There are an unprecedented number of general elections around the world scheduled for 2024. Among these were/are China, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the USA.
Foreword
Not all of these countries are democracies, eg China and Russia and, some might say, Hungary.
Of the western democracies, France, Italy, Spain, the UK and the USA are of particular interest. France is currently in the middle of theirs (they have two polling dates in their system); Spain has already had its general election, with an inconclusive result; the UK is going to the polls today, 4 July); and the USA has its elections in November.
Out of 20 countries in Europe, five have lurched/are lurching to the right, namely Austria, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain.
Is this a concern? I think not.
Austria is not an important player.
As a founder member of the original six countries that formed the Common Market, France is significant, but it’s looking like Marine Le Pen and her right-wing party, National Rallye, will not get into government as all the centre and left parties are allied against her.
Italy is another founder member of the Common Market, but the recently elected Giorgia Meloni is not so extreme as the parties of the Right bin other countries.
In the Dutch elections earlier this year, the right won, but did not gain sufficient seats to form a government. The Netherlands were also in at the start of the Common Market.
Spain has a socialist-led coalition government. The Partido Popular is not effective, and their leader Alberto Nuñex Feijoo is not charismatic. They have refused to join forces with Santiago Abascal’s extreme right party VOX. In my view, as a long-term resident of Spain, and a keen student of politics and history, this move to the right will not last. The three PP governments since Spain returned to democracy following the death of General Franco, have been poor.
Thursday 4th July, 2024
Also Independence Day in the USA, today is the date of the British General Election. Opinion Polls have been telling us for weeks that the Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, will win with a massive majority, possibly sending the Conservative Party into oblivion. If, the Reform Party, previously, UKIP, led once again by Nigel Farage, takes votes from disgruntled Tories, it looks even worse for the governing party, led by Rishi Sunak, the party’s fifth leader in 14 years.
Since David (now Lord) Cameron foolishly agreed to hold a simple yes/no referendum on leaving the European Union, the party and its several governments has failed on so many fronts, that many Tory MPs will surely be relieved to no longer be in government, when they lose their “safe” seats today. Some have already announced that they are standing down, in order to avoid the embarrassment of defeat at the poll.
Thursday 4 July 2024, 11.00 pm
Polling stations in the UK have just closed. The official exit poll predicts a landslide for the Labour Party. Labour 410; Conservative 131; Liberal Democrats 61; Reform 13; SNP 10; Greens 2; others 23.
This is only a poll based on 130 constituencies, yet in the last five general elections, the exit poll has been uncannily accurate.
I’ve just got myself an ice-cream and am going to settle down to watch the first actual results come in …..
More later …..
Thursday 5 July 2024, 05.00 am
It’s six hours since polling stations closed, and the count started.
The state of play, at 05.45 am, as Rishi Sunak retains his seat, with 436 out of 650 results declared, is Labour 308; Conservative 67; Liberal Democrats 40; Reform 4; Green 4; others 14.
The Tories have lost a record 11 cabinet ministers namely Alex Chalk, Therese Coffey, David Davies, Oliver Dowden, Liam Fox, Gillian Keegan, Brandon Lewis, Johnny Mercer, Penny Mordaunt, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Grant Shapps.
I’m going to take a break – I need a cuppa and an early breakfast …..
Friday 5 July 2024, 06.00 am - Labour wins the 2024 General Election
In the short time I was away in the kitchen Labour achieved the 326 seats it needed to win the election. Sir Keir Starmer is the new Prime Minister.
Friday 5 July 2024, 06.30 am
With results in from 550 seats – 100 to go – Labour has 373; Conservatives 91; Liberal Democrats 51; Reform 6; Green 5; others 24.
Friday 5 July 2024, 07.30 am
Labour reach 400 seats with just 34 still to declare.
Friday 5 July 2024, 12.00 noon
The mood in the UK is positive and hopeful following the momentous General Election on Thursday. With 649 of the 650 seats declared, it is clear that Labour has routed the Conservatives and has a massive majority in the House of Commons.
With one result to come, this is the situation:
Labour 412
Conservative 121
Liberal Democrat 71
Scottish National Party 9
Sinn Fein (N.Ireland) 7
Independent 6
Reform UK 5
Democratic Unionist Party (N. Ireland) 5
Green 4
Plaid Cymru (Wales) 4
others 5.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is round 2 of the French Elections. An alliance of left-wing parties is hoping to prevent the right-wing Rallye National winning a majority.
© The History Man
Sources:
Cornish Times
El Periodico
France 24
Google Imagenes
Independent
Reuters
SKY News "Election Night"
Wikipedia
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Alex Chalk, Brandon Lewis, Conservative, David Davies, general election, Gillian Keegan, Grant Shapps, Greens, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Johnny Mercer,Keir Starmer, Labour, Liam Fox, Liberal Democrat, Oliver Dowden, opinion poll, Penny Mordaunt, Reform, Rishi Sunak, SNP, Therese Coffey, vote, voting,