Smack & Smash: Boxers Enter the Political Ring
December 19, 2011 § Leave a Comment
This week, former World Heavy Weight boxer, Vitali Klitschko will throw his weight not into punching someone, but into winning the election as Mayor of Kiev. His “Punch” party is new to the political fray but he is committing himself to reform. “I am drawn to politics because Ukraine has struggled to break free of massive cronyism and corruption under existing politicians, to establish a vibrant democracy where any citizen has a fair chance to prosper,” he said.
People’s of corruption and kleptocrats has driven the revolutions this year. This has led to a vast range of new actors and parties stand for power as the old exit stage left. While the Muslim Brotherhood look set to gains in elections in Egypt, in Europe the public are turning to anything, as long as it looks different. “Finally: Some Normal People” was the slogan that helped the Pirate Party in Germany hold the balance of power in Berlin’s Parliament with their agenda for free local transport, demands for transparent government as well as polygamy.
Citizens dissatisfaction is driving new demands for better, cleaner more transparent democracy. And big shifts in global power are likely next year as elections take place in France, US, Mexico and India. In France, Avaaz is polling its members and is organising a campaign to clean out corruption in the country for the election and Avaaz is supporting opposition groups in Yemen and Syria so that when the revolutions are secured, a new democracy can set root. If 2011 is the year that the people roared, will 2012 be the year that politicians listened.
