International Politics Thread - Disease and Disaster

[Nintex]

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1043517351491252229

Things are heating up in the Middle East again.

[benjipwns]

Klassiskt liberala partiet ("The Classical Liberal Party") increased its number of votes for the fourth straight Swedish general election! A 25% increase over 2014! At this rate they'll be the largest party in Sweden when the Romulan War breaks out!

But in news weirdos care about:

The Sweden Democrats have stated they will vote for the candidate from the centre-right alliance bloc in Monday’s vote to confirm the new speaker of parliament.
The announcement means that Andreas Norlén of the Moderate party is expected to be chosen as parliamentary speaker.

“Of the two nominated candidates from the Social Democrats and Moderates, we have made the active choice to vote for the Moderate candidate. We believe the Moderates are the party best-placed to lead a government in any constellation, given the parliamentary situation,” Sweden Democrat (SD) leader Jimmie Åkesson said in a statement.

The SD leader said that attempts had been made “as far as possible in this situation” to follow the tradition of giving the speaker’s position to the largest party in government.

Usually, the speaker is a member of Sweden's largest political party or bloc, meaning that after the September 9th election, a Social Democrat candidate would have been expected.

The role is a key one, as it is the speaker who puts a proposal for the new prime minister to parliament.

Apparently the Social Democrats and The Alliance (right coalition) have discussed an Alliance minority with SocDem support in exchange for unspecific concessions. If only to try and head off the Swedish Democrats from doing more of this.

Disclaimer: I have past instances of misreading thelocal.se articles correctly.

[benjipwns]

In Assi's backyard, Bolsonaro's first round numbers have shot up since getting stabbed, so...keep that in mind if you ever want to run for President of Brazil.

On the other hand, so have Haddad's (Worker's Party...Lula/Dilma) so everybody wins!

[Assimilate]

In Assi's backyard, Bolsonaro's first round numbers have shot up since getting stabbed, so...keep that in mind if you ever want to run for President of Brazil.

On the other hand, so have Haddad's (Worker's Party...Lula/Dilma) so everybody wins!

The best thing this country could do would be to vote for Alkmin, but since this country is filled with idiots that won't happen. So, the next best thing to do to avoid a total shit show would be to stay somewhat moderate and vote for Ciro, which is probably what i should do for the sake of better odds.

But this is Brazil. This is going to get ugly and so we will have Bolsonoaro and Haddad in the second round for sure.

[benjipwns]

From the head-to-head polling there is a suggestion that nobody truly likes the idea of Haddad and Bolsonaro as their two choices, they'd prefer someone else be the other candidate or both, but they aren't decided enough on who to advance that other candidate to the second round. Almost as if for lots of voters who do like Haddad or Bolsonaro but would never even consider the other, their second choices are generally Gomes/Alckmin/Silva to where those candidates could plausibly win the second round but they aren't ever going to get there.

The French may claim to have some tips for dealing with this but don't trust em!

[Nintex]

Seems like Africa has made a mistake.
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1043851224293036032

[Assimilate]

From the head-to-head polling there is a suggestion that nobody truly likes the idea of Haddad and Bolsonaro as their two choices, they'd prefer someone else be the other candidate or both, but they aren't decided enough on who to advance that other candidate to the second round. Almost as if for lots of voters who do like Haddad or Bolsonaro but would never even consider the other, their second choices are generally Gomes/Alckmin/Silva to where those candidates could plausibly win the second round but they aren't ever going to get there.

Yup.

And if it comes down to Haddad or Bolsonaro i'm going for Bolsonaro.

[Cerveza mas fina]

No Brexiter ever has ever explained how there can be no border in Ireland.

If the whole point of Brexit is to have borders again, then how can they keep saying 6 months before the exit they still believe there wont be a border.

Its fucking disgusting and mental and I can't believe they don't get called out on it even more.

[Raist]

Expect brits to make sense brehs.

[VomKriege]

Manuel Valls, former socialist prime minister of France, current member of French parliament... Is apparently planning to run for mayorship in Barcelona (yes that one in Catalunya). I couldn't presume to be an expert on Spanish politics, but as far as I know he doesn't have a strong political network there and he's already caught some verbal flak (by Puigdemont : "He's legally entitled to be candidate but he doesn't know the city. He knows France. To judge the man, just listen to what French citizens think of him", to paraphrase. As you would guess, Valls isn't terribly popular here). He was born there and I guess he has personal history with the city but it's hard to imagine he has any chance and it feels a bit arrogant to insert one self like this... Valls has never insulted his heritage, quite the contrary, but he's also always have been pretty aggressively French, in that tone of France being the vanguard for universalism and the Rights of Men, revolutionary prototypes for citizens of the world, secularism and national security.

I don't know what to think of it. Could be the height of hubris, could be exemplary Europeanism, probably both. Maybe he figures he has a chance because of the agitated situation (the recent autonomist crisis is out of the spotlight and on the backburner without having been really closed).

[Nintex]

No Brexiter ever has ever explained how there can be no border in Ireland.

If the whole point of Brexit is to have borders again, then how can they keep saying 6 months before the exit they still believe there wont be a border.

Its fucking disgusting and mental and I can't believe they don't get called out on it even more.

Don't worry Bojo will explain everything in a column that offends everybody.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Who is buying into bojo reese mogg etc? Hard to imagine

[team filler]

[Nintex]

The Russians are carving up Ukraine in their state sponsored talk shows.
It seems like they want to annex certain provinces and leave a rump state for Poroshenko and friends.



"elections" are scheduled in the separatist republic for November 11th.
The party congress of the communists was blown up today. 
https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/1046029631957217282

Another 'candidate' had his TV stations turned off and his wife is missing
https://twitter.com/Hromadske/status/1045997522836172800

[team filler]

[curly]

[VomKriege]

Russian TV is a safe space to peddle any kind of crazy stuff as long as it doesn't push against the state. An example was a talk show where they suggested the UK losing the World Cup bid to Russia was their motivation to accuse Russia of the nerve agent assassination attempt.

[Rufus]

(Image removed from quote.)

Way old, but appropriate:
https://twitter.com/ladyhaja/status/1024068306578362368

[team filler]

https://www.facebook.com/vlbelang/videos/244264792953627/

[Nintex]

https://www.facebook.com/vlbelang/videos/244264792953627/

I remember this from Tomb Raider and Resident Evil 4.

[team filler]

https://www.facebook.com/vlbelang/videos/244264792953627/

I remember this from Tomb Raider and Resident Evil 4.

https://www.facebook.com/vc.igwemezie.education/videos/421303698395702/

[Nintex]

https://www.facebook.com/vlbelang/videos/244264792953627/

I remember this from Tomb Raider and Resident Evil 4.

https://www.facebook.com/vc.igwemezie.education/videos/421303698395702/

It's pretty remarkable that after being looted by Europe, The United States and the Soviet Union now the Chinese have started to extort, bribe and colonize Africa.
Like the go to place for new super powers after they're bored pissing off their own citizens.

[Nintex]

This is a thing 
https://twitter.com/BBCSteveR/status/1044840366250356736

[Assimilate]

Bolsonaro pulls ahead of second round projected poll numbers. Brazil market rallies.

This is both good and bad. On one hand bad since I earn in dollar, dollar decreases in value, I am less rich here, but good since who knows if the economy truly bounces back to mid 2000 levels if he wins.

My selfish reasons vs health of the nation
 

[Nintex]

Bolsonaro pulls ahead of second round projected poll numbers. Brazil market rallies.

This is both good and bad. On one hand bad since I earn in dollar, dollar decreases in value, I am less rich here, but good since who knows if the economy truly bounces back to mid 2000 levels if he wins.

My selfish reasons vs health of the nation
 

*Googles*

Mr Bolsonaro once told a congresswoman she was not worth raping

[Assimilate]

Mr Bolsonaro once told a congresswoman she was not worth raping

He did. The woman was calling him a 'rapist of humanity' because he wanted a rapist that beheaded a 16 year old girl be tried as an adult while this ex communist 'human rights' cunt Maria do Rosario defended the rapist because he was a minor and therefore should be charged as a minor. This is how all of that started. She also provoked him on multiple occasions, and finally on camera, Bolsonaro snapped.

The "rights of humans" groups in this country is filled with ideological whack jobs (much like the gender studies/social warrior academic departments in U.S universities) that continue to let the country slide further into chaos. People here do not fear punishment, they do not fear jail time. It's a running joke in this country that every Brazilian is born with the right to murder 1 person lol I fucking kid you not.

[Nintex]

Wow, that's unlucky.

[shosta]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-10-04/the-big-hack-how-china-used-a-tiny-chip-to-infiltrate-america-s-top-companies

[Kara]

*does jerk off motion until the end of time*

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-advisory-warns-risks-linked-corruption-nicaragua

[zepblackstar]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/05/brazil-elections-prospect-of-bolsonaro-victory-stokes-fears-of-return-to-dicatorship

Brazil elections: prospect of Bolsonaro victory stokes fears of return to dictatorship

[Assimilate]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/05/brazil-elections-prospect-of-bolsonaro-victory-stokes-fears-of-return-to-dicatorship

Brazil elections: prospect of Bolsonaro victory stokes fears of return to dictatorship

This is complete nonsense. The guy is ex military, yes, so he doesn't shit on his own military, but to say he will be the second coming of Hilter or take democracy away is complete bullshit.

This country suffers from socialist/communist thinking. I've sat next to people that have said "Brazil could be more like Cuba" with a serious face, as if Cuba is something to strive for.

[VomKriege]

Meng Hongwei, the President of Interpol, has been missing for a week or so since he landed in his native China from Lyon (where Interpol is headquartered). A HK newspaper now claims he has been arrested and his name was allegedly censured on Sino social networks. France has opened an investigation.

[Nintex]

Juncker is such a dumb motherfucker.
https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1048500886690041856

[team filler]

[Kara]

https://www.npr.org/2018/10/05/654851055/former-south-korean-president-sentenced-to-15-years-in-prison-on-corruption-char

[Assimilate]

So tomorrow is the day.

I still haven't decided on who I will vote for. I was waiting on the last min poll numbers to come out.

[VomKriege]

China confirms the President of Interpol is suspected of "breaking the law" and under investigation, but without further precisions or telling if he is in custody.

[Nintex]

China confirms the President of Interpol is suspected of "breaking the law" and under investigation, but without further precisions or telling if he is in custody.

Custody? He's probably sharing a diplomatic bag with that Saudi.

[team filler]

So tomorrow is the day.

I still haven't decided on who I will vote for. I was waiting on the last min poll numbers to come out.

from everything I've read. seems like trying to pick the lesser of two evils, either way you lose 

[Assimilate]

im' about to walk over to the polling place.

I'm still undecided. it's a tough choice.

for me it's either I go center-left with Ciro Gomez. A very intelligent guy but a bit too cozy with the party responsible for this countries problems or I go with Bolsonaro.

[Nintex]

im' about to walk over to the polling place.

I'm still undecided. it's a tough choice.

for me it's either I go center-left with Ciro Gomez. A very intelligent guy but a bit too cozy with the party responsible for this countries problems or I go with Bolsonaro.

We've nearly proven this facade we call life is a simulation brother. We just need one more nutjob in office. 

[Nintex]

https://twitter.com/OSCE_RFoM/status/1048960689145090049
Another journalist killed. That makes 3 killed journalists investigating EU corruption who've been offed so far.
She was investigation fraud with EU funds in Bulgaria.

[zepblackstar]

I am shooked

One of Brazil’s most prominent political journalists, Ricardo Noblat, is now reporting that presidential exit polls (which are due out in about 40 minutes) will suggest a first round victory for the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/oct/08/brazil-election-2018-polls-close-after-chaotic-and-unpredictable-campaign-live?page=with:block-5bba781de4b0b8830be6b533#block-5bba781de4b0b8830be6b533

[Assimilate]

I am shooked

One of Brazil’s most prominent political journalists, Ricardo Noblat, is now reporting that presidential exit polls (which are due out in about 40 minutes) will suggest a first round victory for the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/oct/08/brazil-election-2018-polls-close-after-chaotic-and-unpredictable-campaign-live?page=with:block-5bba781de4b0b8830be6b533#block-5bba781de4b0b8830be6b533

Nope.

Now it's a fucking runoff at the end of the month and I'll have sit in that fucking line again.

 I'm now all in on Bolsonaro because the other choice is this fuck Haddad.

[Nintex]

half the vote counted. Bolsonaro might win this outright

https://twitter.com/mialberti/status/1049059047629094913

[zepblackstar]

71% in and he has 48.5%

[Assimilate]

what a turn of events if he won outright but it doesn't look like it will happen

[benjipwns]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/world/europe/latvia-election-russia.html

e Baltic state of Latvia, governed since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union by political forces inclined toward Europe and wary of Russia, on Sunday became the latest country whiplashed by rising populism with the announcement of election results that showed strong support for pro-Russia and anti-establishment parties.

The results delivered a serious blow to mainstream politicians and opened the way for coalition talks that, for the first time, could lead to a government that includes Harmony Center, a Moscow-friendly party that until this year had a cooperation agreement with Russia’s ruling party, United Russia.

Not only did Harmony win nearly 20 percent of the vote, the most in the parliamentary election held Saturday, but it was followed in second place by a new anti-establishment party. The party, KPV LV — Who Owns the State — is led by Artuss Kaimins, a flamboyant former actor turned unruly politician whose critics in Latvia deride him as “our Donald Trump.”

Public discontent with Latvia’s traditional parties has been fed in recent months by a series of scandals that have left the governor of the central bank under investigation for corruption and led to the collapse of ABLV, the country’s largest locally owned bank. The United States Treasury issued a report in February describing the bank as a sprawling, money-laundering enterprise.

Nils Usakovs, an ethnic Russian who is mayor of Riga, the capital, and chairman of Harmony, hailed the result and said it opened the door to government for his party. “No coalition combination is possible without Harmony that would appear able and stable,” he told the news agency LETA.

The alternative, Mr. Usakovs said, is “a coalition of xenophobes and gay rights supporters”

[Kara]

Latvia wasn't "populist" when it rendered long-term residents into aliens and curtailed Russian language education in private schools?

[benjipwns]

 

[Rufus]

https://twitter.com/OSCE_RFoM/status/1048960689145090049
Another journalist killed. That makes 3 killed journalists investigating EU corruption who've been offed so far.
She was investigation fraud with EU funds in Bulgaria.

First sentence: Corruption by the EU?
Second sentence: Oh.

[Sman]

Latvia wasn't "populist" when it rendered long-term residents into aliens and curtailed Russian language education in private schools?

Considering their precarious history, I'd argue this was a pretty logical decision on their part. Ditto for Estonia. All within a fairly solid legal framework too.

[Nintex]

The 'problem' in all those countries seems to be the same.

- Widespread corruption by political establishment
- Kinda doing a 'both sides' thing regarding NATO and the Eurasian block
- Fucking over their citizens or a particular group of citizens one way or another

SHOCK AND DISBELIEF as populist outsider ousts the people in power!

[Kara]

Considering their precarious history, I'd argue this was a pretty logical decision on their part. Ditto for Estonia. All within a fairly solid legal framework too.

Populism, logic, and a legal basis for implementing policies aren't mutually exclusive.

[james]

Assimilate is a fascist who hates gays and black people.

I am shocked

[Nabbis]

Baltics are a corrupted shitshow that are kept afloat with EU money.

Estonia and Latvia have cool old towns though, pretty cheap as well.

[Assimilate]

Assimilate is a fascist who hates gays and black people.

I am shocked

woahhhhh what? nice slanderous hot take.

I was having lunch with my godfather today (he's gay) and we both agreed that we would be voting for Bolsonaro in the second round. His exacts words were "sometimes you have to go to bed with the enemy". That's the reality of the situation here.

We have two candidates left and one of them could easily sink this country into a Venezuela type situation. The markets do not want another member from the party responsible for the worst corruption in this country's history (or in any modern country for that matter).

Bolsonaro is a risk, without question but it is a risk this country will unfortunately have to take.

[james]

we both agreed that we would be voting for Bolsonaro

Assimilate is a fascist who hates gays and black people.

I am shocked

[Steve Contra]

Juncker is such a dumb motherfucker.
https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1048500886690041856

The British tabloid press vs. EU technocrats is something no one should have the energy to take a stance on.

[Assimilate]

we both agreed that we would be voting for Bolsonaro

Assimilate is a fascist who hates gays and black people.

I am shocked

James sometimes you have to be an adult and make tough choices.

One day maybe you will understand. it's not all about being offended.