Sam and Chern look at results from Taiwan’s elections as the first electoral event of 2024, and comment on recent electoral events in Bangladesh. In Taiwan, how did Lai Ching-te win a third consecutive presidential term for the DPP? Given the strength of the third candidate, did the Opposition miss an opportunity to recapture the presidency? Why did Kuomintang do much better in the legislative elections? And given Beijing’s attention on this election, what will be the potential geopolitical consequences? All these questions and more answered in this week’s episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

This week’s episode looks ahead to the year 2024 in politics and elections, discussing the polls to look out for and the themes we might be talking about as the year rolls on. 2024 is a huge year for democracy, with 75% of the world’s democracies and 50% of the global population going to the ballot box. Amongst others, the US, the UK, India, Mexico, Indonesia and South Africa will all be holding national elections. This week, Sam and Chern preview the electoral calendar, picking out some highlights and previewing some stories that are likely to define the political year region by region. Will 2024 be a year of change as multiple incumbents look vulnerable heading into this cycle? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

This week’s episode takes a look back at 2023 in politics with Sam and Chern talking through their annual series of awards. What was the most consequential election of the year and the biggest surprise? Did THAT really happen in 2023? Who was the worst politician this year? And which politicians should we be looking out for in 2024 and beyond? All these questions and more answered in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern look at results from six Indian state elections from the second half of 2023, including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Which are the most significant results from this year? Why is the BJP strong in the North and Congress better-placed in the Southern states? Have any of these results altered the narrative ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha election? And is Modi on track for a historic third term? All these questions and more answered in this week’s episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern break down the year in UK politics and the state of the Conservative and Labour parties. Have either party’s reshuffles changed the political narrative in the UK? Has Rishi Sunak done anything in 2023 to improve the Conservative chances of victory in the next General Election? Do the 2023 by-election results indicate an inevitable Labour victory? And has the SNP hegemony in Scotland come to an end? All these questions and more answered in this week’s episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern break down results from this week’s elections in Argentina and the Netherlands. In Argentina, how did Javier Milei comfortably defeat Sergio Massa for the presidency? How will Milei overcome a lack of a majority in Congress? And how will Argentina’s allies work with Milei? In the Netherlands, what will the eventual Government look like following the PVV’s win? How did Geert Wilders manage to top the polls for the first time, and can he become Prime Minister? And as Timmermans, Omtzigt and Yeşilgöz-Zegerius plot their next move, who is the biggest loser after this tight campaign? All these questions and more answered in this week’s episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern break down the year in US politics and the recent off-year electoral cycle. After a few weeks of three gubernatorial races, state legislatives contests and Ohio ballot initiatives, were there any big surprises? How did Democrat Andy Beshear win re-election in a strong Republican state on the federal level? Why did Glenn Youngkin fail to win a Republican trifecta? And after another strong pro-choice vote in the Ohio referendum, will that issue continue to boost Democratic turnout as they head into 2024? All these questions and more answered in this week’s episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern break down results from two recent presidential elections in South America – one in Ecuador and the other in Argentina. In Ecuador, how did Daniel Noboa defeat the Correa-backed Luisa González? And can Ecuador’s youngest President turn around their fortunes in just eighteen months? In Argentina, how did Sergio Massa outperform polling expectations to win the first round? Can Javier Milei rally the Opposition to defeat the incumbent Peronists? And what should we expect ahead of the second round later this month? All these questions and more answered in this week’s episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern break down results from two recent parliamentary elections – one in New Zealand and the other in Poland. In New Zealand, how did Christopher Luxon’s National Party overturn Labour’s majority? Will they need to negotiate with Winston Peters and NZF as well as ACT? And what is next for Chris Hipkins and the Labour Party? In Poland’s consequential election, how did the Tusk-led Opposition prevent a third term for the Law and Justice Party? What comes next? And can the three Opposition parties create a workable coalition agreement? All these questions and more answered in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support

Sam and Chern discuss results from recent elections in the German states of Hesse, Bremen and Bavaria, and Luxembourg’s parliamentary election. Why did the SPD do much better in Bremen than their poor showings in Hesse and Bavaria? Why did all federal coalition parties lose ground against incumbent CSU/CDU Governments? And what impact will this have on the federal coalition? In Luxembourg, why is the CSV returning to power after a decade? Why did the Green Party do so badly relative to other coalition parties? And what coalition option will CSV pursue? Will Xavier Bettel be back in Government but not as PM? All these questions and more answered in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ballot-to-talk-about/support