Bloomberg Discovers Elections Without Rivals Are Still 'Wins'
In news from a future that feels depressingly familiar, Bloomberg informs us Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara secured a fourth term, noting his 'main rivals' were 'sidelined.' ('Sidelined' here being the media's delicate euphemism for 'barred from running, imprisoned, or otherwise rendered politically inert before votes are even cast.') It's almost as if some leaders get a pass when their
'democratic' processes look suspiciously like consolidations of power, while others face robust scrutiny. Imagine if a nation not aligned with Western interests pulled this stunt; the headlines wouldn't be quite so blasé. This convenient framing allows the international community to acknowledge a 'win' without confronting the deeper mechanisms of authoritarian creep. How many four-term 'victories'
does it take for an election to simply be called what it is: a sham? When the opposition ceases to exist, congratulations are not due, but rather a raised eyebrow and perhaps a question about which Western corporations are benefiting from this newfound 'stability.'