Elections are taking place this year in countries home to almost half of the world’s population, from Taiwan’s general election in January to the U.S. presidential race in November.
The votes come amid growing economic and geopolitical strife, with the Ukraine war, conflicts in the Middle East and rising trade tensions between the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies.
In some countries, there are concerns about the resilience of democracy itself as political discourse has polarized or been warped by disinformation. Many of this year’s elections will not be free and fair – or their results will be disputed.
Half-way through the biggest year for elections in history, here are some common themes that have emerged in Reuters’ reporting from around the world.
From the price of green onions in Indonesia to higher fuel bills across Europe, rises in the price of food, energy and other basics have hit the living standards of households across the world. Incumbent governments and leaders are paying for it.
Polling showed that cost of living concerns were a powerful factor in a fall in support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in India, losses suffered by mainstream parties in June’s European Parliament elections and the poll rout of Britain’s ruling Conservatives.
In Africa, discontent over living standards and unemployment contributed to the ANC’s loss of its majority in South Africa’s election. Worsening poverty is likely to help shape the outcome of Ghana’s December vote to succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Polling ahead of the U.S. election suggests voters are similarly unimpressed with President Joe Biden’s efforts to improve their livelihoods, with many Americans feeling their living standards are falling despite strong headline economic data.
One outlier: In Mexico, the ruling MORENA party emerged the winner after offering ample subsidies to low-income voters.
While economic policymakers say there are signs that inflation is returning to normal, they warn it has not yet been fully tamed and many economies remain fragile.
“A number of pressure points could throw the global economy off track,” Agustin Carstens, head of the central bank umbrella group the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), warned in June.
Source: Reuters