10 August 2016: Massive electoral defeat of Nelson Mandela’s party
African National Congress is now facing an uncertain future after shocking loss in local elections. The fact is even more suprising when we realise that this paty has been ruling the country since the end of apartheid. They came into power in 1994 with Nelson Mandela as a leader. Despite the fact that National Congress loss only in local elections, in South Africe, as in many democratic countries, these kind of elections are widely seen as a referendum on the current popularity of the central government.
According to final results Mandela’s party have received only 54% of the vote, down from 62% in 2014’s national elections. They didn’t won, neither in Pretoria, nor in Johannesburg (in both cases official numbers were under 50% support).
This unordinary scenario shows celarly that population is tired of scandal, dismayed by continued economic decline and eager to shed the constraints of racial politics. Recent financial scandals concern for example ANC Party head Jacob Zuma. He was sentenced to repay $16 million in state funds he used to upgrade his private residence earlier this year. This incindent helped opposition to built a narrative of corruptive, discredit government A major consequence is that the party will need to form a coalition to govern. Unexpected outcome of elections could be perceived as a sign that change may come at the parliamentary and presidential levels, too.
African National Congress is now facing an uncertain future after shocking loss in local elections. The fact is even more suprising when we realise that this paty has been ruling the country since the end of apartheid. They came into power in 1994 with Nelson Mandela as a leader.
Despite the fact that National Congress loss only in local elections, in South Africe, as in many democratic countries, these kind of elections are widely seen as a referendum on the current popularity of the central government. According to final results Mandela's party have received only 54% of the vote, down from 62% in 2014's national elections. They didn't won, neither in Pretoria, nor in Johannesburg (in both cases official numbers were under 50% support).
This unordinary scenario shows celarly that population is tired of scandal, dismayed by continued economic decline and eager to shed the constraints of racial politics. Recent financial scandals concern for example ANC Party head Jacob Zuma. He was sentenced to repay $16 million in state funds he used to upgrade his private residence earlier this year. This incindent helped opposition to built a narrative of corruptive, discredit government A major consequence is that the party will need to form a coalition to govern. Unexpected outcome of elections could be perceived as a sign that change may come at the parliamentary and presidential levels, too.
