8 countries around the globe set to welcome ‘new’ leaders in 2024

The year 2024 will be a busy and crucial one for global politics, as more than 40 countries will hold national elections, some of which will determine the fate of some of the most powerful and influential leaders in the world. Here are 8 of the most important and interesting countries that will see a change of leadership in 2024.

1. United States

The US presidential election will be held on November 5, 2024, and it will be a rematch between the incumbent Joe Biden and his former rival Donald Trump, who announced his candidacy in 2023. Biden, who will be 81 years old by then, faces a tough challenge from Trump, who remains popular among his loyal base and has been campaigning aggressively since leaving office in 2021.

2. Russia

Scheduled to take place from March 15 to 17, 2024, the Russian presidential election is poised to determine the future trajectory of Vladimir Putin’s era. Putin has declared his intention to seek another term as president, setting the stage for either the continuation or the conclusion of his leadership. However, the electoral landscape is largely expected to be a formality, given the weakened state of the opposition and the significant repression it faces. Furthermore, state control over the media further limits the scope for genuine political contestation in the election process.

3. Mexico

The upcoming general elections in Mexico are set to take place on June 2, 2024. During this pivotal event, voters will have the opportunity to choose a new president who will serve a six-year term. Additionally, all 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies and all 128 members of the Senate of the Republic will be elected. This election is expected to bring about a shift in presidency from the incumbent, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to a leader from the opposition.

4. Ghana

Ghana’s 2024 elections are anticipated to be a significant event in the country’s political landscape. Scheduled to take place on December 7, 2024, these elections will determine the next president and members of parliament. As Ghana continues to strive for democratic stability and development, the outcome of the 2024 elections holds immense importance for the nation’s future trajectory.

5. Romania

Romania is gearing up for its presidential elections, scheduled to take place on September 15, 2024. Should the need arise, a potential second round is slated for September 29, contingent upon the outcomes of the initial round. These elections mark the ninth instance of presidential elections since Romania’s transition to democracy in 1989. Incumbent President, Klaus Iohannis’ second and final term is expected to conclude in December 2024.

6. South Africa

South Africa is gearing up for its upcoming general elections slated for May 29, 2024. This significant electoral milestone will shape the composition of the new National Assembly and the provincial legislatures nationwide. It represents the seventh general election held since the establishment of universal adult suffrage following the end of apartheid in 1994. Post-election, the newly elected National Assembly will assemble to appoint members to both the National Council of Provinces and the presidency, marking a critical juncture in the nation’s political landscape.

7. Rwanda

Rwanda is set to host its general elections on July 15, 2024, where citizens will cast their votes to elect the president and members of the Chamber of Deputies. The current president, Paul Kagame, who has held office since 2000, is anticipated to seek a fourth term following a constitutional amendment in 2015 that extended his eligibility. Despite the absence of significant opposition, as many critics and rivals have been marginalised through imprisonment, exile, or violence, Kagame remains the dominant figure in the electoral landscape. The only confirmed alternative candidate is Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, who garnered less than one percent of the votes in the 2017 election.

8. Uruguay

The Uruguay presidential election 2024 will be held on October 6 and 27, 2024, to elect the president and vice president of the country. The incumbent president, Luis Lacalle Pou of the National Party, cannot run for a second term due to constitutional term limits. The main opposition party, the Broad Front, has nominated its former president, José Mujica, who served from 2010 to 2015, as its candidate. Other potential candidates include Gabriel Gurméndez of the Colorado Party, Guido Manini Ríos of the Cabildo Abierto, and Pablo Mieres of the Independent Party.

These are just some of the countries that will change their leaders in 2024, a year that will shape global politics and the world order. The outcomes of these elections will have implications for regional and global security, economy, and cooperation, as well as for the democracy, human rights, and development of the countries and their people.