VOA新闻杂志2024--In 2024, More Than 60 Nations to Hold National Elections

In 2024, More Than 60 Nations to Hold National Elections

2024 will go down as one of the most politically important years in history. More than 60 countries will hold national elections representing half of the world's population.

Here is a look at six of the year's most important elections.

United States

The U.S. presidential election looks to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump¹. The two front-runners have very different opinions on America's place in the world. The results in November's race may decide how tough the U.S. will be on China, Russia and other international rivals.

Joseph S. Nye Jr. is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense². He told VOA that Trump's "America First" position is attempting to bring isolationism back in foreign policy. That could leave U.S. allies in a difficult position as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars continue.

"On Russia," Nye said, "Trump is likely to be more favorable to Putin. That means pressure to reduce support for Ukraine is very likely."

As president, Biden has sent military aid packages to Ukraine and Israel, even as he faces opposition⁴ from both parties.

Biden is currently behind Trump in the polls in a possible rematch.

Russia

Russia will hold its presidential election in March. Following its invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, Russia has become the most sanctioned country in the world. The sanctions have harmed its economy and driven Russia closer to China.

Experts do not expect Russian President Vladimir Putin to lose in 2024. His top political rivals are jailed, exiled, missing or dead.

If Putin wins another six years, Russia will continue "the same brutal⁵ agenda in Ukraine and increasingly autocratic policies at home," said Sergey Radchenko. He is a professor of Soviet⁶ history at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Experts say the level of success Putin sees in his war with Ukraine may depend on who wins the U.S. presidential election.

European Union

The European Union is heading for elections in June. Anti-immigration leaders with soft positions on Russia and China are set to push the European Parliament to the right. The Parliament, though, plays only a supervisory role in the EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has yet to announce whether she is running for reelection. She has shown strong support to Ukraine.

If reelected, von der Leyen would serve as an equalizing force in an increasingly populist European Union. She would work to balance the often-conflicting interests of different member nations with her goal of containing Russia.

The election results will decide is how much pushback von der Leyen's pro-Ukraine agenda will face from incoming right-wing European lawmakers. That is especially important as Ukraine gets closer to becoming an EU member nation.

India

India holds its general elections this spring. Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling BJP party say the country's religious minorities are facing widespread persecution⁷, or unfair treatment. Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda has gained popularity. Violence against Sikh and Muslim Indians has become increasingly common.

Modi's government stands accused of killing⁸ a Sikh expatriate in Canada last summer and a failed plot to kill a Sikh activist⁹ living in New York City in November. Those incidents have affected¹⁰ India's diplomatic ties with the West.

Modi has a very high approval rating among Indian voters and appears likely to earn a third five-year term. If he wins, Modi is expected to build on the relationships he has made with both Trump and Biden during his time as prime minister.

South Africa

South Africa's ruling party is at its weakest point since it came to power in 1994. The African National Congress (ANC) is at risk of losing its majority in the legislature. To stay in power, the ANC will likely be forced to form a coalition¹¹ with other parties.

South Africa is the most industrialized nation in Africa. But with a one-third unemployment rate and power shortages across the nation, some young South Africans are turning away from the ANC.

Still, it is likely that the ANC will stay in charge for the next five years, said Daniel Silke. He is a South African political expert.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the largest opposition party. If the DA wins an unlikely victory, there would be "improvement in relations between South Africa and the West," Silke said.

Silke said the ANC remaining in power could make way for an even stronger connection between South Africa and China.

Words in This Story

isolation³ — n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others

semiconductor¹² — n. a material or object that allows some electricity or heat to move through it and that is used especially in electronic devices

sovereignty — n. unlimited¹³ power over a country

approach — n. a way of dealing¹⁴ with something

sanction — n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

brutal — adj. extremely cruel or harsh

autocratic — adj. a person who rules with total power

role — n. a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation

populist — n. of or relating to a political party that claims to represent ordinary people

persecute¹⁵ — v. to treat cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs

expatriate — n. a person who lives in a foreign country

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

6 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

7 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

12 semiconductor   

n.半导体

参考例句：

• In the beginning,engineers hoped to use semiconductor lasers.在开始时，工程师们希望能够利用半导体激光器。
• The main agent of the company brand semiconductor sales.本公司主要代理各品牌半导体销售。

13 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

14 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

15 persecute   

vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰

参考例句：

• They persecute those who do not conform to their ideas.他们迫害那些不信奉他们思想的人。
• Hitler's undisguised effort to persecute the Jews met with worldwide condemnation.希特勒对犹太人的露骨迫害行为遭到世界人民的谴责。