INTERNATIONAL ELECTIONS APRIL 2024

Around the world, the political landscape is undergoing dramatic transformations through recent elections. In Solomon Islands the elections were postponed by a year as Pacific Games and Parliament Elections cant be conducted in the same year which has given rise to a new prime minister Mr Jeremiah Manale and the rise of the Main Opposition Democratic party's landslide victory In South Korea has strengthened the hands of Opposition Leader Lee Jae Myung, as these elections are reshaping governance and setting the stage for intriguing political narratives.

• Solomon Islands: -   Solomon Islands 12^th Parliamentary Elections were heled on 17^th April 2024. This Parliamentary elections were planned initially for 2023 but was postponed by parliament in 2022 as then Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare claimed that the country could not afford Pacific games and Parliamentary elections the same year which was in 2023 and hence parliamentary elections were postponed by a year to 2024. The voter turnout for April 17^th elections was 50%. A single party couldn’t claim victory as 26 MPs victories were needed out of 50 Total Elected MPs but Sogavare’s OUR Party claimed the largest Party Position with 15 MPs but couldn’t arrange a post poll alliance for Sogavare to continue as Prime Minister for his second term. In Solomon Islands the Parliament MPs elect the Prime Minister through a Secret Ballot for a Four Year Tem and this year Mr Jermaih Manale won 31 votes in the secret Ballot to become Prime Minister for his first four year term.

• South Korea: - South Korean National Legislative Assembly Elections were held on 10^th April 2024 for the 300 Member Legislative Assembly. The Main Opposition Party for the President Yoon Suk Yeol which the Democratic Party won again and retained its Majority in the National Assembly with 169 Seats whereas 151 is needed to become the Main Opposition Party in South Korea. The Voter Turnout was 66.99% of the total registered electorate. This election is seen as Mid Term Evaluation of Incumbent President Yoon Suk Yeol and whether the ruling party could surpass the constraints of the ruling coalition. In Recent Bipartisan Cooperation Talks Opposition Leader Lee Jae Myung emboldened by victory of this party in the Legislative Assembly Elections has pressurised President Yoon Suk Yeol to accept Investigation into allegations involving top officials and Yoon Suk Yeol’s Wife Kim Keon Hee.

The parliamentary elections in North Macedonia held in April 24^th 2024 resulted in significant political shifts. Here is a breakdown of the results by party, including their percentage of the vote share and the number of seats won in the Sobranie (parliament):

1) VMRO-DPMNE (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity):

• Vote Share: 45%
• Seats Won: 58 seats

2) SDSM (Social Democratic Union of Macedonia) - Led Coalition: some text

• Vote Share: 25.6%
• Seats Won: 31 seats

3) DUI (Democratic Union for Integration):some text

• Vote Share: 10.72%
• Seats Won: 15 seats

4) VLEN Coalition: some text

• Vote Share: 13.78%
• Seats Won: 9 seats

5) Levica (The Left Party):some text

• Vote Share: 6.82%
• Seats Won: 7 seats

6) ZNAM (For Our Macedonia):some text

• Vote Share: 4.43%
• Seats Won: 4 seats

Summary:- These results reflect the VMRO-DPMNE's decisive victory, giving them a strong position in the parliament, though still short of an absolute majority. The SDSM and its allies saw a decline in support, while the ethnic Albanian parties, particularly the DUI, retained significant influence despite some losses to the VLEN coalition.

This election was marked by issues such as the slow pace of EU integration, corruption, and economic challenges, which were central to the campaigns of most major parties.