4th of July and three elections
VOTE!
We are surrounded by elections right now.
In disconcerting timing for a dual citizen, on the day the US celebrates Independence from the UK, my new country (UK) is having an election for the party that will hold power for the next five years. My birth country (USA), when not blowing up fireworks, is in turmoil over the November presidential election, with party nominations happening in the next two months. Also this week is the second round of a very important snap presidential election in France. There are other elections ongoing around the world, but these three countries mean the most to me for so many reasons.
Long-time readers may remember that I learned the French language in school starting when I was six years old (read that story). My mother was a strong Francophile, and we lived in France for a year, eight years ago. I was born in California, and lived in the United States for most of my life until moving to the UK in 2010. Earlier this year, I became a UK citizen. All three of these countries are so very near and dear to my heart.
A similar trio of important elections with these same countries happened not too long ago. In spring of 2016, we were living in the UK when that country voted to leave the EU (“Brexit”). It was not a party election, but a major election with dramatic consequences nonetheless. Later that same year, we moved to France, and in November Donald Trump was elected President of the US. The following spring there was a presidential election in France, with the right wing party making surprisingly strong gains in the number of seats held in parliament.
At that time, these three events were all seismic shifts in the status quo and signified trends that have only gotten more dramatic since then.
Following the vote to leave the EU in 2016, the standing prime minister quit, resulting in Theresa May being elected leader of the Conservative party. After a few years of dithering, and the UK still hadn’t left the EU, there was another election. The Conservative party, with Boris Johnson as it’s new leader, was voted in again. Then of course there was Covid, there were some parties, things got dicey. Eventually the UK did leave the EU, but meanwhile Johnson’s leadership was revoked, leading to Liz Truss being elected leader. The Queen died, the economy crashed, Rishi Sunak replaced Liz Truss, and here we are. Unlike France and the US, in this UK election, Labour are predicted to win, after 14 years of Conservative party control.
Meanwhile, in the US, so much also happened since 2016, I can’t even begin to summarise those years. There was Covid drama, and, for example, bleach proposed as a covid cure, dicey Supreme Court nomination hearings, arrested staff, election deniers, insurrection at the Capitol, and eventually a few years of some presidential stability. But, at the same time, also racial unrest, abortion bans and much more that illustrates a rise in far right-wing and populist sentiments.
I haven’t followed France as closely, but there too, the populist right-wing party has continued to grow in strength across the country.
But back to now: major presidential elections are not usually held in such close timeframes in these three countries, which, up until recently, were known for their strong representative democracies. The thinking was that it was important to have these strong democracies not all going through transitions in their governments at the same time. Well, this year is different. At least the US election won’t be until the end of the year, whereas the French and UK elections will be decided this week.
I have always had a strong belief in the power of voting as a right and a privilege that we who live in democratic countries can never take for granted. And even now, those voting rights are being tested and tweaked and manipulated to limit the benefit to only a few rather than making voting easier for all.
But no matter what, I have the great privilege of voting in two of these three elections with my great hope for continued democratic principles to be upheld for the residents of all these countries. 🇺🇲🇬🇧🇫🇷
Happy 4th of July for those who celebrate; if you are in the UK, be sure to vote today; and be sure to vote in France on Sunday!
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading today! I appreciate your time. Wishing you all a fabulous July, and cool weather if you are in the US, which is in for some extremely hot weather this next week. I’m in a foggy belt of Southern California currently, so fingers crossed for not TOO hot.
xoxo Sabrina
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We had elections in 2023 and the Labour party was voted in, sending a long standing conservative government into Coventry. The interesting thing though is that there was a huge rise in the success of independent candidates. Simply, folk are tired of the shenanigans of an age-old two party system that was beginning to fray at the seams.
Since then, the Independents are working well, despite that Labour holds the balance of power. It is the same in my state, except the corrupt Liberals were voted back in, but in minority government and with power in the hands of Independent candidates who vote in the Houses on conscience and not on party lines. The Independents in both federal and state government are 'keeping the bastards honest'.
Voting is compulsory in Australia and whilst some desecrate the ballot form and see it as a joke, most citizens cherish the privilege of having a say in the democratic running of our country.
I wish the UK, France and the USA good sense, and honest and empathic governments. The world deserves nothing less from its governors.
Sadly, I think its a naive and Utopian ideal...
This is such a wonderfully concise and reflective summary Sabrina - thank you!! And above all, yes, VOTE VOTE VOTE!!