Monthly Archives: November 2018

When in July 2018 Hun Sen was re-elected as prime minister of Cambodia (serving since 1985) with 75% of all the votes and 100% of all the seats, thus becoming the undisputed authoritarian ruler having been in power since 1985, … Continue reading →

As podcast in https://soundcloud.com/user-280580802/4-madagascars-troubled-politics-11262018 Madagascar’s presidential election was a three-way race of three former presidents, each jousting for enough support to serve another term. They include Marc Ravalomanana (2002-9), Andry Rajoelina (2009-2013) and Hery Rajaonarimampianina (2013-2018; given his long name, … Continue reading →

As podcast in https://soundcloud.com/user-280580802/3-failure-of-brexit-11212018 British Prime Minister Theresa May announced the draft deal she agreed with the European Union, which would keep the UK in the customs union until the end of 2020 (official exit from the EU is triggered … Continue reading →

Among liberal and some moderate circles, the midterm elections have been heralded as a vitally important election to put boundaries on the Trump administration, who has attacked the press; cut taxes for the rich and corporations; cut environmental regulations; removed … Continue reading →

Oskar Lafontaine is one of the most controversial politicians in Germany, but has been one of the very few inspiring voices of left-wing social democracy in German discourse. On a personality-level he may be very uncomfortable and distasteful to some … Continue reading →

In the presidential election in Brazil, the victory of Jair Bolsonaro, a former military officer and long-time senator, gives the impression that Brazil might descend into dictatorship again, as he praised the military dictatorships of the past (1889-1894, 1930-1945, 1964-1985). … Continue reading →