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Reposted by Drakoulis

Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 2h

🚨Wow - this will be huge if it bears out. Exit polls show the pro-EU D66 party has WON the Dutch election.

The far-right PVV party of Geeet Wildsrs has lost 12 seats, according to exit polls.

Huge if true.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 8h

Happy release day to @drslayton.bsky.social and his 4th book in the Adam Binder series!

I read an ARC of REDNECK REVENANT, it has everything you loved from the first 3, builds on them & grows the characters, the story and the universe!

#BookSky #BookChallenge💙📚 #Books #WritingCommunity #LGBTBooks

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 2d

If you are in #Brussels tomorrow, join us for a panel debate organized by JEF Europe (Young European Federalists) on respect for democratic principles, the role of #EU institutions & a European future for young people in #Serbia.

Professor @alemanno.bsky.social will be in the panel!

#Politics

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 3d

Since last week, I'm the Secretary General of JEF Brussels, the #Brussels section of the Young European Federalists!

If you want to find out more about JEF, check the JEF Europe website: jef.eu

You can DM me if you are interested in our events, in European #Federalism or want a partnership!

#EU

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 3d

We are in a Catch-22:

Pro-Federalism change won't come from within, because the national leaders do not want to cede power to the #EU. And it is not coming from the voters, who don't understand that their grievances with the EU is because the union is not federated enough.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 4d

Yes they can.
And this poll is the first one showing a majority for D66-GL/PVDA-CDA-Volt + CU/50Plus or PvdD

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 6d

This is actually 100% fair, this should be a joint EU power move signalling Russia is considered out of the international law governing capital. Not just optics while Belgium bears the risks.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 7d

Because Belgium wants guarantees that they will not be liable to compensation to Russia in the future (most assets are through a Belgium-based company), other EU members are not giving them, and (infuriatingly) we refuse to consider the international laws regarding finance non-applicable on Russia.

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 9d

Because they got bought by a Hungarian oligarch last year.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 12d

There is a solution to this, but EU leaders don't have the balls: announce that Putin's plane will not be allowed to pass through Ukrainian or Polish airspace to land in Budapest.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 22d

France has a particularity though - the people always hate the leader, and what they want seems to be to ignore the financial and demographic reality, and keep an 80s welfare state no matter what. This will eat any president who doesn't go along with this lunacy.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 22d

I wouldn't say the far left is strong though, they are just very loud because of Gaza. They don't have particularly strong numbers.

The far right on the other side feels emboldened to get an ever larger share of the pie thanks to the cowardice of parties like VVD, PP, M etc. who welcome them...

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 22d

More of the same but Macron appoints a government which uses the constitutional clauses to pass the budget without a parliamentary majority. More or less direct rule of the president with a paralyzed parliament until 2027.

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 23d

India aside, the root cause of the far-right surge in the West is social media left to operate without rules. This is what societies revert to if you throw the average person in a jungle of "the truth is whatever I feel it is" and without rules on information, science and red lines.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 23d

I mean, in America this is all covered by the Republican Party.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 23d

They won't, but maybe they should take a calculated risk (for her to barely survive) to make her and EPP reconsider their priorities regarding their continuous pivoting to courting the far-right...

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · 23d

The failure to regulate social media has caused politics going crazy. We would have seen the same in the late 20th century if we had social media. The masses are easily manipulated and will run haywire if left in an information jungle instead of something more controlled like TV, websites etc.

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Reposted by Drakoulis

Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · Sep 29

Tomorrow night in Brussels I'll be moderating a Young European Federalists panel on EU defence.

Come by if you're in town - register here: www.eventbrite.be/e/europes-de...

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Sep 29

The last sentence is one of the biggest problems in decision-making in the EU....a lot of the members talk a lot about Orban, rule of law etc. but do not really want to change things, so that they can always have their own leverage about issues they disagree with the rest of the EU...

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Sep 29

The key takeaway is that #Moldova acted BEFORE the elections and took measures against the Russian parties, propaganda & tactics.

You cannot play by the rulebook when the opponent proudly sets it on fire. Message for the whole #Europe : Stop playing nice and defend Western liberal democracy!

Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · Sep 29

Moldova's pro-EU ruling party scored a surprising victory in yesterday's national election in a vote that was marked by intense Russian involvement including alleged vote-buying.

"Citizens defeated a furious attack not with weapons, but with democracy," says 🇷🇴MEP Dan Barna.

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Sep 22

This would imply the EU found the balls to against the agri-lobbies, mainly the one of France....which I wish it happens, but not holding my breath.

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Sep 15

FOUNDATION by Isaac Asimov is a true #scifi classic. A genius mathematician manipulates the course of a civilization for centuries, exploiting religion, trade and human nature to soften the fall.

Smart characters, fascinating timeline!

#BookSky #BookChallenge💙📚 #WritingCommunity #Books

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Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Aug 20

I am seeing all non-Baltic PMs and Presidents rush to clarify that no, it's not gonna be MY country who puts boots on the ground. It's pathetic!

The most hypocritic of all is Poland, who keep preaching but aren't willing to help anyone except themselves apparently.

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Aug 19

I don't doubt it, but I understand why many people prefer to believe the 1st option.

The 2nd means USA has a rotten society to the core. And this is way more difficult to change than the 1st.

Drakoulis @drakoulis.bsky.social · Aug 19

Well tough luck then, the 2nd half is way more difficult to fix than the 1st part if you aren't willing to take the far-right tech billionaires head-on, and so far we haven't seen anyone (in US or any other country) willing to do it.

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