Elected Autocrats Club

President (for however long he wants to be) Recep Erdogan, the winner of every vote and self claimed European said that "a strong "Yes" vote would be a lesson to the West". With with all the ballots counted, the Yes ended 51.40% and No with 48.60%, so we are about to learn what that lesson will mean.

Birds Of A Feather - Elected Autocrats Club Just Gained A New Member

However, it should be pointed out that the result is disputed by the opposition, and the process has allegedly failed to meet international standards.

The Rocky Road To Separatism

Scotland's eventual break away from the rest of the UK is probably inevitable, but there are still the same flies in the ointment as last time (lots of awkward questions).

Picture Of A Corps Of Cretan Gendarmes In Thessaloniki, 1912-1913

For instance, if as the Scots keep expecting, they are allowed in to the EU, without having to go through the formal application process of 5 years or so, then of course it also opens up the path for other separatist groups such as the Basque region in Spain/France, and even Corsica in France, and Crete in Greece, to go down the same path.

More Terror Than Tea Served In Turkey

A judge in Turkey recently remanded in custody a cook on a charge of insulting the President. The cook, who just happened to work at one of the few opposition newspaper left in the new Islamic state which is forming on the EU's southern borders, had offered mild dislike of the president. 

Senol Buran - A Man In Deep Trouble

 

What did he do? Well apparently Senol Buran, the cafeteria head at newspaper 'Cumhuriyetis', is alleged to have told police "I would not serve that man [Erdogan] a cup of tea." after he was held up as part of security measures for a speech being given by Mr Erdogan.

Don't Mention The War

The ever ongoing 'Greek Crisis' has thrown up some bad politics, worse economics and an awful lot of bile ..... but one has to hand the prize red ribbon for the bile to Mr Yanis Varoufakis, the now 'Ex' finance minister of Greece. He hardly pulled his punches when it came to insulting those whose money he wanted to get hold of.

Images Much Like This Are Circulating The Web ....

 

"Germany must be proud of the fact that Nazism has been eradicated here", he said on a visit to Berlin, and he then carried on and brought up the economic depression in Weimar Germany that brought Adolf Hitler to power ..... hardly tactful, and as he then went on to mention the rise of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party in Greece, the inference was plain and brutal to his hosts. 

The Bulgar Blues

I have just got back from a trip to Bulgaria ..... the land where Berbatov is God!

I stayed at the Continental Parkhotel ..... an odd mix of crumbling concrete 'palace to the people', and newer build.  But to be fair the room was fine and actually faced a small forest. The resort is called "Sunny Beach" and is one of those purpose built resorts i.e. no old town, so no reason to stay open in winter ..... the whole resort closes from October until April and is inhabited by security guards.


My room to the right behind trees!

The Beach was lovely (at least at this time of year) and there was a a very rickety beach bar called the 'The Ship' nearby ...... there are several of these, and this is the small one before the village of Nessebar peninsular.


I was camped daily just to the far bottom right of the beach shown here.

I should imagine that the resort is hell during the peak season, but during mid September it was fine, with all bars open and sunshine all the time.  

Like most of these sorts of resorts, its completely bypassed any cultural aspects and headed straight down market with Disco's and Euro pop blasting out until the small hours (and thats just the restaurants!). However to be fair, by luck I ended up at a quiet hotel and could pick and choose between noise or not.

The biggest problem facing the resort and all Bulgaria, is that they hope to join the EU and the Euro, and their economy isn't set up to deal with the inflation this will bring ...... another Greece beckons. I was told that corruption was rife in the local and national government, with the Local and Russian Mafia's operating in many areas, so all the indicators of a third world economic and social state ..... perfect for the European Union.

A Greek Tragedy II

Greece has been beset by street protests and troubles for the last week, the nature of which are reminiscent of the Paris troubles of 1968.

Greek Unrest

The cause of this unrest is ostensibly the death of a teen boy, shot by police after a disturbance but the trouble quickly spread and now seems aimed at the ills of Greek political society.