Read about the election and don't give a fuck for a change

[topum]

If you are tired of the world's most important presidential election, here are a couple of lines about the world's least important one.

Today was the election day here in Moldova. Two main candidates have some similarities to Trump and Clinton. Like Clinton, Maia Sandu is a woman, is backed up by the ruling party and has been caught lying quite a bit (not quite as much as Hillary but then it is difficult for most to touch that level). And Igor Dodon, the opposition candidate has a pro-Russian stance and like Trump is often blamed to be in love with Putin. Unfortunately that's where the similarities end, no pussies and Wieners in this election.

None of the candidates got the 50 percent of the votes necessary to win in the first round but Dodon came very close with almost 49 percent while Sandu got almost 38 percent. So they move to the second round.

It is quite surprising that most people here voted to fuck off the EU (Sandu is pro-EU, it is her main thing) and to strengthen the relationship with Russia (Dodon's main campaign talking point). EU seems to have lost its allure not only to some of its richest members, like the UK but even to some of its poorest candidates like Moldova. So much so that they would rather run back to Putin.

Comments

[asher63.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. I spotted an article about Moldova on Stratfor this afternoon and immediately thought of you. Excerpt:

'The vote will come at a crucial time for Moldova, as the tides of popular opinion shift toward the pro-Russia camp. Since 2009, Moldova has been ruled by pro-Western coalitions that have grown weaker and more divided with each administration. The internal squabbling and ineffective governance has, in turn, led to disillusionment with pro-Western parties — and a surge in support for their pro-Russia rivals. Moldova's upcoming vote could disrupt the status quo that has emerged in Russia's standoff with the West over the borderland state. It may also upset the fragile stalemate in Transdniestria, a breakaway territory in eastern Moldova backed militarily and economically by Russia. Should Moldova begin to move back toward Russia, stalled negotiations over the disputed region could reopen. Likewise, a swing further toward the West could worsen friction between Chisinau and Moscow.

Moldova's next president, no matter who it may be, will face considerable pushback from political adversaries. Within the country's fractured and fragile institutions, opposition tends to be expressed through sizable protests that can turn violent. Given how much is at stake in the October vote, the election could easily destabilize the country, bearing consequences that will no doubt be felt far beyond Moldova's borders.'

https://www.stratfor.com/image/moldova-obscure-strategically-important

[topum.livejournal.com]

Very interesting, thanks for the link. The main reason people are fed up with the "pro-Western" parties is because they are horrendous thieves. They stole all the money from here and their teenage children post fleets of their new Bugatti's in Geneva on Facebook non-stop. Corruption is incredible here. And the US has been supporting them as long as they promise to remain "pro-Western" and be ready to stir shit up with Putin (via Transnistria) when the US needs it. So people are really fed up with them and lost all trust in the US (it seems to be viewed as incredibly dishonest by most here these days).

People here say that the second round will be falsified by the corrupt "pro-Western" parties and the US not to let Dodon win though. And if that won't work, people are convinced that the US will stage the "revolution like they did in Ukraine" under the "bringing the democracy" slogan and fuck this place up for years just to ensure they don't give this geopolitical win to Putin. People seem to be quite fed up with the US here.

[alton-lust.livejournal.com]

As an 'merican i find that incredibly depressing. That our credibility is shot to hell. Well, maybe, and maybe obviously, we need to work on our relationships. like everyone else.

[topum.livejournal.com]

I understand that the change in how the US is perceived by people here has been dramatic. One of our American volunteers had a long conversation with a couple of locals after dinner the other day which I found very interesting. I'll have to do a separate post on it.