of the post-World War II era. Domestically, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is also facing significant political challenges. Although PDI-P won the 2024 elections, its vote share decreased to 16.72 percent, closely trailing Golkar, which secured 15.28 percent. The results of the 2024 legislative elections further indicate a continuing trend of diminishing political strength for PDI-P, which had previously garnered 19.33 percent of the votes in the 2019 elections and 18.96 percent in 2014.

Tag: Global Political Recap 2024 Traditional Parties