As the year 2024 has just begun, France 24 offers you an overview of the major political, sporting, environmental and cultural events that are expected.
The year 2024 has just started. This new year has its share of important dates in store for us. Among them, many concern the sporting field, but political events will also be there and some could well have significant repercussions on the international situation in the years to come. A quick overview of what awaits us in 2024.
-
The Brics family is growing
The Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), this bloc made up of five so-called “emerging” economic powers, will welcome six new members at the start of the year. A decision taken during a summit organized at the end of August in Johannesburg, South Africa. The six new entrants include three countries from the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran), two African countries (Egypt and Ethiopia) and one country from Latin America, Argentina. The Brics will therefore be eleven as of 1er January 2024, potentially strengthening their stature as a counterweight to the G20.
Read alsoEconomy, demography… The weight of Brics in the world
-
In Taiwan, a presidential election scrutinized by Washington and Beijing
Another event to follow at the start of the year: the presidential election in Taiwan, on January 13. Three candidates are in the running. Vice-President William Lai, from the Democratic Progressive Party, represents the camp of those in power. Facing him, two opposition candidates who failed to form an alliance: the Kuomintang party and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The election – in one round – should be particularly followed by the United States and China, the question of Taiwan crystallizing tensions between the two countries. Beijing is fiercely hostile to the power in place on the island and considers the latter to be an integral part of its territory.
Read alsoIn Taiwan, “the opposition still has a chance, even in dispersed order”
-
The African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast
Côte d’Ivoire is preparing to welcome, from January 13 to February 11, the 34e edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN). Will the Ivory Coast Elephants be crowned African champions at home? Will they succeed Senegal, winner of the last edition of the competition? Answer on February 11, 2024. The first match of the CAN will pit Ivory Coast against Guinea-Bissau and will take place at the Ébimpé Olympic stadium, in Abidjan.
-
A new leader for Senegal
On February 25, the Senegalese will go to the polls to elect a new president. The current head of state, Macky Sall, at the head of the country since 2012, announced at the beginning of July his decision not to run for a new term. However, uncertainty remains: Ousmane Sonko, the main opponent of the current president, is imprisoned, and there is nothing to say that he will be able to campaign. He still submitted his presidential candidacy to the Constitutional Council on December 26.
-
In Russia, Vladimir Putin candidate for re-election
Nearly three weeks after Senegal, it will be Russia’s turn to choose its head of state. The vote is due to take place on March 17. Russian President Vladimir Putin, 71, in power for more than twenty years, is seeking a new six-year term. His re-election, however, is in little doubt, all opposition having been methodically ruled out in recent years, first and foremost that of Alexeï Navalny, the main opponent of the Kremlin leader. This presidential election will also be held in the context of the war in Ukraine, which has lasted for almost two years.
See alsoPutin running for re-election: how far will he go?
-
The Normandy Landings celebrates its 80th anniversary
June 6, 1944: the Allies landed on the Normandy coast, marking the beginning of the liberation of France from the yoke of Nazi Germany. Paris was liberated at the end of August 1944. For the 80th anniversary of “D-Day”, Normandy has already indicated on its website the location of the official international ceremony, which will bring together heads of state and representatives of the belligerent nations on the model of what was done in 2014, for the 70e birthday. Among the guests at the time was Russian President Vladimir Putin. But with the invasion of Ukraine, tensions between Russia and the West and the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court against the master of the Kremlin, it is unlikely that the latter will attend the ceremony.
-
Europeans renew their Parliament
Europeans will go to the polls from June 6 to 9 for the European elections. Objective: renew the 720 deputies of the European Parliament, currently dominated by the European People’s Party (EPP, bringing together elected officials from the right and the center). This is the first European election organized on the Old Continent since Brexit, the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, which came into force on January 31, 2020.
-
Germany hosts Euro football
On June 14, football fans will meet for the European Football Championship. The competition will take place in Germany and last until July 14. Italy, winner of the last tournament, is putting its title back on the line. The first match of the competition will pit Germany against Scotland. In 2021, France was eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16.
-
Paris hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games
It is the most anticipated sporting event of the year. For the third time in its history, and the first time in a century, Paris is hosting the Olympic Games, which are to be held from July 26 to August 11. The Paralympic Games will begin on August 28 and end on September 8. “The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be the biggest event ever organized in France,” indicates the Olympics website, also specifying that the handball, football and rugby tournaments “will begin on July 24.”
-
Americans go to the polls
It will undoubtedly be the most followed political event in 2024: the sixtieth American presidential election, which is due to take place on November 5. The outgoing president, Democrat Joe Biden, 81, is running for re-election, as is his predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, 77. However, the two men will have to go through the primaries of their respective parties to receive the nomination and hope to be elected president of the United States. The poll to date brings together four candidates in the Democratic camp, including outgoing President Biden. On the Republican side, nine personalities are in the running, including Donald Trump, who largely dominates voting intentions.
Read alsoEuropean and American presidential elections: 2024, election year
After Dubai last November, it will be the turn of Azerbaijan – very dependent on hydrocarbons, which represent around half of its GDP – and its capital, Baku, to host the United Nations international conference on climate change: the COP29, from November 11 to 22. The main issue on the table should be financing the energy transition.
Read alsoCOP28: an unprecedented agreement on fossil fuels, but numerous “gaps”
-
Planned reopening of Notre-Dame-de-Paris
This is one of the most anticipated events in 2024 by Parisians, believers and tourists: the reopening to the public and the resumption of worship in Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral on December 8, a little more five years after the fire which ravaged the building on April 15, 2019, and a little more than two weeks before the Christmas holidays. President Emmanuel Macron, who had made the reconstruction of the building a priority, gave himself five years to achieve this. When it reopens, Notre-Dame-de-Paris must be able to welcome 14 million visitors each year, two million more than before the fire. Emmanuel Macron invited Pope Francis to the cathedral reopening ceremony.
