The year 2024 was termed the ‘mega election year’ with approximately 60 countries, constituting more than 40 per cent of the world’s population, undergoing elections. Bangladesh, which went to the polls just weeks after year 2024 began, saw a massive political upheaval in later months. Sheikh Hasina, who won the polls — which, critics allege, were rigged — was ousted and forced to flee the country following nationwide protests. In India, the Narendra Modi government retained power, while Iran elected a reformist president, and Left-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake scripted history in Sri Lanka. Heading the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance, which had just three seats before the 2022 political crisis, Dissanayake became the popular choice with his pitch for tough anti-corruption measures and more pro-poor policies.
The Labour Party in the UK broke the Conservative Party’s 14-year hold on office, while French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to hold snap elections backfired. Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, which ruled the country for most of the post-World War II era, lost the majority, and Donald Trump clinched back the White House in the US.
The year 2025 will also see many countries — including Canada and Australia — going to the polls. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will find himself in a tough spot on account of plummeting approval ratings and calls to step down from members of his Liberal Party. Reports suggest the immigration issue is likely to be central to the elections in Canada as citizens feel Trudeau has let in too many immigrants while neglecting problems at home.
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The contest is also going to be tough for Australia’s Anthony Albanese — and his Labour government — as his approval rating fell to the lowest levels in a survey held in October. However, the leverage to the conservative opposition is slim and the survey predicted a hung parliament. On the flip side, the leader of the centre-right Liberal Party, Peter Dutton, has matched Albanese as preferred PM in the Pacific country.
The year 2024 also marked political disruptions, which could possibly necessitate general elections in countries like Bangladesh, France, and South Korea. Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced the country will hold general elections in late 2025 or early 2026 as pressure builds on him to conduct polls. Opposition parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have also called for elections to be held as soon as possible.
The collapse of the government in France after the ouster of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote could lead to a parliamentary election in the second half of 2025.
The possibility of impeachment looms large over South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, whose surprise move to impose martial law took the world by shock this month, before it was swiftly withdrawn after a parliamentary vote. The country’s parliament has since passed an impeachment motion against him, suspending his presidential power and duties. If the Constitutional Court decides to dismiss Yoon, for which it has 180 days, a general election would have to be called within 60 days.
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Back home, two important assembly elections — in Delhi and Bihar — are on the cards. The Delhi elections would be a litmus test for Arvind Kejriwal’s following allegations of money laundering in connection with the suspected liquor policy scam. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar would seek to retain the CM’s chair for what would be his 10th term.
Here is a list of countries that will or are likely to hold general elections in 2025:
Africa
Cameroon
Gabon
Ivory Coast
Malawi
Seychelles
Tanzania
Togo
Americas
Canada
Chile
Bolivia
Belize
Ecuador
Guyana
Honduras
Jamaica
Asia
Philippines
Singapore
Bangladesh
South Korea
Europe
Belarus
Germany
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Poland
Romania
Oceania
Australia
Tonga
Vanuatu