Quote:
Originally posted by $tanDaMan@Dec 1 2004, 02:05 AM
I think you are mistaken there...
Just like Bush in Florida was told (you HAVE to get the votes whatever it takes)
It was done in belarus before, it was done this time in Ukraine, and it Could be done again in russia in 4 years.
Lukashenka had support because he appointed everyone on every level of government in the country.. and if you are not with him.. you are out...
There is no oposition left in the country.. so he can do whatever he wants. And the elections were claimed void, because of too many mistakes, by the international community.. yet he rules on... he says 'the people picked me! and i will stay on as long as they want me' 
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I agree with you that he is definately a tyrant and I am aware of what he has done to elimate political opposition. But the fact that he does bad things does not mean that he has support ONLY because of that.
Stalin had overwhelming support too... in fact, as you know when he died, most of Russia stopped in its tracks with people wondering how they could go on without him... or if they could at all. This is a guy who murdered 10's of millions of his own people. Lukashenko, just whacks out a few unruly journalists and the occasional politician here and there.
I also think the political dynamics in Belarus are very different than in most places because there has been such an exodus of young people from there in the last decade, leaving the average age of the voters abnormally high. The stats are staggering. Those are exactly the people that find the nationalistic crap appealing.
Serge is the best one to comment on this. I am sure he has better insights that are more than just speculation or guessing.