As the world enters 2024, marred by the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the ongoing war in Ukraine, crucial elections in major countries will determine the leadership of two significant powers – the United States and Russia.
The year 2024 can be called the year of elections on our planet: general elections in Pakistan, Taiwan, Finland and El Salvador, as well as presidential elections in the United States, Russia, Romania, Slovakia and Lithuania.
The 60th US presidential election will be held in November 2024. President Joe Biden is expected to be the Democratic nominee, but concerns about his age and recent polls showing him trailing former President Donald Trump are causing uncertainty.
The Democratic candidates include President Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while the Republican candidates include former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former two-term New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking re-election in the presidential election on 17 March 2024. Putin, who filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate, is well positioned for re-election thanks to constitutional reforms allowing him to stay in power for two more 6-year terms, which could extend his rule until 2036.
Pakistan’s elections, scheduled for 8 February 2024, will determine the new government for the next five years. Leading candidates include prominent personalities such as Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Imran Khan (currently in prison) and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman. The controversy surrounding Khan’s possible exclusion has sparked a debate about fair elections.
The last general election in 2018 brought Imran Khan’s government to power, which was ousted in a vote of no confidence in 2022, opening the way for Shahbaz Sharif. An interim government led by Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar took office in August 2023.
Taiwan will choose its new leader as early as this week on 13 January 2024. Candidates include Vice President Lai Chin-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je, head of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). Tensions with China, especially on the issue of independence, are affecting voter sentiment, which favours the DPP’s position on maintaining the status quo.
Finland, El Salvador, Romania, Slovakia and Lithuania will also hold presidential elections in 2024. Concerns about the rise of extremism in Europe make these elections particularly noteworthy.
