How a year of elections reshaped the world
In 2024, voters across India, the US, Japan, Mozambique, Algeria, and Europe headed to the polls, many choosing to punish those in power amid a harsh economic climate.
One billion, six hundred thirty-eight million, eight hundred forty-three thousand, one hundred fifteen. That’s the total number of ballots cast during this “super election year” across the globe. Global voter turnout? 61%, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) based in Stockholm. As 2024 draws to a close, it marks the end of a marathon year for democracy, with elections held in 73 countries—some of which were surprising—as well as the European Union: from June 6 to 9, the populations of the 27 EU member states voted to renew the European Parliament. And it's not quite over yet: two more elections are scheduled for December 29. Croatia will elect its president (first round), and the people of Chad will vote to renew their parliament.
The "Sanction Vote"
Is a healthy democracy defined by alternation? In the past year, nearly 32% of elections led to a shift in the majority, allowing a change in leadership, according to IDEA. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Portugal, leaders and/or their respective parties had to pack their bags. The same happened in Botswana, where the ruling party, in power for sixty years, lost in October. A common denominator? A particularly difficult economic context and rampant inflation, according to the Pew Research Center, which conducted a survey across 34 countries on how populations perceived their national economies. “On average, about two-thirds of adults (64%) rate their country’s economic situation poorly,” the institute reported.
“It’s hard to discern a general trend. But it’s true that, looking at what is perhaps closest to us, Europe and the United States, all issues related to the economic situation and purchasing power have had an impact on the vote and, more generally, on trust in political discourse or authority, which has often been sanctioned,” explains political analyst Eric Maurice of the European Policy Centre, based in Brussels.
Another key factor: in many countries, the elections held in 2024 were the first since the end of COVID. “This was a moment when not only political discourse but also expert opinions were questioned,” Maurice continues. “In Austria, for example, the FPÖ continued to use arguments born during the COVID period in its election campaign last September. The AfD in Germany is also making strides on these issues.”
A notable rise of the right
Alongside the factors pushing the “sanction vote” aimed at punishing those in power, the role of social media in various campaigns must be considered. “While they don’t create mistrust, they feed it, even amplify it,” adds Eric Maurice. Social media platforms have become powerful tools, especially for parties on the extreme ends of national political spectrums, which have managed to capitalize on voters’ frustrations and mobilize younger populations. In Europe, far-right or populist parties have adopted influencer-style strategies: French politician Jordan Bardella of the National Rally, George Simion of the Romanian far-right party AUR, and Portuguese politician André Ventura of Chega are all flourishing on TikTok.
The result: in Portugal, where Chega had just one parliament member in 2019 and twelve in 2022, the party now has 50 representatives in the Lisbon legislature following the early general elections of March 2024. In France, a "marine blue" wave swept the country during the first round of the legislative elections last July. In Austria, the FPÖ achieved the best far-right score in the country since 1945. Finally, in the United Kingdom, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party garnered over 4 million votes in the October general elections and vowed to win the next ones.
In Europe, right-wing or populist parties are now aiming to exert influence and gain prominence, particularly within the new European Parliament. “The Patriots for Europe group, formed at the initiative of Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, signals a real desire to reclaim control for the European radical right, which had often been passive,” explains Eric Maurice. “It now presents itself as the leading opposition force.” These parties are particularly challenging the support for Ukraine, a subject that has become central in various European campaigns, just as it has in the United States. “Donald Trump’s election raises several questions for the future: What will the relationship be between Trump’s circle and these Eurosceptic, right wing Europeans? How much influence will it have? Will they collaborate?” Maurice wonders.
Irregularities and repression
In countries where the ruling party remained in power, it still faced setbacks, according to Pew Research Center. In South Africa, for the first time since the end of apartheid, the ANC (Nelson Mandela’s party) did not secure a parliamentary majority. In India, Modi’s BJP was forced to form a coalition, and in South Korea, the opposition gained a parliamentary majority, signaling the public’s dissatisfaction with the incumbent president. Yoon Suk-yeol was also impeached on December 14 after invoking martial law just ten days earlier, marking the first such attempt since the restoration of democracy in 1979. This attempted self-coup sent shockwaves across the southern Korean peninsula.
Many elections were marred by irregularities. In Georgia, as well as in Russia, Vladimir Putin extended his reign of oppression and violence after a Soviet-style result in the March presidential elections, held just a month after opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death in a Siberian prison. In Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro was reelected for a third term in July, despite opposition protests. In several countries, the opposition, certain of their defeat, chose not to run and boycotted the elections.
Many of these elections were also followed by violence: according to IDEA, in 15% of elections this year, the losing party or candidate publicly rejected the results. In 28% of cases, elections led to protests, and 20% were marked by violence resulting in civilian deaths. The most recent example? Mozambique. The proclaimed victory of the ruling Frelimo party in the October 9 elections has been met with relentless street protests. At least 130 people, including two children, have been killed by security forces violently suppressing the demonstrations.
Another growing concern for democracy: foreign influence in some elections, particularly from Russia. In Georgia and Moldova, elections were tainted by accusations of Russian interference. In Romania, suspicions following nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu’s victory in the first round led the Constitutional Court to annul the presidential election just two days before the second round.
Only five women Heads of State
Another dark spot? The underrepresentation of women. Of the 31 direct presidential elections held this year, only five women were elected—respectively in Iceland, Mexico, North Macedonia, Namibia, and Moldova. “This year of ‘mega-elections’ highlighted a harsh truth: female political leadership remains the exception, not the norm,” said UN Women’s Executive Director Sima Bahous in a statement released on December 19. Regarding parliaments, a good barometer, the percentage of women elected has decreased, standing at an average of 25.5% in the parliaments of countries that held elections this year, according to IDEA, which notes some positive improvements, particularly in Mongolia, Jordan, and the United Kingdom. Within these chambers, young people also remain underrepresented.
As for elections, 2025 promises to be much quieter. Populations in Canada, Chile, and Norway will go to the polls, as will Germany, which will capture European attention on February 23. The big question: will the EU’s largest economy, facing political turmoil much like its French neighbor, regain its European leadership?