{"title":"Canada: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"DAVID K. STEWART","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70027","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70027","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The year 2024 was a challenging year for the governing Liberals and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As the year ended, the official opposition Conservatives led in the polls by more than 25 points, and the approval ratings for the Prime Minister were at an all-time low. Disappointing by-election results, Cabinet dissent, the end of a supply-and-confidence agreement with the New Democratic Party and the election of a new American President who threatened tariffs and raised questions about Canada becoming the 51st state all contributed to the challenges faced by Trudeau, who has been Prime Minister since 2015. As the year ended, his ability to remain as Liberal leader and PM was very much in question.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"88-100"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bulgaria: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"MARIA SPIROVA","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70025","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70025","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This entry deals with developments in the electoral arena, coalition politics, and within political parties in Bulgaria. In 2024, Bulgarian politics remained marked by instability, fragmentation, and public distrust, mirroring 2023. The collapse of the coalition Cabinet and two election rounds left incumbent <i>Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria</i> dominant, while <i>We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria</i> declined in influence, despite sharing the incumbency position. Smaller parties faced leadership and organizational challenges, complicating coalition-building. A key political fault-line centered on DPS leader Delyan Peevski, who remained influential despite being sanctioned under the US Magnitsky Act. Despite internal strife, Bulgaria achieved progress toward EU integration, joining Schengen and advancing Eurozone accession. However, Euroskepticism grew, fuelled by pro-Russian sympathies among some parties. Contentious issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, migration, and domestic violence continued to polarize society and dominate political debate.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"64-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/2047-8852.70025","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Australia: Political Developments and Data 2024","authors":"MARIJA TAFLAGA, JOSH SUNMAN","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70026","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70026","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article examines key political developments in Australia during 2024, a year characterised by mid-term challenges for the Albanese Labor Government. The databook entry covers regional elections in four jurisdictions, where Labor governments suffered defeats in Queensland and the Northern Territory while retaining power elsewhere. The article discusses a Cabinet reshuffle and institutional changes including electoral redistributions and new parliamentary standards bodies. While there were changes to personnel within the party, this produced no changes to the gender composition of legislature and only minimal changes to the party system, with the exception of two new single-member parties in the Senate. National policy issues centred on persistent cost-of-living pressures, including housing, and foreign policy challenges, including the Gaza conflict and continued commitment to the AUKUS submarine programme.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"15-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New Zealand: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"FIONA BARKER, WILL DREYER","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70024","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<p>After a change of government at the 2023 elections, 2024 saw the new three-party coalition government of National, ACT and New Zealand First advance its policy agenda. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's government continued to unwind many of the policy reforms of the previous Labour government, while making a range of rapid policy decisions. Its economic agenda delivered tax relief to the ‘squeezed middle’ and restored tax advantages to landlords but also cut public service budgets. While this policy programme caused significant consternation, opposition parties did not manage to offer clear alternatives. The government's actions in relation to Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi provoked substantial opposition and set up regular clashes with Māori leaders, most notably with the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill late in the year.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"471-487"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/2047-8852.70024","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Portugal: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"JOSÉ M. MAGONE","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70023","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70023","url":null,"abstract":"<p>On 25 April 2024, Portugal celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Revolution of Carnations, which led to the establishment of democracy in the country. Commemorations took place throughout the year. Moreover, it was a super year of legislative elections and subnational elections in the Azores and Madeira. On top of the national- and subnational levels of electioneering, there were also European Parliament elections. A new minority government came into office under Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"509-531"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/2047-8852.70023","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Croatia: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"DARIO NIKIĆ ČAKAR, VIŠESLAV RAOS","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70022","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70022","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In 2024, Croatia went through a super election year, with parliamentary elections in April, European Parliament elections in June, and presidential elections (first round) in December. The sitting president, Zoran Milanović, garnered the highest level of support in the first round, coming close to securing an absolute majority of the votes. However, during the parliamentary election, he posed as a Spitzenkandidat for the center-left coalition, prompting the Constitutional Court to issue a formal decision banning him from taking part in the campaign due to separation of powers concerns. The ruling Christian democratic and conservative Croatian Democratic Union, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, managed to secure its third consecutive term as the leading party of a coalition government. The same party won an absolute majority of the Croatian seats in the European Parliament. Despite rising costs of living, the government managed to quell social dissent and trade union collective actions through broad salary increases in the public sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"101-119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145600982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Italy: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"MARTA GALLINA, CECILIA BIANCALANA","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70021","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In 2024, Italian politics experienced institutional continuity, with no national elections or major Cabinet reshuffles. The European Parliament election emerged as the year's most salient political event, consolidating <i>Fratelli d'Italia</i> and the <i>Partito Democratico</i> as the two main poles and underscoring the electoral collapse of the <i>Movimento Cinque Stelle</i> (M5S, Five Star Movement. This shift has reignited debates over a possible return to bipolarism in the Italian party system. The report also examines the outcome of seven regional elections, which saw the centre-right coalition consolidate its territorial dominance. Further sections address limited but politically significant Cabinet changes, the organisational transformation of the M5S and key political developments during the year. Special attention is given to the proposed constitutional reform introducing a directly elected Prime Minister (<i>premierato</i>), a controversial measure that has sparked widespread public and academic debate. Taken together, these developments point to a politically stable system facing emerging pressures on institutional and party configurations.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"348-362"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"United Kingdom: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"ALIA MIDDLETON","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70012","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rather than a widely expected autumn election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called one to be held on 4 July. His Conservative Party were reduced to just 121 seats, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer became the new Prime Minister. The change in administration led to some significant policy shifts towards the latter half of the year—in particular, the scrapping of the Rwanda scheme to tackle immigration. The new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, held a budget in October that criticised the economic management of the previous government and scrapped winter fuel payments for pensioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"637-652"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/2047-8852.70012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Austria: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"KATRIN PRAPROTNIK","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70019","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70019","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Austria's political year in 2024 was shaped by a dense electoral calendar, including elections to the European Parliament, the National Council, and two regional parliaments. The populist right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) benefited notably, securing first place in three of these four elections (with the region of Vorarlberg being the exception). As a result, the FPÖ gained additional seats in legislatures at all levels, albeit with varying effects on executive power. While the FPÖ entered two regional governments—assuming the governorship in Styria—other parties refused to participate in any coalition involving the FPÖ at the national level. Breaking a longstanding tradition, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen therefore granted the mandate to form a government to the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). The ÖVP subsequently initiated coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party of Austria and NEOS-The New Austria and Liberal Forum, which were still ongoing at the end of 2024.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"27-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/2047-8852.70019","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Estonia: Political Developments and Data in 2024","authors":"MARTIN MÖLDER","doi":"10.1111/2047-8852.70018","DOIUrl":"10.1111/2047-8852.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<p>After the parliamentary elections of 2023 and some of the political initiatives of the new government that followed, the year 2024 was relatively quiet in Estonian politics. Support for the government parties as well as the approval rating of the Prime Minister remained very low and the change in government leadership that took place in the middle of the year did not change this. The support of the electorate was firmly behind the opposition throughout the year. Even though the year was politically uneventful, it was noticeably unstable on the level of political parties. Defections between parliamentary party groups continued, especially in the first half of the year up to the point where the number of officially unaffiliated MPs was higher than it had ever been since the democratic transition in the 1990s. No significant new political player emerged from this political volatility between the parties, but it was evident that the actors in the party system were going through significant internal tensions and changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":100503,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook","volume":"64 1","pages":"168-182"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145601017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}