World Politics

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Google OAS and Bolivia. Or read one of the hundred or so books on what we've done to Bolivia for the past 70 years.

I did a quick googling, couldn't find anything that said Trump was connected to a coup in Bolivia

[RainMaker]

Literally the first link dude

What the OAS Did to Bolivia - Center for Economic and Policy Research

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Link that the US was behind the 2019 coup?

Always good to ask for a source.

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Because we were behind the 2019 coup and have been trying to get their lithium reserves for awhile now. Especially since the country is selling it to China and Russia too.

From reading your article, seems like your beef is more towards the OAS than the US. Unless you believe the OAS is controlled by the US? There is debate whether OAS claim of vote rigging was accurate or not. Your author (the left-wing CEPR guy) says it was not accurate and led to the coup. We also have the EU supporting the OAS claim.

From wiki ...

Organization of American States - Wikipedia

The OAS report contended that the results were marred by "clear manipulation" and significant irregularities leading to the 2019 Bolivian political crisis. Bolivian president Evo Morales resigned soon after, having lost the confidence of the country's military in what he described as a coup.[11]

Some media outlets debated whether it should be referred to as a coup.[12]

On 21 December, the Technical Mission of Electoral Experts sent by the European Union published a 67-page report made similar observations and conclusions to that of the OAS. They noted that "there were minutes with an unusually high number of null votes, blank votes and a hundred percent participation of voters in a series of polling stations" and highlighted the general failure of the TSE to declare these irregularities.[13][14]

Studies commissioned by the American left-leaning[15][16][17] think tank CEPR argued that the OAS report's statistical analysis was inaccurate and unreliable.[18] The author of the OAS's vote return analysis stated that the CEPR's explanation of the results was implausible.[19]

The organization has been criticized by Mexico[20] and the CEPR[21][better source needed] for their perception of interference into the internal affairs of Bolivia.[22]

[Edward64]

Bye, bye Macron? He's in third place.

The RN's share of the vote was comfortably ahead of leftist and centrist rivals, including Macron's Together alliance, whose bloc was seen winning 20.5%-23%. The New Popular Front (NFP), a hastily assembled left-wing coalition, was projected to win around 29% of the vote, the exit polls showed.

The exit polls were in line with opinion surveys ahead of the election, and were met with jubilation by Le Pen's supporters. However, they provided little clarity on whether the anti-immigrant, eurosceptic RN will be able to form a government to "cohabit" with the pro-EU Macron after next Sunday's run-off.

High turnout on Sunday suggests France is heading for a record number of three-way run-offs. These generally benefit the RN much more than two-way contests, experts say.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Bye, bye Macron? He's in third place.

He is not up for election until 2027. This means he is going to have a Prime Minster of the opposing party, and they are going to try to do everything they can to cut him off at the knees. The likely new Prime Minister is a 28 year old nut job. The guy swears he will not accept a coalition government, which means if his party doesn't win a 50% majority, then Macron could still form a government with his party and the far left party. They did not win 50% today, and there is still a good chance they won't.

[Edward64]

Sunak is next up today.

No idea who to root for but suspect US-UK relationship will stay relatively strong. Good luck to our BFF.

The United Kingdom will hold its first national election in almost five years on Thursday, with opinion polls suggesting that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party will be punished for failing to deliver on promises made during 14 years in power.

The center-right Conservatives took power during the depths of the global financial crisis and have won three more elections since then. But those years have been marked by a sluggish economy, declining public services and a series of scandals, making the Tories, as they are commonly known, easy targets for critics on the left and right.

The Labour Party, which leans to the left, is far ahead in most opinion polls after focusing its campaign on a single word: Change.

[Edward64]

And also for Iran on Fri ...

I thought the article below was well written. The "reformer" vs "hardliner" with the reformer likely to win. But it's all relative so on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is very hardline extremist, we're talking about reformer (7) vs hardliner (9).

Iran election: Iranians are voting in a presidential runoff. What will it mean for the world? | CNN

Iran’s snap presidential election will head to a second vote on Friday, with a reformist and conservative hardliner facing off to replace Ebrahim Raisi amid unprecedented voter apathy.

Pezeshkian stressed the need to re-start dialogue with the West and find a way to end the sanctions.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Sunak is next up today.

Looks like he's out by a landslide.

The UK elections seem to quick for me but it sure beats 1+ year of campaigning.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Looks like he's out by a landslide.

The UK elections seem to quick for me but it sure beats 1+ year of campaigning.

Conservatives look to hold the least number of seats they have ever held since 1832. That's a spanking for sure.

[Thomkal]

Imagine if we could do that to the Republican party here:


UK general election: Labour obliterate Tories with historic election win — exit poll – POLITICO

[JPhillips]

Don't get too optimistic. The Tories are going to move towards Farage and the Reform folks. The battle isn't won yet.

[Critch]

It's a landslide. Our new Prime Minister shaking hands with Elmo:



It's a landslide, a Tory massacre. You love to see it.

[CrimsonFox]

I'm watching the speech now! Sherwood Forest is real! And they voted Labour Party!

oh poor Green party. No one likes you

[CrimsonFox]

I don't really understand british politics. Looks fascinating.
Can someone explain it to me?

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Critch

It's a landslide. Our new Prime Minister shaking hands with Elmo:



It's a landslide, a Tory massacre. You love to see it.

i just noticed this picture lol. This is like the silly party from monty python

[Izulde]

In a sign of how bad this election went for the Conservatives, Dorking, which has been a Conservative/Tory seat since the late Victorian period (1885), flipped to the Lib Dems

[JPhillips]

412 seats and less than 34% of the vote.

Crazy.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

412 seats and less than 34% of the vote.

Crazy.

It is a strange system. It looks the Reform party is what killed the Tories.

[NobodyHere]

So was that coup in Bolivia fake?

Bolivian president orchestrated a 'self-coup,' political rival Evo Morales claims | AP News

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

So was that coup in Bolivia fake?

Bolivian president orchestrated a 'self-coup,' political rival Evo Morales claims | AP News

You could see where that could make some sense. Stage a coup to make yourself look the hero and turn down the heat. But considering that the accusations are coming from the jailed general who lead the coup, it could be as much an attempt to save himself.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Edward64

And also for Iran on Fri ...

I thought the article below was well written. The "reformer" vs "hardliner" with the reformer likely to win. But it's all relative so on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is very hardline extremist, we're talking about reformer (7) vs hardliner (9).

FWIW.

Maybe there's hope for some thawing. But assume it'll be a long road ... and longer with Trump in office.

Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has won Iran’s presidential election, the country’s electoral authority said Saturday, defeating his hardline rival in a pivotal vote amid heightened tensions both domestically and internationally.

Out of 30.5 million votes counted in Friday’s runoff, Pezeshkian won 53.6%, edging out ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, who had 44.3% of the votes, according to state-run Press TV. Voter turnout was 49.8%, Press TV reported.

[JPhillips]

Exit polls in France have the left winning, Macron in second, and the far-right in third. In general, it looks like Macron's gamble paid off.

[Thomkal]

whew

[SirFozzie]

It's the same old story, just with some drama.

[GrantDawg]

It is going to be interesting how a government is going to be formed. The far-left party seems to be holding the same line as the far-right, that they won't accept a coalition government. Macron's party is hoping to form something with the Greens and coble together some kind of working coalition. The problem is the far-left joining the far-right on "lack of confidence" votes and keeping the government in constant flux.

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[Edward64]

Good luck Venezuelans. Kick that guy out

(I know, the army has a big say)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Good luck Venezuelans. Kick that guy out

(I know, the army has a big say)

Maduro holds the power, so he will probably win this out.

[Lathum]

It cracks me up seeing all these right wing ghouls talking about Venezuela as if their guy didn’t literally try this four years ago and wouldn't try it again.

[GrantDawg]

Good news. This is like the height of the Cold War level prisoner trade.

Russia is releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan in a major multi-country prisoner swap https://t.co/cqHbRYS0U9

— Bloomberg Politics (@bpolitics) August 1, 2024

[JPhillips]

My God that's going to piss off Trump.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

My God that's going to piss off Trump.

He is going to say Biden gave up too much to get him, and then in the next breath claim credit for it.

[Lathum]

Trump will 100% claim credit for it and his base will of course eat it up. What this signals to me is Putin doesn't think Trump is as strong as he used to be, otherwise why not just wait a few months and give Trump the win.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Trump will 100% claim credit for it and his base will of course eat it up. What this signals to me is Putin doesn't think Trump is as strong as he used to be, otherwise why not just wait a few months and give Trump the win.

Yeah he will say some bullshit that Putin could see that trump was going to win and was scared about what he might do if he didn't return the prisoners immediately, conveniently forgetting that Whelan was there during his entire presidency and the "best diplomat ever" couldn't bring him home.



Whatever-it doesn't matter what he says, all that matters is that some Americans are coming home at last

[GrantDawg]

That is moxy...

https://x.com/VeraMBergen/status/181...-x-o2eMfQ&s=19

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[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

He is going to say Biden gave up too much to get him, and then in the next breath claim credit for it.

Trump claims we gave up too much as Vance claims that they were released because of Trump. Two for two.

[GrantDawg]

The US has recognized the opposition leader as winner in the Venezuela election, while Maduro has mobilized mercenaries from the Wagner Group to crack down on dissenters.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The US has recognized the opposition leader as winner in the Venezuela election, while Maduro has mobilized mercenaries from the Wagner Group to crack down on dissenters.

funny the venezuelan news reported that trump has mobilized merceneries to crack down on dissenters

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The US has recognized the opposition leader as winner in the Venezuela election, while Maduro has mobilized mercenaries from the Wagner Group to crack down on dissenters.

I hope this is the beginning of the end for Maduro.

Unfortunately, could just as easily be the end of the beginning.

Com’on some patriotic Venezulean general, do the right thing

[Ghost Econ]

We were at a cooking class in Thailand on 11/8/2016. We were waiting on the election results at the time. At the class was a Venezuelan couple on their honeymoon who told us how ridiculous Maduro was and how they couldn't believe the same populist shit was maybe happening in the US.

The fact we are both dealing with the same problems 8 years later is insane

Also, there was an older couple at the class who's daughter was high up in the Hillary campaign. They didn't seem against Trump winning...

[miami_fan]

Violent, far-right riots overran some UK cities this weekend. What happened, and what comes next? | CNN

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Violent, far-right riots overran some UK cities this weekend. What happened, and what comes next? | CNN

It shows the power of disinformation and how the internet spreads hate a violence. It is sad a terrible tragedy is causing even more terrible damage to that whole nation.

[GrantDawg]

Yikes.

Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna cancelled over alleged planned terrorist attack - CNN https://t.co/oQCzX3szFN

— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) August 7, 2024

[Edward64]

That would have made a statement. Glad it was avoided but lots of soft targets all over the world

[Edward64]

I guess Maduro is winning this one ...

reuters.com

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez flew into Spain on Sunday to seek asylum, Madrid said, hours after quitting his country amid a political and diplomatic crisis over July's disputed election.

Gonzalez - who has challenged President Nicolas Maduro's declaration of victory - arrived at the Torrejon de Ardoz military base with his wife, Spain's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The exit of the 75-year-old - seen by the U.S., the EU and other powers in the region as the winner of the disputed vote - came a week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes.

"Today is a sad day for democracy in Venezuela," European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. "In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in another country."

[RainMaker]

Pretty damning stuff here but not really unexpected.

Saudi Officials May Have Deliberately Assisted 9/11 Hijackers, New Evidence Suggests — ProPublica

[Edward64]

Some speculation that a coup is happening in Syria.

So many unknowns, so many ways for that area to blow up. We’ve got US & Russian troops, Kurdish rebels, ISIS remnants, other rebels etc.

No idea how reputable below is but they seem to have good details

https://www.jewishpress.com/news/mid...us/2024/11/30/

[GrantDawg]

Moving the South Korean discussion here. The news is saying the military still is planning to enforce martial law until the president tells them to stand down. Legally he must remove the order, but it is still in the air what comes next. A reporter at the National Assembly says the soldiers on the outside their have left, and only protestors are present. She riot police showed up and just quickly vanished. There are reports of military personnel inside the assembly building.

[GrantDawg]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...BEMNF4JX7VSQZE

[GrantDawg]

President Yoon has said he will lift Martial Law. His days are numbered now, and as one Korean reporter said, "Unlike the United States, we have no problem prosecuting politicians."

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[Edward64]

South Korea has a history of coups (e.g. real ones). I don't think the danger is past yet until the military has clearly stood down. May have happened already, but would be more reassured if their version of Joint Chiefs have publicly said nope.

I do wonder how deep the military involvement is, you'd think some were in cahoots? But the public and politicians are against it so do think the odds favor him thrown out of office.