2020 Political Predictions

As we ring out 2019 and in the next decade, here are some of my predictions.  Like past two years, some will be right and some wrong.  Some easy others not so easy.

Next Decade

Predicting what things will look like in a decade is a fool’s errands and probably harder than in past.  It’s fair to say politics today looks very different than it did a decade ago and undoubtedly with a changing world will in another decade.  But here are a few I can think of.

1. In Canada and UK, one or more than one party are able to win seats in areas few would have thought possible and likewise one or more parties safe seats fall.  While in Canada this in past decade has largely been limited to wave elections, we saw it in UK with Tories winning many longtime safe Labour seats that a decade ago seemed impossible and likewise Labour imploding in Scotland.  By same token despite Labour’s disastrous showing, they were able to win or be competitive in a few seats like Canterbury and Kensington which seemed unthinkable a decade ago.
2. In US, between Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin, one of them will become a solid red state much the way Missouri was a swing state a decade ago but now solid red.  In the next three elections, (2020, 2024, and 2028), Democrats will win Texas at least once.  Possible some swing states in sun belt like Arizona and North Carolina become more solidly blue but skeptical, but a decade ago Colorado and Virginia were swing states and at turn of century solid red while now fairly blue.
3. The far right manages to win in at least one country in Western Europe while political system becomes more fragmented.  Countries where political landscape looks the same as today will be the exception not the norm much like past decade but unlike ones before.  Social democratic parties will have wins here and there but will continue to see their situation on balance get even bleaker.  Greens will replace them in some, but overall Europe will become more conservative while Canada replaces Europe as the bastion of progressivism and left wing politics.
4. Latin America remains volatile lurching from one extreme to another but no guesses on when far right or far left dominates other than both possible.
5. Asia is the one continent where things don’t change as much although China becomes more assertive and a greater power globally.

Predictions for 2020

Canada

Saskatchewan and Yukon are only provinces/territories where elections are scheduled but with four minority governments provincially and one federally, there could be more.  Saskatchewan Party led by Scott Moe is re-elected although loses some ground in Saskatoon and Regina to NDP but due to unpopularity of Trudeau and his willingness to stand up against him, he still wins a solid majority.  BC, PEI, Newfoundland, and federal government survive with no election, but New Brunswick government falls and the PCs led by Blaine Higgs get their majority thanks to drop in People’s Alliance.  For leadership elections, it is between Ambrose, MacKay, and Polievere for federal Tories, but my prediction is Ambrose gets it although I fear Polievere might as base choses not general electorate and often what base wants is not what appeals to swing voters.  In Ontario, Liberals chose Steve Del Duca as leader showing they haven’t learned a thing and thus giving both Horwath and Ford a fighting chance at winning in 2022 albeit still an uphill battle for both, but at least reduces chances of nervous nellies in caucus trying to push either out.  In Yukon, don’t really have a clue of how things are going there, but my wild guess is Liberals get re-elected.

United States

Biden is chosen as Democrat leader and Trump wins the general election.  Biden wins the popular vote by 4% and picks up Michigan and Pennsylvania while every other state stays the same.  The bigger discrepancy between popular vote and electoral college increases calls to change the system, but doesn’t happen.  Senate stays Republican as Democrats flip Colorado, but GOP flips Alabama back so no change there.  In house, Democrats have a net loss of ten seats, but still hold onto it.  For gubernatorial elections, GOP gains Montana, but all other states up for re-election stay the same (only a minority are up in 2020).

Latin America

Fresh elections are called in Bolivia and right wing wins, but accusations of voter fraud and mass protests by indigenous who mostly vote left wing.

Europe

In Eastern Europe, social democrats lose Slovakia, Romania and fail to win in Croatia meaning for the first time since 2004, there is no social democratic party in government east of the Iron curtain of EU member states.  In Western Europe, only Ireland goes to the polls and that results in Fine Gael led by Leo Varadkar winning, but still only a minority and once again renews supply and confidence with Fianna Fail.  Pedro Sanchez wins investiture as ERC from Catalonia abstains, but government is very fragile and high risk of falling on budget or at least doesn’t make it past 2021.  In Austria, OVP-Greens form coalition with Sebastian Kurz once again being youngest leader in Europe and first conservative-Green coalition.  Belgium finally forms a government by Fall setting a record and it includes Greens with Liberals being the lead.

United Kingdom

Either Rebecca Bailey-Long or Keir Stamer become next Labour leader, my guess being Rebecca Bailey-Long showing they haven’t learned a thing from their massive defeat.  Brexit happens on January 31st, but with a trade deal being tough to get, Johnson has to cave and agree to customs union until they can sort one out.  Despite uncertainty, UK does better than expected economically defying pundits.  In local elections, Tories make gains and Labour loses although one bright spot is in London, Sadiq Khan wins a bigger majority and Labour makes big gains there.  For Liberal Democrats, Layla Moran is chosen as new leader so another young female and also first of Palestinian descent.

Asia, Middle East and Oceania

Israel has its third election and is still inconclusive.  With voter fatigue, a unity government is formed with Likud in charge, but one condition is they must choose a leader besides Benjamin Netanyahu.  In South Korea, Democratic Party is re-elected while in Taiwan DPP wins a bigger majority and Kuomintang suffers worse defeat.  In Hong Kong, pro-Beijing parties off course win, but China rigs elections to ensure that happens.  In Singapore, DAP wins a landslide as has happened in every election.  In New Zealand, National Party led by Simon Bridges wins popular vote but falls short of majority while New Zealand First falls below 4%.  As such Labour and Greens form a coalition so Jacinda Ardern remains PM despite losing popular vote although would not be shocked if she is a one term PM.  Social democracy is not in the critical state in Australia and New Zealand like in Europe, but unlike Canada, centre-right parties have a natural slight built in advantage.  Cannabis and Euthanasia referendums narrowly pass in New Zealand and in many ways it is thanks to this that saves Ardern as this brings out more younger voters who tend to vote for progressive parties as opposed to habitual older voters who heavily favour conservative ones.