Half of the world's population is voting this year

2024-01-13 22:44:43, Kosova & Bota CNA

This year will be a major test for democracy, as elections are expected to be held for 4 billion people in over 50 countries – almost half the world's population. The results will shape global policies for many years to come.

Sheikh Hasina won her fifth term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Saturday. This is the first of a series of elections to be held around the world this year.

Taiwan will hold presidential elections on January 13. In the background lies the danger that China may take this island by force because of these elections.

"We are not only electing the future leaders of Taiwan to decide the future of the country, but also for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, right?" said William Lai, a candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. .

Indonesia is expected to elect a new president next month to govern the country of 277 million people. This will be the election where the largest number of voters participate in a single day.

Parliamentary elections will be held in February in Pakistan, where opposition leader and former prime minister Imran Khan remains in prison for leaking state secrets, which he denies.

Russians will vote in presidential elections in March, and Vladimir Putin is more than certain to win again.

"He has control over all the administrative machinery needed to ensure that there will be a massive vote in his favor and that Putin will continue for another six years until 2030," says Ian Bond, from the Center for European Reformation.

India, the world's most populous democratic country, will hold parliamentary elections in April-May, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP party leading in the polls.

"This is a very significant election as there are clearly two opinions in the country at the moment. On one side is the BJP party which is polarizing the society along communal lines. On the other side is the opinion that the BJP is focusing more on national security," says political journalist Pushp Saraf.

On June 2, Mexico is expected to hold presidential elections that could bring important developments.

"It is also a historic event as there is the possibility that for the first time Mexico will be governed by a woman," says Mexican pollster Patricio Morelos.

The European Parliament will hold parliamentary elections in June, where over half a billion people will be represented, while support for right-wing populist parties has increased.

Britain is expected to hold elections before the end of the year. Polls suggest Labor leader Keir Starmer could end 14 years of Tory rule.

On November 5, Americans will decide whether to give a second term to Democratic President Joe Biden, or whether to choose a Republican alternative, while Donald Trump appears to be the most likely front-runner. Whatever the outcome, it is expected to have global effects.

"In the European context there is a fear that Donald Trump could quickly damage NATO," says Anand Menon, from King's College London.

During this year, voters are expected to exercise their democratic power to an unprecedented extent, and the consequences may be felt for several decades to come./ VOA