OF VOTING AND APATHY IN ELECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Elections actually change our daily lives and, how much a vote really influences the course of governments, is the question that every voter in the democratic world analyzes before voting. According to research by the OECD, an entity that brings together the richest countries on the planet, in 2026, 40% of people trust the government of their country and 68% are convinced that the vote influences the government. IPSOS, a research company, concludes that most people believe in the vote, but are not heard after the election. In 31 countries, 64% think that parties and politicians matter less and less.

Dissatisfaction with democracy is also very significant. It reaches 69% in the US, 62% in Italy and 52% in the United Kingdom. And in Latin America, only 24% of voters trust Congress and 17% trust political parties.

Electoral responses in presidential or parliamentary regimes are different. The participation of the electorate is also different. Of the important countries, only Brazil and Argentina have compulsory voting. And with increasing abstention, rulers are elected with fewer votes. In Israel, the government was elected with 33% of the total voters. In the United Kingdom, with 20%, in the US with 44% and in Brazil, 38%. That is, of the total number of citizens entitled to vote, less than half, on average, elect the government. Abstention is only growing around the world and, with that, the minority elects the government. This is even more pronounced in the case of parliamentary political systems, in which sometimes no one has a majority and has to make a coalition.

In each country, voters' concerns vary greatly depending on the situation of the day. Thus, the cost of living and employment appear very strongly, always. In the case of Israel, the country's security is the main item and the Defense Forces have more confidence than politicians. Argentine voters wanted a break and elected Millei. The Germans change parties, but they don't stop changing. There is a lot of discussion about whether democracy is dying. What is valid to say is that democratic systems adapt to new challenges brought by economic and technological changes that generate social changes and force politicians to follow new demands.

The growth of political leaders with strong personalistic traits did not give the world the certainty that we are being led by the wise. On the other hand, also the great social movements, such as May 68 in France or movements for black rights in the US or even, in 2013, in Brazil, and the movement in India of students, disappeared. We are missing Woodstock, of rebellious youth, worried about their future and wanting to change the world. We are not satisfied with what we have, but we also do not move for changes to happen. Elections are more a struggle for power than for changes and a better world.