{"id":45831,"date":"2024-01-09T17:31:06","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T17:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/5-countries-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-a-year-of-elections-around-the-globe\/"},"modified":"2024-01-09T17:31:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T17:31:06","slug":"5-countries-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-a-year-of-elections-around-the-globe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/5-countries-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-a-year-of-elections-around-the-globe\/","title":{"rendered":"5 countries to keep an eye on in a year of elections around the globe"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

After enduring a year filled with uncertainty, Pakistanis are poised to head to the polling stations to cast their votes on February 8. But Pakistan is not the only nation where citizens will be exercising their right to franchise this year.<\/p>\n

According to Time<\/a><\/em> magazine, 2024 will see more than half the world\u2019s population \u2014 4.2 billion citizens across approximately 65\u202fcountries \u2014 go to polls in what can be called a staggering display of democracy.<\/p>\n

The polls come at a time when, according to a 2023 report<\/a> by a United States government-funded think-tank, Freedom House, global freedom declined for the 17th consecutive year.<\/p>\n

They also come at a time of escalating conflict in the world \u2014 Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues despite calls for a ceasefire as well as Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Dawn.com<\/em> has compiled a list of five countries set to conduct general elections this year, delving into why these electoral processes hold great importance.<\/p>\n

United States of America<\/h2>\n

The upcoming US presidential election is anticipated to diverge significantly from past elections.<\/p>\n

Leading the field of Republican presidential candidates is former president Donald Trump, who faces a battery of federal and state criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to incumbent President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n

Former US president Donald Trump announces that he will once again run for US president in the 2024 US presidential election during an event at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, US November 15, 2022. \u2014 Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Biden stands as the expected Democratic nominee. Aged 81, if re-elected for a second consecutive term in November 2024, he would become the oldest individual to secure a presidential victory in American history.<\/p>\n

Many from the Republican party have largely avoided criticising Trump for his actions related to the 2020 election for the fear of alienating his base of diehard supporters. Many of those supporters believe Trump\u2019s claim that the previous election was stolen from him.<\/p>\n

His Republican rivals, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, instead have argued that Trump\u2019s legal woes will hamstring him in a general-election fight against Biden.<\/p>\n

US President Joe Biden speaks about Russia and Ukraine prior to a meeting with members of the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force to discuss the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, Jan 2022. \u2014 AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

National polls also show that Trump holds a slight edge on Biden in a head-to-head matchup, with voters concerned about Biden\u2019s age and his handling of the economy despite job growth, infrastructure investment and a slow easing of inflation after last year\u2019s peak.<\/p>\n

Biden\u2019s pro-Israeli stance on Gaza has also resulted in alienating the Muslim-American population that majorly votes for Democrats.<\/p>\n

India<\/h2>\n

National elections in India<\/a> are due by May 2024, though several state polls are expected to be held before then.<\/p>\n

The victories in three of the five states that voted in November<\/a> boosted the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Modi, who is already the favourite to win his third consecutive term in office this year.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece on August 25, 2023). \u2014 Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Promising change, Modi swept to power in 2014, and he has consolidated his hold since with welfare economics, a focus on boosting infrastructure and aggressive Hindu nationalism.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s once-dominant political force, the Congress party under Rahul Gandhi, lost the last two successive national elections in 2014<\/a> and 2019<\/a> in historic defeats to Modi and the BJP.<\/p>\n

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and senior Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi attend opposition parties meeting in Bengaluru, India on July 18, 2023. \u2014 AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

More than two dozen Indian opposition parties joined hands in July last year to form a 26-parties alliance<\/a> called \u201cINDIA\u201d \u2014 consisting of powerful regional parties with a strong base in the south and east, where the BJP is weak \u2014 to take on the ruling party in parliamentary elections this year.<\/p>\n

Rivals say the government has ensured that the BJP\u2019s line dominates mainstream newspapers, television news channels and social media with its combativeness, often drowning out critical voices.<\/p>\n

Russia<\/h2>\n

Russia is another country where elections will be taking place this year. The election will be held over three days<\/a> from March 15-17 and the winner will be inaugurated in May.<\/p>\n

Voting will also take place in what Russia calls its new territories \u2014 parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces. Ukraine says it will not rest until it has ejected every last soldier from the annexed territories. Russia says the regions are now part of Russia.<\/p>\n

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would run for president again in the 2024 presidential election, a move expected to keep him in power until at least 2030.<\/p>\n

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 6, 2023. \u2014 Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The West casts Putin as a war criminal and dictator, although some Russian opinion polls<\/a> show he has approval ratings of 80pc \u2014 higher than before the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Around 110 million people have the right to vote in Russia, though around 70-80 million people usually cast ballots. Turnout in 2018 was 67.5 per cent.<\/p>\n

Russian law enforcement officers stand guard in Red Square, with people seen on the dome of the Kremlin Senate building in the background, in central Moscow, Russia, May 3, 2023. \u2014 Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s most famous opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, is in jail and, therefore, cannot run for president. Navalny has castigated Putin\u2019s Russia as a state run by thieves and criminals. He has warned Russia\u2019s leaders will ultimately be crushed by the forces of history and will burn in hell for creating a bloodbath in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Taiwan<\/h2>\n

Taiwan\u2019s presidential race could be consequential<\/a> if its ruling party is re-elected on January 13. An unprecedented third term for the Democratic Progressives (DPP) would frustrate Beijing which claims the self-governed island as its own.<\/p>\n

China has gone as far as to cast the island\u2019s elections as a choice between war and peace<\/a> across the Taiwan Strait, warning that any attempt to push for Taiwan\u2019s formal independence means conflict. Taiwan\u2019s government rejects China\u2019s sovereignty assertion.<\/p>\n

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan\u2019s vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party\u2019s (DPP) presidential candidate gestures at an election campaign event in Taipei City, Taiwan January 3, 2024. \u2014 Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

All the candidates contesting insist they will strive to maintain Taiwan\u2019s \u201cstatus quo\u201d. While they each have their own interpretation, it more or less describes the current state of limbo where there is no formal Taiwanese independence and no reunification with China.<\/p>\n

That has been key to preserving peace for Taiwan over the years. The DPP\u2019s candidate, Vice President Lai Ching-te, insists he will stick to the position too but Beijing views him as a dangerous separatist.<\/p>\n

Both the DPP and Taiwan\u2019s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), say only they can preserve the peace and have committed to bolstering Taiwan\u2019s defences. Both say only Taiwan\u2019s 23 million people can decide their future, although the KMT says it strongly opposes independence.<\/p>\n

The Jan 13 presidential and parliamentary contests represent the first real wild card in 2024 for the Biden administration\u2019s goal of stabilising ties with China. US officials have been careful to avoid appearing to steer or interfere with the island\u2019s democratic process.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur strong expectation and hope is that those elections be free of intimidation or coercion, or interference from all sides. The United States is not involved and will not be involved in these elections,\u201d US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said in December.<\/p>\n

Washington also says it does not support independence but there is some concern in the US capital that a victory by the KMT\u2019s Hou Yu-ih could undermine US efforts to beef up Taiwan\u2019s military deterrence. The party traditionally favours closer ties to China, though denies being pro-Beijing.<\/p>\n

Mexico<\/h2>\n

Mexico is preparing for its largest election yet on June 2, potentially marking the election of a female<\/a> president for the first time in its history.<\/p>\n

With a population of around 129 million and approximately 96 million registered voters<\/a>, the country will choose between<\/a> ruling leftist party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and her main rival Xochitl Galvez, candidate of a right-left alliance of three parties.<\/p>\n

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum reacts after she was nominated as a presidential candidate, in Mexico City, Mexico September 6, 2023. \u2014 Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

For the first time, all 32 states in Mexico will simultaneously hold elections, deciding on 20,000 positions encompassing the presidency, congressional seats, governorships, and local offices.<\/p>\n

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, representing the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), currently leads the nation, but Mexico enforces a single-term limit.<\/p>\n

Sheinbaum, a scientist and former Mexico City mayor, emerges as the fresh face of MORENA and a leading candidate, significantly ahead in polls<\/a>. Her platform pledges to address challenges like gang violence and leverage nearshoring \u2014 an increasing trend of US businesses relocating operations to Mexico to cut costs \u2014 to bolster the country\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

Xochitl Galvez, a senator with Indigenous roots representing the National Action Party, aims to challenge MORENA\u2019s dominance. Her campaign centres on combating violence.<\/p>\n

Mexican Senator Xochitl Galvez gestures during a private event as she pursues the Frente Amplio por Mexico opposition alliance\u2019s candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, in Monterrey, Mexico August 19, 2023. REUTERS\/Daniel Becerril\/File Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Obrador\u2019s tenure has witnessed Mexico\u2019s bloodiest<\/a> period, marked by a record number of murders<\/a>. The \u201cwar on drugs,\u201d initiated three presidential terms ago, failed to diminish violence.<\/p>\n

The forthcoming administration faces a critical test: whether to persist with a militarised approach or explore alternative, less punitive policies. Lingering disparities in access to quality healthcare and education remain significant challenges.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After enduring a year filled with uncertainty, Pakistanis are poised to head to the polling stations to cast their votes on February 8. But Pakistan is not the only nation where citizens will be exercising their right to franchise this year. According to Time magazine, 2024 will see more than half the world\u2019s population \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":45832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2024\/01\/05114912198d8ca.jpg?r=151316","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}