From Finland came 13 MEPs, 3 Conservatives, 3 from Center party, 2 Social democrats, 2 greens, and one from True Finn party, Swedish party and Christian Democrats.  The turnout was 40,2 % which was nearly one % less than during previous election 2004.  As I was following elections in Belgrade -or honestly not-following due the [...]

In March, Mrs. Clinton – FM/USA – commented in Brussels that the Obama administration was “determined to listen, advise (European Union countries) and through agreement arrive at wise solution to common challenges.” Among the “common challenges” was that the “Balkans is in danger of becoming part of the forgotten past.” She added the ominous view [...]

There is one dilemma while voting EU elections in Finland. You draw the number of candidate to election ticket which will create the total amount of votes to party the candidate represents. If the Party gets enough votes the most voted candidates in their list will be the next MEPs. The dilemma is that the [...]

A common utterance “money talks” is sometimes used also related to elections. One could suppose that if voting matters the parties or candidates are investing more to win elections. Normal marketing is sometimes not guaranteeing enough votes so in many societies more crude means are used such as election fraud/rigging, non-transparent and illegal political campaign [...]

The new report made by Minority Rights Group International (MRG) gives a bare picture about worsening situation of minority rights in today’s Kosovo.  Instead to return to their homes after ethnic cleansing implemented by Kosovo Albanians after Nato intervention 1999 minorities are beginning to leave Kosovo, because they face exclusion and discrimination. This negative process [...]

Latest developments during last weeks related the EU’s policy of diversifying Europes’s energy supplies give a clear indication that EU’s pipedream – Nabucco – is vanishing while the rival Russia’s South Stream gets a boost both on the ground and updated aims. European Commission has tried enhance Nabucco already some nine year with modest or [...]

Due the election year Europe Day’s main event in Helsinki, Finland, got quite high level speakers. The Day was celebrated in amusement park, the Finnish Commissioner, Prime minister and Minister of Europe affairs spoke, MEPs had a panel discussion, also a number of MEP candidates were there. Only one was missing – the audience. The [...]

Lunatic risk assessment can seriously damage your health (and economy, and freedom). Swine flu has been in headlines nearly two weeks.  The media hype is not in any scale to the real thread, it can be good entertainment like circus in ancient Rome and a tool to put the common people’s focus on trivialities.   For [...]

Demonstrations against President Mikhail Saakashvili continued fifth day on April 13th in Georgia. Consolidated opposition demands president’s resignation, early presidential and parliamentary elections being held in the spring 2009. So far the participation to protests is not enough to implement Rose Revolution II but two new regional questions have potential to develop conflicts and change [...]

After Orange (Ukraine), Rose (Georgia) and Tulip (Kyrgyzstan) revolutions the first try of next generation demonstration took place in Moldova after last weekends parliamentary elections. Known now as “Twitter Revolution” the protest was self-organized by two youth movements – Hyde Park and ThinkMoldova – using their generation’s tools of social messaging network to gather 10,000-15,000 [...]