The 2024 elections around the world are poised to bring significant political developments. Here are key elections to watch:
1. India (April-May):
With nearly one billion voters, India will hold elections where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP party seek a third term. Modi’s leadership has centered on support from India’s Hindu majority, and critics argue he has fueled tensions with the Muslim minority. Despite concerns about civil liberties, Modi is the favorite, credited with enhancing India’s global standing.
2. United States (November 5):
In a potential Trump-Biden rematch, Americans will choose a president. Incumbent Joe Biden faces skepticism about his age, while former President Donald Trump, despite legal challenges, is a favorite in the Republican Party. Disinformation, a feature of past campaigns, may persist, and the fallout from the storming of the Capitol in the previous election lingers.
3. Russia (March):
Russian President Vladimir Putin, emboldened by success in Ukraine, seeks to extend his 24-year rule in the March elections. With constitutional changes allowing him to potentially rule until 2036, dissenters face repression, and Putin’s rival, Alexei Navalny, is imprisoned. Putin’s dominance is bolstered by the situation in Ukraine.
4. European Parliament Election (June):
In the world’s largest transnational poll, over 400 million people will vote. The election will test the support for right-wing populists, following recent successes in Dutch and Italian elections. Former European Council president Donald Tusk’s return to power in Poland on a pro-EU platform offers hope to Brussels.
5. Mexico (June):
Mexico could see its first female president. Claudia Sheinbaum, a former mayor, and Xochitl Galvez, a businesswoman with Indigenous roots, vie for the historic position. Both represent different political platforms, with Sheinbaum running for the Morena party and Galvez representing an opposition coalition, the Broad Front for Mexico.
