After four years of world-historic crises, it should be no surprise that in almost all democratic jurisdictions, incumbent parties — left, right, and center — have been either turfed from office or profoundly humbled in 2024. From the COVID pandemic to the first major-power conflict in Europe since World War II to galloping inflation, a cascade of crises with profound financial and personal costs has understandably enraged voters. In June, South Africa’s African National Congress lost their majority for the first time since democracy was won in 1994, as did Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in India the same month. Just this past weekend, Japan’s “natural governing party,” the Liberal Democrats, also lost their majority.
British Columbia (BC), whose election the previous weekend brought the ruling left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) low, is little different. The vote was so close that the final count was delivered a full week after the vote. The NDP won by the skin of its social democratic teeth, with many ridings only won by the party with a bare handful of votes, while a number of high-profile members of the cabinet were turfed.
Some in the media have framed 2024 as a year of anti-incumbency revolt: it’s just what happens now, they say. And despite the close race, the NDP’s result marked the party’s second-best showing in its history — winning 44.8 percent and securing its third consecutive victory, a first for the party.
So. . . nothing to see here? Can we turn off the hot-take oven?
Parts of this tale of unavoidable…
La suite est à lire sur: jacobin.com
Auteur: Leigh Phillips
