This year, an unprecedented number of elections are being held globally, with almost four billion people from c.60 nations heading towards the polls. In the last quarter, major emerging and developed markets saw some surprise results. India’s Bhartiya Janata Party lost its majority; Mexico’s Movimiento Regeneración Nacional won a constitutional majority; the UK elected its first new governing party in 14 years; and chaos erupted in France, caused by its call of a snap election – with the Republic narrowly missing far-right dominance due to a rushed left coalition. Election anxiety reached fever pitch in South Africa (SA) during the second quarter of 2024, with the African National Congress (ANC) losing its majority, forcing it into a government of national unity (GNU) with opposition parties. US election unease has started ahead of its November ballot, and one can expect more volatility as we approach the event.
