5 notable presidential elections of the year

Democracy continued its rise as the preferred system of governance across the globe in 2017.

There were however reports of skirmishes and violence in Kenya and elsewhere on the African continent during parliamentary and district elections.

Here are the top five presidential elections that got the world talking in 2017.

1. A young Emmanuel Macron becomes France’ President

On Monday, May 7, 2017, a 39-year-old centrist candidate, Emmanuel Macron emerged President of France after defeating Front National Leader, Marine Le Pen.

Macron won the French elections with 66.1 percent of the votes cast. Le Pen got 33.9 percent of the votes cast.

The victory of the investment banker immediately got the young across the world dreaming of political leadership and power.

2. Angela Merkel wins fourth term as Chancellor

In September, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won a fourth straight term into the country’s Bundestag (federal parliament).

Merkel won with 32.9 percent of the votes.

Merkel was first elected Chancellor in 2005 and her 2017 election was seen as a victory for moderates, pro-immigration and advocates of a world without borders.

3. Uhuru wins in Kenya

On October 30, 2017, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta won re-election with 98 percent of the ballots cast.

The elections were considered rigged and fraught with irregularities; but Kenyatta and his political party wouldn’t be bothered.

Opposition challenger Raila Odinga, boycotted the vote and the exercise reportedly experienced a low turnout of voters.

Violence broke out across the streets of Kenya during and after the vote as well.

4. George Weah close to being elected Liberian president

Former world footballer of the year, George Opong Weah, did enough to take the Liberian presidential contest into a run-off which has been slated for December 26.

Reuters writes that “George Weah will now face Vice-President Joseph Boakai in a vote that could mark Liberia’s first peaceful transition of power in seven decades.

“The winner of round two will replace Nobel Peace Prize laureate as leader of the small West African country, one of the world’s poorest despite abundant diamonds and iron ore”.

5. Austria elects Europe’s youngest leader

At just 31 years of age, fresh faced Sebastian Kurz, was elected Chancellor of Austria in 2017.

Kurz’s conservative People’s Party ran away with over 30 percent of total votes cast.

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The new Austrian leader however when juxtaposed with the political views of other young world leaders like Macron and Justin Trudeau.