Just before he was about to be cross examined the 71yo ex husband had abdominal pain and went to hospital. The Judge has asked for medical analyses to decide whether to suspend the trial. Another defendant was late to Court because he had to take his son to school.
The 71yo ex wife previously went through one and a half hour of cross examination without flinching.
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Finally, France has a Government ( for now)
And SPD beats far right AfD in Brandenburg State elections.
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Last nights 4 Corners was a piece on the AfD and related matters. Quite disturbing viewing. I’d forgotten about some of the incidents referred to.
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So far in Germany, the SPD and Conservatives have worked together to block the most extremist policies of the AfD getting up ( although tougher on migration and deporting those without permanent residency type status).
It’s more worrying in France. The NFP has the most MPs, it is antagonistic to Macron So called Centrists and would block a lot of legislation put forward by the Barnier Cabinet. However, there are worrying signs of the Conservatives/Centrists moving further to the right, to Le Pen’s Party to secure legislation and make concessions to Le Pen. And the French budget is in trouble, while unrest in New Caledonia and Martinique has to be managed.
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After the CDU/AfD leaks last year, I am not confident that this will hold up.
However, I was pleased with the massive public backlash in response.
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Oh, Jesus H … here we go again (gulp).
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Keeping actual nazis out of power is a constant struggle worldwide. Inconceivable a few years ago. Terrifying now.
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Meanwhile … a bit of gooder news out from under the dark shadows of Putin’s Russia. Moldova gives the middle finger to oppression with a vote for democracy and a tentative partnership with the EU.
Maia Sandu … seems the type of leader a number of other eastern European nations struggling to exit the Kremlin orbit could do with right now.
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Looks like Germany’s coalition government has fallen apart and they’ll be headed for elections in March. Next step seems to be a vote of confidence in Scholz on 15th Jan.
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Hmm. But 1,500 Russian “peacekeeper” troops are still stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria, despite the Moldovan government’s repeated requests that they leave.
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Or Pridnestrovie, as that region now likes to be referred to. That separatist region’s been bubbling away for the last 30 years and may spark again, particularly if Russia has its way in UKr. It’s an ongoing nervous watch for the Chisinau government … but tbf, the whole region is tense thanks to Putin.
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Couldn’t come at a more inopportune time for Germany.
Snap elections don’t have a great record for their incumbents, So Scholz is under the pump with Lindner now out and gone rogue, whilst the AfD are more than happy to have another shot at inceasing their numbers.
Germany uncertain, France in a political pickle still, countries within the EU like Italy and Hungary lurching right … suddenly the UK, in comparison to the EU bloc look a haven of stability to an incoming tariffs brandishing Trump administration 
.
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But damn those Obama posters were fire.
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Romania’s courts have annulled the first round of the Presidential election due to mass Russian influence campaign that led to a pro Russian candidate winning. This decision was made hours before voting in the second round started.
The candidate is under investigation for treason and TikTok has been requested to provide all relevant data to authorities.
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A sad day for all those who rely on TikTok for its careful political analysis.
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A strange decision and a way to head down the slippery slope. Unless, the courts can prove their were invalid votes, miscounting of votes etc, then how could the courts come to such a decision. Countries/individuals/corprations etc, etc, etc have always meddled in elections and tried to influence votes, but ultimately it’s up to the individuals vote.
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German government has collapsed after a no confidence vote.
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