Three guys with less and less useful idiots by the day. Still, the remaining idiots will tell you you are a CIA agent if you criticize them
Yesterday, Europe's last dictator once more won the elections. He claims to have won with 79.67% of the votes. You can read it from the Belorussian and Lukashenko-loyal press here or you can read a different story from the German press here or from the British one here.
Relevant for a Venezuela-Europa blog is what the Venezuelan military regime -they style themselves as "civic-military"- says through the state media.
"The head of state won over a list of nine candidates who wanted to defeat him and stop his administration, an administration that is already 16 years old and the product of being elected three times."
"The elections were marked by protests in the country's capital by a group of opponents denouncing a supposed fraud. The anti-riots police intervened at about 17H30 GMT to break up a protest of some 200 people".
Of course, the Venezuelan and Belorussian media did not show the videos I did see on German TV, videos that showed many more than just 200 people. They did not show how Belorussians were voting in the countryside many days before the elections - something that is allowed by law, but which is disquieting as there are no independent observers. They did not show how the main opposition leader was beaten up for hospital.
Yesterday, Europe's last dictator once more won the elections. He claims to have won with 79.67% of the votes. You can read it from the Belorussian and Lukashenko-loyal press here or you can read a different story from the German press here or from the British one here.
Relevant for a Venezuela-Europa blog is what the Venezuelan military regime -they style themselves as "civic-military"- says through the state media.
"The head of state won over a list of nine candidates who wanted to defeat him and stop his administration, an administration that is already 16 years old and the product of being elected three times."
"The elections were marked by protests in the country's capital by a group of opponents denouncing a supposed fraud. The anti-riots police intervened at about 17H30 GMT to break up a protest of some 200 people".
Of course, the Venezuelan and Belorussian media did not show the videos I did see on German TV, videos that showed many more than just 200 people. They did not show how Belorussians were voting in the countryside many days before the elections - something that is allowed by law, but which is disquieting as there are no independent observers. They did not show how the main opposition leader was beaten up for hospital.
Does this look like 200?
There are significant differences between the regime in Belarus and Venezuela. For one, Lukashenko does count with a much larger popularity than Chávez. Chávez does not have the majority anymore, even if he could get the most seats through anti-constitutional gerrymandering and some other tricks. Lukashenko is a far better manager than the Venezuelan military caudillo. After all, the Belorussian dictator had already some good experience as a Kolkhoz administrator during Soviet times. Still, Lukashenko very likely won by far less points than announced. He just can't afford to let that be seen because it would show there is indeed a significant proportion of citizens who are not happy. And that would have a domino effect in a place that has never known democracy. Venezuela did have democracy and freedom of press, even if the democracy was very dysfunctional and freedom of press always on fuzzy ground.
Chávez has an advantage: he can use and misuse vast amounts of oil and there are many governments that want Venezuela's oil or petrodollars.
Ps.
Increased Internet censorship in Belarus
Chávez has an advantage: he can use and misuse vast amounts of oil and there are many governments that want Venezuela's oil or petrodollars.
Ps.
Increased Internet censorship in Belarus