Foreign Elections: An expat’s first-hand lesson in politics

People are often surprised to find out that I was a political science major in college. I can understand why; all my work experience has been in communications and media — and nothing even remotely close to political media at that (see this recent guest post I wrote about my last job on a reality television show).

And to be clear, choosing political science was a mistake. It never suited me; I didn’t enjoy it. I really was a communications major at heart, but didn’t realize it until it was far too late in my college career to change majors.

However, the universe is funny — it’s still managed to throw politics into my life abroad (and I mean real politics; not to be confused with bureaucracy). In the two countries I’ve expatriated to since graduating, I’ve happened to catch both election cycles; both of which have been the most highly contested in decades (weirder still, they’ve both been on the same Sunday — May 7 last year, May 6 this year).

I enjoy viewing other countries’ election processes as an outsider — they help me gain great insight into the people and politics of my adopted country; a bonus to expat life that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Through these elections, I’ve learned more about Singaporean and French history and politics than I ever did in my small classrooms in central Pennsylvania.

Electoral Voting Systems

In Singapore, I was present for the General Elections (parliamentary), which are held every five years. Similar to the United States, Singapore operates on a first past the post system — the person with the most votes, wins. However, unlike the US, they actually count every person’s vote, instead of using an outdated college….

In France, I’m currently watching the presidential elections unfold; these also occur every five years. France operates on runoff voting, or the two-round system. It’s as simple as it sounds, and one I personally think makes sense. In runoff voting, there are two tours: Everyone votes for their favorite candidate in the first round, and the two candidates with the most votes move onto the second round. Voilà.

Other interesting notes: 

Singapore: Election Day is considered a public holiday. Because it fell on a Sunday; companies had to give their employees a day off in lieu.

France:
— Citizens have to vote in the city where they live; no mailed-in absentee ballots. So during the voting weekends, people all over the country take trains back to their hometowns to vote (and see their families).
— Election results are broadcast directly at 20:00. The lead-up to this felt like New Year’s Eve: people gathered in crowds outside; others got together with friends and drank wine while huddling around the television, watching a countdown to 8:00 PM.
— During the day, exit poll results aren’t allowed to be broadcast, presumably so as not to influence those who haven’t voted yet. This lack of updates throughout the day probably explains the excitement and clock-watching come 8.

What’s Allowed During Campaigning — and What Isn’t

I find this the most interesting, and often refreshing, part of other countries’ elections — probably because I grew up with the American model of campaigns that drag on for years, and 95% of the time just talk trash on the other candidate.

Singapore had only NINE days of campaigning, during which mudslinging was absolutely forbidden (of course, some was still snuck in subtly, but nowhere near the extent of American politics). Then by law, absolutely no campaigning was allowed the day before the election — called Cooling-Off Day — so that voters could make an “informed” decision. I loved the Singapore model.

France isn’t quite so strict, but the campaign lifespan has seemed considerably shorter (I mean, didn’t Mitt Romney announce his campaign in like 1988? It sure feels like it’s been that long). The first tour was April 22, and bam — the presidential election is only two weeks later. In addition, the two contenders, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, have only had one debate.

What Issues Matter 

As I mentioned, both recent elections have been the most hotly contested and watched in decades. From the issues, I learn most about the countries’ histories and the mindset of its citizens.

In Singapore, the battle was with the People’s Action Party, who had been running the country since the its founding in 1965 (yes, Singapore is younger than your parents). Because they’d been in power so long, the ministers were seen as elitists who were out of touch with the people; an “aristo-democratic monarchy”. In the five years since their last election, public dissatisfaction and anger reached a never-before-seen high, and its opposition featured several candidates who were highly qualified and ready to strike.

Several contested issues during the election focused on the failures of the PAP and its ministers, and their ridiculously high salaries; cost of living and transportation on the island; and of course immigration. For a more in-depth look at the issues in Singapore (they still linger today), read on here.

In the end, the PAP still won 81 seats — and only lost six. Yet those six seats were huge: terms like “watershed” and “breakthrough” were constantly used to describe the win for the opposition.

France’s election has been a nail-biter between Sarkozy and Hollande; several issues being taxes, budgets, austerity measures, and basically anything to do with the economy at all. Even though most media outlets, both domestic and international, write as if they expect Hollande to win, the two seem to be neck and neck and I wouldn’t write off Sarkozy just yet.

What a Real Socialist Looks Like

Hey FOX news, take a look at this guy, and then rethink who you’re calling a Socialist.

François Hollande while campaigning has said he wants to:

• Place a 75% tax on anyone earning over €1 million a year
• Cut the president’s salary by 30%
• Raise taxes on businesses
• Reinstate the retirement age of 60 (from 62)

Oh and those tax increases? They’re partly so he can pay for his plans to increase workers in the civil service — like hiring 60,000 new teachers.

While studying political science wasn’t for me, I’m glad politics hasn’t left my life completely. If you’re lucky enough to be an expat during a country’s political transitions, or even simply traveling through, pick up a newspaper and read up on the current situation. It will enrich your experience greatly.

As for me, come 8 o’clock tomorrow night you can fully expect to find me glued to a TV, watching a countdown and waiting for the election results come in.