Europe
Alleged Russian interference affects Moldova EU Referendum
by Isabel Batt
Map of the results – blue represents ‘Yes’, brown represents ‘No’. (Image Credit: Dashin24, Wikimedia Commons)
Moldova held a key referendum on 20 October deciding the future of the country’s journey to becoming an EU member state. The vote proposed changes to the constitution that would enshrine the country’s commitment to EU statehood and the pro-EU camp won by a razor thin margin. Only a few thousand votes decided the outcome. The 50.46 percent Yes vote was met with surprise and apprehension in a country where a large victory was anticipated.
Incumbent pro-EU president Maia Sandu has blamed Russian interference for the strength of the No vote, saying that Moldova’s ‘enemies’ have tried to buy votes and sway the result of the referendum. The Moldovan government claims it has ‘clear evidence’ that over 300,000 votes were bought by Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly denied the claim, however the Moldovan Chief of Police said earlier this month that he believed over $15 million had been paid by Russia already in the hopes of persuading people to vote No. Ilan Shor, a pro-Russian businessman who had a political party shut down in 2023, has also encouraged people to vote No in exchange for money.
However, it is not a disaster for pro-European Moldovans. Young people voted much more in favour of the EU, and, in light of the referendum, Moldova will continue membership talks with Brussels, with the hope of joining fully by 2030.
Australia
King’s visit to the country provokes debate over the abolition of the monarchy
by Hemal Pallan
Sydney Opera House lit up to celebrate the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Image Credit: New South Wales Government)
In late October, King Charles and Queen Camilla undertook a six day tour of Australia, the King’s first as monarch. The tour has stirred up debate over whether the country should remove the monarch as head of state and become a republic, with many protests taking place.
Many small protests took place in Canberra and Sydney, providing a stark contrast to the large numbers of people out celebrating the trip.
The most prominent anti-monarchist protest was that of independent Aboriginal senator Lidia Thorpe. Immediately following the King’s address at Parliament House, she shouted messages including ‘this is not your land’ and ‘you are not my king’, before being escorted away.
Australians are very divided on the issue of monarchy. One poll from after the royal visit placed support for monarchy at 57 percent, and support for Australia becoming a republic at 43 percent. Monarchist sentiment has fallen by 3 percent since a similar poll after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, though the former poll may reflect the specific circumstances of that event.
Australia continues to be split on the question of what role the monarchy should play in its future, and the King’s visit has only served to emphasise this divide.
Africa
Death toll rises amid growing tensions in Mozambique
by Jaden Lynch
Flag of Mozambique (Image Credit: Wikipedia Inc., Wikimedia Commons)
The ruling party in Mozambique, the Frelimo Party, has been in power for nearly half a century. Before the election on 9 October, the Frelimo party were accused by several civil society groups of registering over 800,000 non-existent voters – a significant number in a country where the electorate is only 17 million.
After provisional election results were released, Elvino Dias (a lawyer for the new opposition party, Podemos) began preparing a legal challenge. However, on 19 October, he was killed alongside party representative Paulo Guambe. The assassination occurred whilst the two were driving through the capital, Maputo. The Frelimo Party has been accused of orchestrating the killings. Plain clothes police officers also allegedly opened fire at Podemos leader Venâncio Mondlane whilst he was holding a press conference at the site of Dias’ and Guambe’s deaths.
The official election results were released on 25 October. The Election Commission claimed Frelimo had increased its representation in the 250-seat parliament by 11 MPs to 195, while Podemos won 31. However, the Podemos party claimed it had won 138 seats and a 53 percent vote share. It has submitted a 100 page legal challenge to the results, supported by 300 kg of documents.
The contested election results have sparked protests across Mozambique. Since the 24 October, 11 people have allegedly been killed by the police, with 50 receiving serious gunshot wounds.
South America
Bolivia: Chaos as military post seized by supporters of ex-president
by Freddie Weaver
Flag of Bolivia (Image Credit: Wikipedia Inc., Wikimedia Commons)
A military base near the Bolivian city of Cochabamba has been seized by an armed group, following clashes between supporters of both President Luis Acre, and the country’s former president Evo Morales.
The armed group, believed to be supporters of Morales, took control of the military facility on 1 November, and according to the Bolivian military, kidnapped military personnel and seized weapons and ammunition from the base.
President Acre stated on X (formerly Twitter) that such actions amounted to ‘treason’, while a statement from the armed forces demanded that the group abandon the facility ‘immediately and peacefully’. The statements came following a broadcast on local media that showed several uniformed soldiers surrounded by members of the armed group in captivity.
The facility was seized after the army began an operation to clear roads across the country of blockades caused by supporters of Morales. The blockades, which have taken place across the country since October, began after Morales was investigated by the authorities for alleged statutory rape. The former president, who served from 2006 to 2019, has refused to testify in court.
The seizing of the base also came following a video shared by Morales on 27 October, which claimed that he had been the victim of an assassination attempt by the government.
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