Election year 2024: countries that have written new political scenarios | News from India

Key leaders elected around the world in 2024

The year 2024 has brought dramatic transformations across the world, reshaping the global political scene, influenced by economic challenges, social movements and political concerns.
Elections in more than 70 countries have introduced new faces and new mandates.

Here's a look at the key elections that defined the year by bringing changes in political dynamics

Indian coalition politics

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections reshaped India's political landscape as Prime Minister Modi's 'Ab ki baar, 400 paar' program failed to deliver. The BJP won 240 seats, short of the 272 needed for a majority.
Thus, allies Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu became the kingmakers and offered 12 seats (JDU) and 16 seats (TDP) respectively. Other key allies like Chirag Paswans LJP (Ram Vilas) and Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena also played a crucial role.
Also read: BJP's shaky start, regional resurgence, woes of the INDIA bloc
Meanwhile, the opposition gained ground, with the Congress-led INDIA bloc securing 234 seats. The Congress alone won 99 seats, allowing Rahul Gandhi to be named leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, a new challenge for the BJP as it navigates coalition governance after two solo terms.
Read more: 2024, a mixed year for Congress

The United States turns red again

Economic concerns and the immigration debate have dominated the U.S. election race. After President Biden's unexpected withdrawal, Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, garnering overwhelming support, but still failed to defeat Donald Trump's campaign.
Trump won the popular vote, swept all seven key states and weathered two assassination attempts and legal troubles, being convicted of a felony.
Harris has faced criticism over price gouging, immigration and US support for Israel, while her role as vice president has led to questions about post-election promises whether they are currently being implemented .
Also read: The 12 months that led to Donald Trump's re-election

British Labor wins

Labour's decisive victory ended 13 years of Tory rule, with Keir Starmer defeating Rishi Sunak, the last Conservative Prime Minister. Political instability, leadership scandals and the fallout from David Cameron's controversial Brexit decision have eroded Conservative support.
Economic discontent and failed voter relations under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Sunak have further weakened the Conservatives. Starmer's centrist approach, emphasis on ethics and tackling the cost of living crisis resonated with voters.

Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina wins vote but loses in the streets

Sheikh Hasina's Awami League won a fifth term in Bangladesh elections, overshadowed by a BNP-led boycott and allegations of unfair practices.
However, August marked the end of his leadership, fueled by unrest over employment quotas and broader anti-government sentiment. The intensification of clashes forced Hasina to resign and flee to India. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed interim leader, marking a radical political shift and a situation in which an electoral victory could not stand on the streets.

Majority of the PTI party but possible failure in Pakistan

Pakistan's general elections resulted in a hung parliament. Imran Khan's independents, supported by the PTI, emerged as the largest bloc, but failed to form a government. PML-N's Shehbaz Sharif secured the prime ministership through alliances with the PPP, MQM-P and smaller groups, aided by military support.
Allegations of vote manipulation and economic instability dominated the discourse.

Iran's reformist turn

Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist heart surgeon, won the runoff of Iran's presidential election against radical Saeed Jalili after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.
Amid low turnout and growing public dissent since the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, Pezeshkian has promised moderate reforms, including a relaxation of hijab laws, while respecting the authority of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Political revolution in Sri Lanka

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's National People's Power (NPP) party became the first left-wing coalition to control both the presidency and Parliament.
The NPP's victory was driven by public discontent with traditional parties, accused of corruption and mismanagement, particularly during the 2022 economic crisis. Dissanayake's focus on reform economic, poverty reduction and pro-poor policies won wide support. With a strong majority, the NPP now faces the challenge of stabilizing the economy and meeting the needs of the people while navigating foreign relations.

Mexico: first female president in bloody elections

Claudia Sheinbaum made history as Mexico's first female president, winning a violent election marred by the assassinations of 38 cartel-linked candidates.
His administration inherits challenges related to the fight against organized crime, the management of relations with the United States and economic reforms.

Taiwan's Sovereign Commitment

Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan won the presidency, continuing the DPP's rule for a third term, albeit by a reduced margin. He has pledged to defend Taiwan's sovereignty while seeking peace amid growing tensions with China, which views him as a separatist.
Domestically, Lai faces challenges such as housing, wages and population decline, while balancing reforms and Taiwan's strategic ties with the United States and its complex relationship with China.

Forced coalition in South Africa

South Africa's ANC has lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, when Nelson Mandela was president. This year, he was forced to form an unprecedented coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and smaller parties. President Cyril Ramaphosa has retained his position, but managing coalition dynamics and ensuring economic recovery remains a challenge.

Indonesian rivals became friends

Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's former defense minister, has been sworn in as the country's eighth president. Subianto has a controversial past, with allegations of human rights abuses during Indonesia's military dictatorship. Although he was a political rival to incumbent President Joko Widodo in the 2014 and 2019 elections, he later joined Widodos' cabinet as defense minister after the 2019 elections, forming an unexpected alliance.
During his campaign, Subianto promised to continue Widodos' key policies, including building a new capital in Borneo and restricting raw material exports to boost local industries. Supported by Widodo, Subianto won the February presidential election by a wide margin.