European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook最新文献

In 2023, Bulgaria saw the first regular, politically accountable, Cabinet after two years of caretaker cabinets following early elections in April. The election saw Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (Grazhdani za evropeysko razvitie na Bulgaria, GERB) emerge as the plurality winner but without a clear majority, and a coalition government between GERB and We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) materialized. Seen as an artificially cobbled-together creation, the Cabinet faced increasing opposition and two failed no-confidence votes. A constitutional amendment in late 2023 limited the president's power to appoint caretaker cabinets. Bulgaria remained divided on its stance toward Russia and nationalism, and political apathy rose, casting doubt on future stability.

There was no federal election in 2023 but change seemed to be in the air, as the official opposition Conservatives, under their new leader, made major gains in the polls and took a significant lead over the Liberals. Controversy over foreign interference in Canadian politics generated controversy, and foreign policy issues had an uncharacteristic impact on Canadian politics. The Liberal government responded with a major Cabinet shuffle, while by-elections left the party positions in the House of Commons essentially unchanged.

The 2023 Czech presidential elections, characterized by high turnout and the victory of retired General Petr Pavel in a run-off against former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape. These elections were marked by intense debates on candidates’ backgrounds and foreign policy orientations, highlighting voters’ preference for pro-Western ideals. Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Petr Fiala witnessed four ministerial changes affecting the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry for European Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, and the Ministry of Agriculture. Several important legislative changes occurred in 2023. Notably, the pension amendment incited robust debate and opposition activity. Furthermore, the government's consolidation package, aimed at economic stabilization and public budget reduction, sparked protests, reflecting broader societal concerns over funding and labor conditions in schools and hospitals. The year ended with national mourning following a tragic mass shooting at Charles University in Prague.

The political arena was lively in Slovenia, even though no elections or referendums were held in 2023. Both the government and all three governmental parties, especially the biggest one, the Freedom Movement, as a new party, experienced considerable turbulence—such as changes in the parliamentary party group and changes in the four ministerial positions falling within that party's quota. Having previously been the successful manager of an energy company, the Prime Minister encountered a multitude of challenges in the political arena. While the government announced many reforms, it managed to deliver substantially less. It also faced many (threats of) strikes and protests, particularly by public sector employees and farmers. Even though in the first year of its term the government enjoyed high public support, by November 2023, the situation was very different, with just 18 per cent of voters assessing its work as (very) positive. Parallel to this, two opposition parties were facing their own challenges.

In 2023, Croatia joined both the euro and the Schengen area, thus completing full EU integration. No elections were held, and the Parliament experienced some minor cases of floor crossing while the government, although maintaining its party composition, reshuffled four ministers. The opposition criticized the government over political corruption and infringements upon media freedom.

France, in 2023, experienced continuing polarization. Unable to build a majority after the legislative elections of 2022 and facing a fragmented opposition with no capacity to propose an alternative majority, President Macron managed to sustain a minority government throughout the year. Outside of the parliamentary arena, polarization led to a series of social protests, particularly triggered by the pension reform and the immigration bills.

Ireland had, for a long time, been an outlier in European politics in that, despite having experienced large-scale immigration in the 2000s, it had not seen a significant expression of anti-immigrant sentiment, and it was almost absent at a political level. The year 2023 saw a significant rise in the number of people seeking international protection or asylum. The state struggled to cope with the rise in numbers, which saw it take control of hotels and other private premises across the country. Protests grew in some localities, but the political reaction was negligible until in late November, there was a riot in Dublin city centre causing millions of euros worth of damage. There was an expected impact on Irish politics that might change the shape of politics in Ireland.

The year 2023 was a year of consolidation for the government of Giorgia Meloni (Fratelli d'Italia). After the turbulent 2022, the 2023 electoral landscape in Italy saw minimal changes at the national level. However, while there were no national elections, regional elections were held in five regions, bearing witness to shifts and stances within both the majority and the opposition. At the national party level, leadership changes occurred both in the center-left and in the center-right. On the one hand, following primary elections, Elly Schlein became the first woman to lead the Partito Democratico. On the other, Forza Italia faced uncertainty following the passing of Silvio Berlusconi, with Antonio Tajani appointed interim leader. Other than that, the political landscape in Italy remained relatively stable in 2023, with Giorgia Meloni seeking to consolidate her leadership within the coalition and her credibility as head of government, while the opposition strove to reorganize.

In 2023, Austria continued to experience low levels of democratic satisfaction. This was particularly beneficial for the populist right-wing Freedom Party of Austria/Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) in regional elections and opinion polls, as well as for parties not previously represented in the federal Parliament. After the regional elections in Lower Austria and Salzburg, the FPÖ assumed government responsibility and entered a coalition with the Austrian People's Party/Österreichische Volkspartei in both states. Approval ratings for the governing parties remained low. The Social Democratic Party of Austria/Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs concluded its long-standing internal directional debate with a change in leadership, albeit accompanied by mishaps. In terms of domestic policy, parties were able to reach a consensus, particularly on the abolition of official secrecy.

Freiburghaus, R. (2023). Switzerland: Political Developments and Data in 2022. Addressing Crisis Upon Crisis Through Swiss-Style “Muddling-Through”. European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook, 62(1), 498–519. https://doi.org/10.1111/2047-8852.12398

There is a mistake in the abstract of the article where the sentence “While the country has managed to phase out most COVID-19 protective measures already in the year's early weeks, the 202 Russian invasion of Ukraine internationally discredited neutrality—that is, one of the traditional pillars of Swiss identity.” should read as “While the country has managed to phase out most COVID-19 protective measures already in the year's early weeks, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine internationally discredited neutrality—that is, one of the traditional pillars of Swiss identity.”

We apologize for this error.