vips

LETTER N° 40

From 30 September to 06 October

30 - 04
Britain's Labour Party

Britain's Labour Party holds 100th annual conference. - Brighton

Prime Minister Tony Blair led the ruling Labour Party to a second election victory in May, yet faces a confrontational meeting. Anti-globalization troops and demonstrators from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament plan to protest outside the venue on the opening day, while inside, Blair has the task of calming anger in his own party over his drive to privatize more public services in Britain and his support of United States President George W. Bush's Star Wars plan. Left-leaning traditionalists in the Labour Party have decried Blair's "New Labour" move to the center, and the privatization and missile issues are expected to provoke open rebellion. News that the American hamburger chain, McDonald's, plans to sponsor one of the events at the Labour conference has particularly incensed the anti-globalization movement.

30 - 27
Vatican

Roman Catholic bishops hold synod.

The official theme is the role of bishops in spreading the message of the Catholic Church. Challenges to spreading the word, as debated during the 1999 synod of European bishops, include the declining number of men who want to be priests, dwindling attendance at Mass and the increasing secularization of Western society. Unofficially, the synod is a forum on the succession. Pope John Paul II chose Cardinal Edward Egan, leader of the New York archdiocese's 2.3 million Roman Catholics, to lead the synod. The selection of Egan, who was elevated to cardinal in ceremonies in Rome in February, has raised his profile as a possible successor to John Paul.

01
Canada

(Quebec)

Provincial byelections in Jonquière, Blainville, Labelle and Laviolette ridings. Results : The Quebec Liberal Party pulled off a major upset, winning two by-elections and nearly stealing a third in what had been Parti Québécois strongholds.

In highly symbolic Jonquière, which had been represented by former premier Lucien Bouchard, the PQ suffered a stinging defeat as the Liberals took the riding with about 46 per cent of the vote.

The PQ's only easy victory came in the day's fourth by-election. Amateur Sports Minister Richard Legendre, one of Mr. Landry's star recruits, easily won in Blainville.

In Labelle riding, the PQ barely held on, winning by just 54 votes.

In Laviolette, Liberal Julie Boulet crushed her PQ adversary, taking more than 60 per cent of the vote in what was a PQ riding for 25 years.

01
Bangladesh

General election. Results :

Distribution of seats : BJD (Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal : Bengal Nationalist Party) 186 ; BAL (Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal / Bengal Nationalist Party) 61 ; JIB (Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh / Islam Conference Bangladesh) 16 ; JSD / Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Rob (National Socialist Party-Rob) 14 ; Independents 3 ; Minor parties 3 ; Repolling in 16 ; Voting delayed 1.

01
San Marino

Indirect election of 2 Capitani Reggenti. Results :

Alberto Cecchetti (Socialist) and Gino Giovagnoli (Christian Democrat) elected captains-regent.

01
El Salvador

The businessman Roberto Murray Meza has been elected as the new president of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (Arena), the right-wing party that has governed El Salvador since June 1989.

01 - 03
UN

UN General Assembly debates terrorism.

The attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 11 Sep put new urgency into the United Nations' annual debate on terrorism. Some 12 UN treaties cover terrorism. The conference aims to develop a comprehensive version that covers the elimination of terrorism and the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. There is likely to be a near-universal condemnation of terrorism in the 189-member body, but no agreement on a definition. Many argue that the struggle against occupation or oppression, however violent, is legitimate and should not be included in the debate.

01 - 03
EU

EU-Russia Summit

With President Vladimir Poutine, who will also meet with NATO General Secretary George Robertson. The struggle against terrorism will be the main issue of the discussion.

02
Mexico (Albuquerque)

Mayoral election. Result :

Former Mayor Martin Chavez had 27,913 votes, or 30.6 percent, and former Bernalillo County District Attorney Bob Schwartz was in second place with 25,355 votes, or 27.8 percent. Mayor Jim Baca trailed with 10,139 votes, or 11.1 percent.

03
European Socialist

European Socialist ministers meet - Stockolm

Ministers of Europe's Socialist governments gather at the office of Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson in response to experts' warnings that Europe needs a change of lifestyle to protect jobs, the economy and the environment. They plan to formulate proposals that integrate social, economic and environmental policy to maintain stability and protect jobs. The proposals will be presented at the Party of European Socialists summit, scheduled for March. Dutch environment minister Jan Pronk, his British and Norwegian counterparts Michael Meacher and Siri Bjerke, French planning minister Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, Belgian social affairs minister Frank Vandenbroucke, Lithuanian culture minister Roma Dovydeniene and Romanian minister for European integration Hildegard Puwak are on the planning team.

European Socialists web site

03
Brunei

The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, was conferred an honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in a special convocation ceremony yesterday.

03
South Africa

A new political party has been registered.

The Mau Mau War Veterans Association can now field candidates for parliamentary and civic seats in next year's General Election. The party's secretary general, Mr King'ori Mbogo, announced that they would field a presidential candidate in the polls. The party's logo is identical with the national flag, except that it has an emblem of an eagle on Mt Kenya. General Ndung'u Gicheru is the chairman of the party while General Gathogo Muthora is the treasurer.

03
India

(Gujarat)

Chief minister Keshubhai Patel has submitted his resignation to pave the way for appointment of a successor, a senior party official said today. Patel was asked by the party's national leadership to quit after the BJP lost one seat in the Lok Sabha and one in the to the main opposition party Congress in elections last month. Patel's government which has ruled Gujarat since March 1998 has been under fire over its handling of recovery efforts following a devastating earthquake that struck the state in January, killing upwards of 30,000 people. Patel gave his resignation to the BJP president in New Delhi. Narendra Modi, a top national functionary from Gujarat, is likely to succeed Patel.

5
United States

Mark S. Schweiker is sworn in as governor of Pennsylvania, replacing Tom Ridge, who is designated to head the new federal Office of Homeland Security.

Schweiker profile : Born on January 31, 1953, in Levittown, Bucks County. Graduated from Bishop Egan in 1970, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Bloomsburg University in 1975 and received his Master's degree in Administration from Rider University in 1983. After college, entered the business world and advanced to executive positions at Merrill Lynch,McGraw Hill and his own management consulting firm. Was first elected to public office in 1979 as Middletown Township Supervisor.Elected along with Tom Ridge in 1994, Mark Schweiker was sworn in as Pennsylvania's 28th Lieutenant Governor on January 17, 1995.

5
United States

Former U.S. Senator and Envoy Michael Joseph (Mike) Mansfield dies.

Profile : Born in New York City, March 16, 1903. Moved with his family to Great Falls, Cascade County, Mont., in 1906. Attended the public schools in Great Falls. Served as a seaman when only fourteen years old in the United States Navy during the First World War, as a private in the United States Army in 1919 and 1920, and as a private first class in the United States Marine Corps 1920-1922. Worked as a miner and mining engineer in Butte, Mont, 1922-1930. Attended the Montana School of Mines at Butte in 1927 and 1928. Graduated from Montana State University at Missoula in 1933, and received a masters degree from that institution in 1934. Also attended the University of California at Los Angeles in 1936 and 1937. Professor of history and political science at the Montana State University 1933-1942. Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth Congress. Reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1943-January 3, 1953). Was not a candidate for reelection in 1952, having become a candidate for the Senate. Chairman, Special Committee on Campaign Expenditures (Eighty-first Congress). Was elected to the United States Senate in 1952. Reelected in 1958, 1964, and again in 1970 and served from January 3, 1953, to January 3, 1977. Democratic whip 1957-1961. Majority leader 1961-1977. Chairman, Committee on Rules and Administration (Eighty-seventh Congress), Select Committee on Secret and Confidential Documents (Ninety-second Congress), Special Committee on Secret and Confidential Documents (Ninety-third Congress). Was not a candidate for reelection in 1976. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan, 1977-1988. East Asian advisor, Goldman, Sachs. Is a resident of Washington, D.C.

06 - 09
Commonwealth

Commonwealth Summit opens. - Brisbane

Commonwealth member Australia hosts the summit of leaders of the 54 Commonwealth countries, all of which have historic ties to Britain. Queen Elizabeth II of Britain will open the meeting, billed as the largest gathering of world leaders this century. The massive security presence planned by the police is not expected to deter anti-globalization and anti-capitalist protesters from attempts to disrupt the meeting.

Commonwealth web site

LAST ELECTIONS RESULTS

Aruba
In parliamentary elections, Nelson Oduber's People's Electoral Movement wins 12 of 21 seats, Prime Minister Henny Eman's People's Party 6, the Aruban Patriotic Party 2, and the Aruba Liberal Organization 1. Turnout is about 85%.

U. K.
Wales

Labour has held onto its Swansea East seat in the first by-election of the Welsh Assembly, although the campaign was marred by a poor turn-out. Val Lloyd, 57, a magistrate, nurse and lecturer, secured 7,484 votes, representing a majority of 58%. Second place went to Plaid Cymru candidate Dr John Ball, who took 19% of the votes, a party slide of over 8% on the previous election in 1999.

VIPS VISITS

01-03
Zimbabwe president visit Thailand.

The two countries will discuss tightening relations and cooperation including in trade and investment. Thailand's exports to Zimbabwe last year - mostly rice, vehicles, rubber and plastic - were worth 4.69 million dollars. They were outweighed by 42.21 million dollars in imported gold, jewellery and thread for textiles.

02-05
The Emir of Qatar, Cheikh Hamad ben Khalifa al-Thani in an official visit to Washington, where he is to discuss with George W. Bush on the security in the Middle East.

VIPS - Mises a jour :

VIPS2000 - South America (Chiefs of State and Government)

VIPS-PARL. - South America (Presidents of the Senate and House of Deputies)

VIPS-DIPLO. - South America ( Ministers of Foreign Affairs)

VIPS-DIPLO. - South America (Foreign Ministers)

VIPS-PARL - Europe (Updating following elections in Norway, Poland and Belarus)

VIPS-GOUV. - Peru (New government since September)

THIS WEEK'S STORY

October 1, 1936

Franco heads Spain

During the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco is named head of the rebel Nationalist government in Spain. It would take more than two years for Franco to defeat the Republicans in the civil war and become ruler of all of Spain. He subsequently served as dictator until his death in 1975.

Francisco Franco Bahamonde was born in El Ferrol, Spain, in 1892. The son of a naval officer, he entered the Infantry Academy at age 14. He demonstrated himself to be a disciplined soldier and talented commander in Spain's colonial campaigns in Morocco. He rose in rank rapidly and was hailed as a national hero for his defeat of the Moroccan rebels in 1926. Appointed brigadier general, his promising career was temporarily halted when the Spanish monarchy fell in 1931. The liberal leaders of the new Spanish Republic were suspicious of the military, and Franco was placed on the inactive list. Although an avowed monarchist, he accepted his demotion quietly. In 1933, national elections returned the conservatives to power, and Franco was promoted to major general. In 1934, Franco quelled a revolt by socialists in the mining districts of Asturias. In 1935, he was appointed army chief of staff. In February 1936, new elections returned a leftist coalition to power, and Franco was sent to an obscure command in the Canary Islands, off the coast of Africa. Fearing that the liberal government would give way to Marxist revolution, army officers conspired to seize power. After a period of hesitation, Franco agreed to join the military rebellion, which began in Morocco on July 17, 1936, and spread to the Spanish mainland the next day. With Nationalist army forces from Morocco, Franco rapidly overran much of the Republican-controlled areas in Spain and marched on Madrid. Believing victory was imminent, Franco was made leader of the new Nationalist regime on October 1, 1936. In fact, the bloody Spanish Civil War stretched on until the end of March 1939. In the conflict, Franco's Nationalists received heavy support from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, while the Republicans were aided by the USSR and international volunteers. With the surrender of Madrid on March 28, 1939, Franco formally became dictator of all of Spain--El Caudillo, "The Leader" in Spanish. Although he sympathized with the fascist regimes of Germany and Italy, Franco maintained Spanish neutrality during World War II. After the war, he was ostracized as the "last surviving fascist dictator," but international rehabilitation came with the rise of the Cold War and recognition of his anti-communist views by the United States and other Western nations. Franco secured massive U.S. economic aid in return for military bases in Spain, and the Spanish economy steadily grew. In the 1950s and '60s, Franco's authoritarian regime gradually became more liberal, and there was little organized opposition to his rule outside the Basque provinces, where separatists engaged in terrorism against the Spanish government. In 1969, Franco recognized Juan Carlos, the grandson of Spain's last king, as his successor as head of state and heir to the Spanish throne. In November 1975, Franco died after a long illness, and Juan Carlos became leader and king of Spain. Despite having pledged loyalty to Franco's authoritarian regime, King Juan Carlos immediately began a transition to democracy.

Thanks to History Channel

ALSO SEE

Chiefs of State and Heads of Government Foreign Affairs World Parliaments Federated States and Provinces World Governments International Organizations

30 - 04 Britain's Labour Party		Britain's Labour Party holds 100th annual conference. - Brighton Prime Minister Tony Blair led the ruling Labour Party to a second election victory in May, yet faces a confrontational meeting. Anti-globalization troops and demonstrators from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament plan to protest outside the venue on the opening day, while inside, Blair has the task of calming anger in his own party over his drive to privatize more public services in Britain and his support of United States President George W. Bush's Star Wars plan. Left-leaning traditionalists in the Labour Party have decried Blair's "New Labour" move to the center, and the privatization and missile issues are expected to provoke open rebellion. News that the American hamburger chain, McDonald's, plans to sponsor one of the events at the Labour conference has particularly incensed the anti-globalization movement.
30 - 27 Vatican		Roman Catholic bishops hold synod. The official theme is the role of bishops in spreading the message of the Catholic Church. Challenges to spreading the word, as debated during the 1999 synod of European bishops, include the declining number of men who want to be priests, dwindling attendance at Mass and the increasing secularization of Western society. Unofficially, the synod is a forum on the succession. Pope John Paul II chose Cardinal Edward Egan, leader of the New York archdiocese's 2.3 million Roman Catholics, to lead the synod. The selection of Egan, who was elevated to cardinal in ceremonies in Rome in February, has raised his profile as a possible successor to John Paul.
01 Canada (Quebec)		Provincial byelections in Jonquière, Blainville, Labelle and Laviolette ridings. Results : The Quebec Liberal Party pulled off a major upset, winning two by-elections and nearly stealing a third in what had been Parti Québécois strongholds. In highly symbolic Jonquière, which had been represented by former premier Lucien Bouchard, the PQ suffered a stinging defeat as the Liberals took the riding with about 46 per cent of the vote. The PQ's only easy victory came in the day's fourth by-election. Amateur Sports Minister Richard Legendre, one of Mr. Landry's star recruits, easily won in Blainville. In Labelle riding, the PQ barely held on, winning by just 54 votes. In Laviolette, Liberal Julie Boulet crushed her PQ adversary, taking more than 60 per cent of the vote in what was a PQ riding for 25 years.
01 Bangladesh		General election. Results : Distribution of seats : BJD (Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal : Bengal Nationalist Party) 186 ; BAL (Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal / Bengal Nationalist Party) 61 ; JIB (Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh / Islam Conference Bangladesh) 16 ; JSD / Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Rob (National Socialist Party-Rob) 14 ; Independents 3 ; Minor parties 3 ; Repolling in 16 ; Voting delayed 1.
01 San Marino		Indirect election of 2 Capitani Reggenti. Results : Alberto Cecchetti (Socialist) and Gino Giovagnoli (Christian Democrat) elected captains-regent.
01 El Salvador		The businessman Roberto Murray Meza has been elected as the new president of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (Arena), the right-wing party that has governed El Salvador since June 1989.
01 - 03 UN		UN General Assembly debates terrorism. The attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 11 Sep put new urgency into the United Nations' annual debate on terrorism. Some 12 UN treaties cover terrorism. The conference aims to develop a comprehensive version that covers the elimination of terrorism and the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. There is likely to be a near-universal condemnation of terrorism in the 189-member body, but no agreement on a definition. Many argue that the struggle against occupation or oppression, however violent, is legitimate and should not be included in the debate.
01 - 03 EU		EU-Russia Summit With President Vladimir Poutine, who will also meet with NATO General Secretary George Robertson. The struggle against terrorism will be the main issue of the discussion.
02 Mexico (Albuquerque)		Mayoral election. Result : Former Mayor Martin Chavez had 27,913 votes, or 30.6 percent, and former Bernalillo County District Attorney Bob Schwartz was in second place with 25,355 votes, or 27.8 percent. Mayor Jim Baca trailed with 10,139 votes, or 11.1 percent.
03 European Socialist		European Socialist ministers meet - Stockolm Ministers of Europe's Socialist governments gather at the office of Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson in response to experts' warnings that Europe needs a change of lifestyle to protect jobs, the economy and the environment. They plan to formulate proposals that integrate social, economic and environmental policy to maintain stability and protect jobs. The proposals will be presented at the Party of European Socialists summit, scheduled for March. Dutch environment minister Jan Pronk, his British and Norwegian counterparts Michael Meacher and Siri Bjerke, French planning minister Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, Belgian social affairs minister Frank Vandenbroucke, Lithuanian culture minister Roma Dovydeniene and Romanian minister for European integration Hildegard Puwak are on the planning team. European Socialists web site
03 Brunei		The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, was conferred an honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in a special convocation ceremony yesterday.
03 South Africa		A new political party has been registered. The Mau Mau War Veterans Association can now field candidates for parliamentary and civic seats in next year's General Election. The party's secretary general, Mr King'ori Mbogo, announced that they would field a presidential candidate in the polls. The party's logo is identical with the national flag, except that it has an emblem of an eagle on Mt Kenya. General Ndung'u Gicheru is the chairman of the party while General Gathogo Muthora is the treasurer.
03 India (Gujarat)		Chief minister Keshubhai Patel has submitted his resignation to pave the way for appointment of a successor, a senior party official said today. Patel was asked by the party's national leadership to quit after the BJP lost one seat in the Lok Sabha and one in the to the main opposition party Congress in elections last month. Patel's government which has ruled Gujarat since March 1998 has been under fire over its handling of recovery efforts following a devastating earthquake that struck the state in January, killing upwards of 30,000 people. Patel gave his resignation to the BJP president in New Delhi. Narendra Modi, a top national functionary from Gujarat, is likely to succeed Patel.
5 United States		Mark S. Schweiker is sworn in as governor of Pennsylvania, replacing Tom Ridge, who is designated to head the new federal Office of Homeland Security. Schweiker profile : Born on January 31, 1953, in Levittown, Bucks County. Graduated from Bishop Egan in 1970, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Bloomsburg University in 1975 and received his Master's degree in Administration from Rider University in 1983. After college, entered the business world and advanced to executive positions at Merrill Lynch,McGraw Hill and his own management consulting firm. Was first elected to public office in 1979 as Middletown Township Supervisor.Elected along with Tom Ridge in 1994, Mark Schweiker was sworn in as Pennsylvania's 28th Lieutenant Governor on January 17, 1995.
5 United States		Former U.S. Senator and Envoy Michael Joseph (Mike) Mansfield dies. Profile : Born in New York City, March 16, 1903. Moved with his family to Great Falls, Cascade County, Mont., in 1906. Attended the public schools in Great Falls. Served as a seaman when only fourteen years old in the United States Navy during the First World War, as a private in the United States Army in 1919 and 1920, and as a private first class in the United States Marine Corps 1920-1922. Worked as a miner and mining engineer in Butte, Mont, 1922-1930. Attended the Montana School of Mines at Butte in 1927 and 1928. Graduated from Montana State University at Missoula in 1933, and received a masters degree from that institution in 1934. Also attended the University of California at Los Angeles in 1936 and 1937. Professor of history and political science at the Montana State University 1933-1942. Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth Congress. Reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1943-January 3, 1953). Was not a candidate for reelection in 1952, having become a candidate for the Senate. Chairman, Special Committee on Campaign Expenditures (Eighty-first Congress). Was elected to the United States Senate in 1952. Reelected in 1958, 1964, and again in 1970 and served from January 3, 1953, to January 3, 1977. Democratic whip 1957-1961. Majority leader 1961-1977. Chairman, Committee on Rules and Administration (Eighty-seventh Congress), Select Committee on Secret and Confidential Documents (Ninety-second Congress), Special Committee on Secret and Confidential Documents (Ninety-third Congress). Was not a candidate for reelection in 1976. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan, 1977-1988. East Asian advisor, Goldman, Sachs. Is a resident of Washington, D.C.
06 - 09 Commonwealth		Commonwealth Summit opens. - Brisbane Commonwealth member Australia hosts the summit of leaders of the 54 Commonwealth countries, all of which have historic ties to Britain. Queen Elizabeth II of Britain will open the meeting, billed as the largest gathering of world leaders this century. The massive security presence planned by the police is not expected to deter anti-globalization and anti-capitalist protesters from attempts to disrupt the meeting. Commonwealth web site

Aruba	In parliamentary elections, Nelson Oduber's People's Electoral Movement wins 12 of 21 seats, Prime Minister Henny Eman's People's Party 6, the Aruban Patriotic Party 2, and the Aruba Liberal Organization 1. Turnout is about 85%.
U. K. Wales	Labour has held onto its Swansea East seat in the first by-election of the Welsh Assembly, although the campaign was marred by a poor turn-out. Val Lloyd, 57, a magistrate, nurse and lecturer, secured 7,484 votes, representing a majority of 58%. Second place went to Plaid Cymru candidate Dr John Ball, who took 19% of the votes, a party slide of over 8% on the previous election in 1999.