Elections are being held in major democracies around the world, involving nearly half of the world’s population. The United States will go to the polls in November. Halfway through the year, elections have been held in Russia, South Korea, the European Union, Belgium, Mexico, Pakistan, France and Taiwan. India, the world’s largest democracy, has concluded its first electoral process in human history.
Interestingly, a report by Pew Research shows that high-income countries, mostly Western countries, are dissatisfied with the way democracy works in their country.
Who all are dissatisfied?
The Pew Research Center conducted over 900 interviews in 27 countries and asked respondents, “How satisfied are you with the functioning of democracy in your country?”
In North America, 68 per cent of people are dissatisfied with the current functioning of democracy. The drop in satisfaction seen from 2021 reflects a 10 per cent drop in the US. In Mexico, an equal percentage of respondents were satisfied and dissatisfied. In Canada, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, only 52 per cent of people are satisfied with the functioning of democracy. Read the full report here
In Europe, only Sweden fared better, with 75 per cent of respondents feeling satisfied with the way democracy works. Interestingly, France, one of the world’s oldest democracies, had 35 per cent satisfaction. Greece had the lowest satisfaction at 22 per cent.
In Asia, only Singapore and India have more than 75% people satisfied. In India, 77 percent people are satisfied with the way democracy is being run. In Singapore, this percentage is 80 percent. Japan is the lowest at 31 percent.
More than 50 percent of respondents are satisfied with democracy in 11 of the 27 countries. Respondents in 11 of the 17 Western countries are predominantly not dissatisfied.
A major change in political inclination was seen in Britain, where Rishi Sunak-led Conservative Party did not win the vote and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won a landslide victory after 13 years. In France, a major political upheaval is being witnessed, as the National Assembly has destabilized the parliament, making it difficult to ascertain who will hold key government positions.
In the US, Joe Biden is seeking another term amid concerns over his health, while Donald Trump, facing legal troubles, is hoping to return to power.
Claudia Sheinbaum was elected in a landslide as Mexico’s first female president, making history in a country plagued by widespread criminal and gender-based violence.
Putin has consolidated his grip on Russia and faces no opposition for re-election. He has been in power since the last day of 1999 and is on track to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries.
