Is our democracy decaying or progressing? The age-old question, which often plagues our generation, once again is at the forefront of political happenings.
In Africa, Namibia has elected its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the dominant- ruling SWAPO party. Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 57% of the vote, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s commitment to gender equality. In Europe, the “status quo” of democracy has continued to lose trust. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has lost a vote of no confidence in the Bundestag, leading to the collapse of his coalition government and the scheduling of early elections for February 23, 2025. This development underscores the challenges within parliamentary democracies when internal dissent prompts a call for renewed public mandates. Magdeburg Christmas terrorist attack which galvanized anti-immigration sentiment across Germany.
Likewise, France experienced a governmental collapse after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a similar “no-confidence” vote, the first such occurrence since 1962. This event has intensified political tensions and raised questions about the stability of France’s current democratic framework.
In the United States, President Joe Biden announced the commutation of sentences for nearly 1,500 individuals and pardons for 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes. This represents the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history, reflecting the executive branch’s authority to exercise mercy within the justice system. Many of Biden’s supporters have argued that the clemency granted is in preparation for a less merciful, and more vengeant Trump regime. Despite this, many of his political counterparts mark this as a demonstration of the fall of democracy, a President’s anti-democratic behavior.
These events collectively highlight the ongoing global tensions between democratic ideals and the practical exercise of power. Namibia’s election signifies progress in representation, while political developments in Germany and France reveal the complexities of maintaining democratic stability amid internal challenges. Furthermore, the United States’ clemency actions further illustrate the diverse ways in which democratic principles are interpreted and implemented in contemporary governance.
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