Unfit to Govern?

The death of Boris Yeltsin was in most news round-ups yesterday morning: the man who forcibly took power in the USSR from Mikhael Gorbatchov, dissolved the Union, used the army against dissenters in parliament and put and end to the cold war.

His fondness for alcohol and inability to behave properly in public were referred to as major failings that marred his public image and were an embarrassment to the Russian Federation. That came to an end when he handed power over to Vladimir Putin in 1999.

The next piece on the bulletin I saw returned to domestic politics - Alberto João Jardim threatening to declare independence if the mainland continues to interfere in Madeiran affairs. Personally, if he doesn't want to be part of the country, I would cut off his funding and eliminate all subsidies for six months to see how he survives as resident dictator in an independent state. Anyway, that report was accompanied by film of Alberto João's recent public appearances, singing and dancing in an inebriated fashion at a public event, rather similar to the embarrassing footage of Yeltsin a few moment earlier.

Was the juxtaposition of these reports a coincidence - probably, as the Portuguese press is not known for its will to speak out against Alberto João. It did bring home that fact the fitness to govern is a very subjective matter.