Democracy heads into 2025 bloodied but unbowed

LONDON, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Democracy looks bruised but not beaten as it heads into 2025.

In a year in which countries representing almost half the world's population called voters to the polls, democracies endured violence and major scares, but also proved resilient.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts and, despite fears of a contested result and unrest, he won back the White House in a clear victory and looks set for a peaceful transition to power next month.

Mexico recorded the bloodiest election in its modern history with 37 candidates assassinated ahead of the vote, but went on to elect its first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum.

Across four continents, incumbent leaders were swept from office in elections that often sparked violence but ultimately achieved a central function of democracy: the orderly transfer of power in accordance with the wishes of voters.

Longstanding ruling parties in South Africa and India retained power but lost their outright majorities.

The political crisis in South Korea this month shows why the health of democracy matters.

In a few bewildering hours, the president of Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. military ally declared martial law in an evening TV address and then quickly backtracked after lawmakers and large crowds defied him.

Parliament later impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol but he rejected calls to quit, pending a constitutional court ruling on his futu...
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