Plenty on tap for global political junkies, make sure to stay hydrated during this wacky ride through the geopolitical landscape. List of key votes taking place in the next month:
Poland, Parliament (October 13)
If this was an English speaking nation the world would be outraged. Since 2015 Law and Justice have a stranglehold over polish politics, ensuring they suppress free speech and peddle their nasty brand of illiberalism. If recent polls are any indication bigotry will once again prevail. Civic Coalition is struggling as the main opposition, a bunch of modern parties doing their utmost to bring Poland back from 1936 into 2020 has been a struggle. The proud Polish people who have been pillaged by Germans and Russians for much of their history are now okay with copying the tactics of their former occupiers - we live in strange times.
Canada, House of Commons (October 21)
Three major parties, Liberal, Conservative, NDP (and three also-ran's, Bloc Québécois, Greens, People’s) vie for the hopes and aspirations of Canucks. We all know it will either be the lesser of two evils, Liberals or Conservatives who are victorious. Smart money is still on the Trudeau led Liberals, although he should be punished for upholding the $12 billion arms deal the Conservatives signed with Saudi Arabia in 2014, not to mention the brown-face fiasco. Conservatives leader, Andrew Scheer is a mild-mannered bumpkin all about tax cuts and (in the great Canadian tradition) passively aggressively whining about social equality. The country is booming economically, so it will be battle over climate change, Conservatives want to cut back emission regulations, Liberals want to regulate more, even though Trudeau himself gallivants around the world with two airplanes. Maybe the NDP (a party way too liberal for Americans) can shock the establishment and come through, thus making Jagmeet Singh Canada's first Prime Minister that openly practices sikhism.
Argentina, President and Parliament (October 27)
The thrice married Mauricio Macri is running for re-election, yes, you heard me right, Argentina is also governed by a sleazy politician, sound familiar? However, the alternative is even scarier. Argentina’s own delusional former President (2007-2015), Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (she somehow makes a Neanderthal by the name of Donald seem normal) backs the leading opposition candidate, Alberto Ángel Fernández. We’re all aware of the economic shambles the country is in, although there has been some good news of late with inflation currently down to 34% from 53% in August. Last thing Latin America needs is a weak Argentina, economic weakness is one thing, but mixing it with a bigoted insular government like we’re witnessing in Brazil will spell disaster.
Romania, President (November 10)
Incumbent Klaus Iohannis has been a beacon of pro-western leadership in Eastern Europe, some would say he is an american lackey others would say buffer to Putin, either way this vast land needs stability. One are where he has been forthright is uniting with its sister nation Moldova, where Russian influence is ever-present with its occupation of the disputed Transnistria. If he gets a second term then the likes of Hungary and Poland will be outraged, if he fails then Putin will pull out the bubbly, you can’t win when a nation straddling both a western and eastern mentality.
Spain, Parliament (November 10)
It’s Groundhog Day fiesta style. That’s tight people if you thought the April 28 election
(https://globaleditorial.blogspot.com/2019/05/espana-jumps-aboard-bigotry-express.html)
sorted out the mess of budget constraints, separatism and grand coalitions, then you were way off the mark. Time for 2019 election 2.0, $64,000 question: can the youthful Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sánchez cobble together a coalition that can actually tackle the aforementioned issues facing the nation. If nothing else it will be exciting, Spain is such a unique nation (made up of 5 languages and 17 regions held together tentatively by royalty) without its politics providing plenty of color (six parties with solid backing all in the mix). Hold onto your seats, Spain is going to the polls for the fourth time in four years, this is way better than any US Presidential tilt, no offence to a world obsessed by Uncle Sam.
(https://globaleditorial.blogspot.com/2019/05/espana-jumps-aboard-bigotry-express.html)
sorted out the mess of budget constraints, separatism and grand coalitions, then you were way off the mark. Time for 2019 election 2.0, $64,000 question: can the youthful Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sánchez cobble together a coalition that can actually tackle the aforementioned issues facing the nation. If nothing else it will be exciting, Spain is such a unique nation (made up of 5 languages and 17 regions held together tentatively by royalty) without its politics providing plenty of color (six parties with solid backing all in the mix). Hold onto your seats, Spain is going to the polls for the fourth time in four years, this is way better than any US Presidential tilt, no offence to a world obsessed by Uncle Sam.
Put your feet up, and enjoy the gladiator sport that will provide you endless entertainment of good old fashioned political rhetoric (in a variety of languages). Don’t blame me if you lose sleep over the next 30 days, that’s what you get for following Global Editorial - guaranteed brain exercises.
