Robert Fico, the highly controversial three-time former prime minister who opposes military support to Ukraine, looks set to win Slovakia’s parliamentary elections on Sept. 30. He has pledged to reverse the EU and NATO member state’s political direction, after years of deep reforms designed to realign Slovakia with the EU mainstream.
Kyiv’s reaction to a recent report showing that an errant Ukrainian missile was likely responsible for a deadly strike on a Ukrainian town highlighted its defensiveness in response to human rights critiques of its war effort. While this is unsurprising and even understandable, it is not actually needed and may hurt more than it helps.
Today at WPR, we’re covering a global spate of civil-military crises and a bitter rivalry in Bolivia’s ruling party.
But first, here’s our take on today’s top story:
United States: In a speech yesterday, President Joe Biden issued a scathing—and from him, rare—attack on former President Donald Trump, who he accused of plotting to undermine American democracy and portrayed as a budding autocrat. (New York Times)
The speech comes just days before the U.S. federal government faces a potential shutdown should Congress fail to pass a short-term funding bill by tomorrow night. A slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives has so far failed to pass a bill because of opposition by a small group of far-right party members, who have also threatened to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy should he work with Democrats to pass the bill. They reportedly may do so anyway. (New York Times; Washington Post)
Our Take: The one-two punch of Biden’s speech and the looming government shutdown in many ways serves to highlight the two forms of democratic erosion that can be seen in the U.S. today.
On the one hand, there is Trump and his MAGA supporters, who have in the past attempted to undermine the U.S. Constitution and are currently advertising their preparations to centralize power in his hands should he win next year’s presidential election. On the other, there is the small group of far-right lawmakers, who are intent on defying the House speaker and their own caucus in order to paralyze the federal government.
The Republican obstructionism has already diminished U.S. military preparedness, due to a block on Senate confirmations of military nominations and promotions. The damage of that dysfunction, however, will be further compounded in the event of a shutdown, with an immediate impact on the U.S. economy and Washington’s inability to fund global initiatives.
