This Week in Politics
Ghanan Elections
With presidential and parliamentary elections under the worst economic crisis in a generation Ghanaians headed to the ballot box eager for change. Issues such as unemployment, rampant inflation, cost of living, and financial management scored highly among voters who were concerned with the direction of the country. The outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo of the centre-right New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reached the two-term limit laid out by the constitution. The NPP nominated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia for president. While the main opposition party, the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC), renominated former President John Mahama after two prior failed attempts against incumbent President Akufo-Addo. The NDC hoped to regain power after some eight years without.
Former President John Mahama staged a comeback securing a landslide victory with 56.5% against Mr Bawumia mustering a mere 41.6% (representing a near 10% drop for the NPP since the 2020 presidential election). Mr Mahama paved inroads to the former NPP territory, reflecting the yearning for change among broad sways of the electorate. He now stands to the task of solving mounting challenges, not least economic factors.
"We are very happy for his excellency, John Dramani Mahama. They said he couldn't come, but he has come; the nation-builder is back to build Ghana for us. We need schools, we need hospitals, and we need work. The 24-hour economy is here, and it's here to stay." - A Mahama supporter stated following his victory, "nation builder" refers to a message he managed to build as a president investing in infrastructure projects.
In the parliamentary election, the NDC experienced a similar wave of support. The party gained 48 seats, now totalling a clear outright majority of 183 in the parliament (138 seats are needed for a majority). Simultaneously, the NPP faced a nose dive of 50 seats, scrapping 87, not even half of the NDC, which will make opposition more difficult. During President Akufo-Addo's tenure, the NDC never dipped below 100 seats.
Overall Election Day was a decisive win for the NDC which is set to stage a comeback after eight years out of power. While the NPP stands to the test of rebuilding support and trust among the electorate that once supported them.
New French Prime Minister
Following a tumultuous period, President Macron has appointed centrist François Bayrou as prime minister. The move has not been immediately rejected by powerbrokers of the National Assembly, the left Nouveau Front Populaire and far-right Rassemblement National (RN). Jordan Bardella of the RN stated “This new prime minister must understand that he has no majority in parliament,” further emphasising the RN has “red lines.” Moreover, the Socialist Party laid out conditions for them not to vote for a no-confidence motion, including passing laws through parliament, something Bayrou's predecessor did not do culminating in his ousting. Whether Prime Minister François Bayrou will suffer the same fate remains to be seen, however, it's clear that for President Macron this is a gambit to keep France near the centre.
South Korean Impeachment Vote
Following the martial law declaration last week, the calls for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment have only grown louder and more prominent. After barely surviving the first impeachment vote last weekend he now faces a similar vote in which more of his party members have stated their intent to vote for the impeachment after he seemed defensive and not apologetic for the declaration.
“I will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that have been responsible for paralyzing the country’s government and disrupting the nation’s constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea.” - President Yoon stated in defence of his declaration.
An impeachment motion requires 2/3 support in the National Assembly of 3oo seats. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, have stated their intent to vote for the motion, bringing the total to 192 votes. The remaining eight votes are needed from the president's own People Power Party (PPP), seven have stated their public support for impeachment. Moreover, the PPP has decided to participate in the impeachment vote, differing from last weekend, increasing the possibility of impeachment as the vote is anonymous. Some three PPP lawmakers are expected to be unofficially in favour of the motion, garnering a strong possibility the National Assembly may vote for impeachment.
If the assembly decides to do so the impeachment cause will move along to the Constitutional Court. The court, with an overwhelming number of appointees by the current president, then votes on the impeachment, deciding if it has constitutional grounds. If the court states the impeachment vote is constitutional the president is removed from office. With three vacancies it is unsure if the court would take up the case. Nevertheless, the opposition toward the president has been strengthening and the opposition has vowed to vote on impeachment until President Yoon Suk Yeol is removed from office, triggering a new presidential election.
