Yesterday marked the day of the presidential election. Unlike in the United States, where the political landscape is dominated by two major parties, this country offers voters a wider range of political choices. Multiple parties participate in the race, reflecting a broader spectrum of ideologies and interests. Also, very much unlike the U.S., running for president here does not require millions of dollars. Campaigns are often modest, focusing on grassroots outreach and public engagement rather than expensive media campaigns.
Another notable difference is that elections here are held on Sundays. This is generally seen as more convenient for voters, as most people are off work and have fewer weekday obligations. In contrast, elections in the United States are held on Tuesdays, which can make it more difficult for some people to find the time to vote, especially if they have long work hours or limited access to polling places.
To win outright in the first round, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. Given the number of competing parties, this rarely happens. As expected, no single candidate reached that threshold this time. The top two candidates received 30.5% and 29.6% of the vote, respectively.
As a result, a second round of voting will be held in the first week of June. In this runoff, only the two leading candidates remain on the ballot. Over the next two weeks, both will campaign intensely, aiming to win over voters who supported other candidates in the first round. Much of this effort involves negotiating support from smaller parties and forming alliances to broaden their appeal.
Whichever candidate wins the second round will likely need to form a coalition government, working with other parties to secure a functional majority. While this process can be complex, it often results in a leadership that better reflects the diversity of public opinion.
