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Belarussian elections

Mader Levap

Graduate Poster
Mader Levap
Joined
Dec 19, 2012
Messages
1,576
Belarus election: Lukashenko's claim of landslide victory sparks widespread protests
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...on-lukashenko-landslide-victory-fixing-claims

While they call Lukashenko "Europe's last dictator" (apparently Russia does not count as Europe), I think this moniker is wrong. He is not last.

There will be soon more as Europe is flooded by wave of rightwing and far-rightwing wannabe authoritarian parties winning elections in various European countries and making sure things stay that way, hard working at removing "wannabe" part. Hungary already succeed, Poland may be next.
 
RolandRat said:
What European countries have Far Right parties in actual power?

edit - I had a quick google and found this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36130006

Not much to be worried about IMO.
Click to expand...

Hungary, Poland, Austria, Romania, Italy at least and in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France similar parties are either part of the government or one of the largest opposition parties.

They all have the same wishes, freedom of speech for them and noone else, a controlled judiciary, a nationalistic school curriculum and a scapegoat group of people to repress, often Muslims, but gays and/or 'the left elite' are a good second guess.
 
Not many are holding political office, but parties in France, Germany, Poland, etc. have sizable support among the electorate.

I think the influx of war refugees from North African and the Middle East only worsens the political landscape of most of Europe. And not yet including the tens of thousands who will be displaced from the effects of climate change in these regions.
 
Lukraak_Sisser said:
Hungary, Poland, Austria, Romania, Italy at least and in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France similar parties are either part of the government or one of the largest opposition parties.

They all have the same wishes, freedom of speech for them and noone else, a controlled judiciary, a nationalistic school curriculum and a scapegoat group of people to repress, often Muslims, but gays and/or 'the left elite' are a good second guess.
Click to expand...

44 countries in Europe and 5 have over 20% support for the Far Right. Not exactly a flood.
 
Belarus election: "Widespread torture" inflicted on jailed protesters
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53773534

About standard fare for authoritarian leader dealing with political unrest. I guess el presidento Lukashenko is unlucky - if not for COVID-19, most likely protests wouldn't be bigger than in previous sham elections.
 
There are apparently some Russian social media reports of large numbers of unmarked military vehicles heading towards the Belarus border. As always with social media, I take this with a barrel of salt. However, if Putin "offers help" Crimea style, I'm sure there will be a devastating response from the White House. In two weeks, that is.
 
Darat said:
Can't see him going quietly.
Click to expand...

There is a very real chance that this will get very ugly. It seems like the traditional (for Lukashenka) governance by fear and lies isn't working anymore, people are taking selfies on the steps of KGB headquarters in Minsk, and state TV employees are threatening with a strike if they're not allowed to report what's really happening. I hope the next step isn't governance by unlimited violence.
 
Jack by the hedge said:
Does that look on his face remind anyone of the moment reality dawned on Nicolae Ceaushescu?
Click to expand...

It does. I think it was the day before yesterday when Lukashenka boasted that there will only be new elections "over his dead body". Now he's reported to be open to a new constitution, and if it's passed in a referendum he may even consider new elections.

The lesson: never give your opponents ideas that they could turn into action plans.
 
Interesting read: Lukashenko slams opposition's program as total failure

I don't know which "exile opposition" he is referring to (there is more than one atm), but it's quite surprising (if you are illiterate in geopolitics) how similar the demands are to what "they" wanted and got for Ukraine, and Lukashenko basically outlines, without naming it, the consequences this nonsense had for the unfortunate neighbouring country.
 
Is it along the lines of 'depose me for someone democratically elected and Russia will invade? ", that's pretty much what happened to Ukraine after all.
 
If his argument was sound, and convincing, then why did he feel the need to rig the election in the most blatantly obvious way, short of giving himself 101% of the vote?
 
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