Global Voter Turnout Ousts Nationalist Leaders in Multiple Nations
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other center-left movements defeated far-right and autocratic leaders in Brazil, Hungary, Serbia, and the United States.
A global wave of high voter turnout and youth mobilization led to the defeat of several nationalist and autocratic leaders across four continents. In Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a surprise second-round victory over far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. Lula overcame a first-round deficit through record-low voter absenteeism and strong support from voters under 35.
Similar shifts occurred in Europe and the Middle East. Viktor Orbán was ousted in Hungary in April after 16 years in power, with turnout reaching 80%. In Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić was removed from power last month, driven by the youth-led Student List-Students Win bloc. In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition lost its parliamentary majority in October, though Netanyahu has since claimed without evidence that Arab parties stole the election.
In the United States, the Democratic Party retook control of the House of Representatives and secured a comfortable margin in the Senate during midterm elections. This shift, described as a blue tsunami, was fueled by economic concerns including rising gas prices and the consequences of the Iran War, with a notable increase in support among young men.
