WHO IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY?

The next big day for the U.S. will be Friday, when we will see if our federal government stops functioning or not.  Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled a funding bill to overcome the potential shutdown.  The Senate is more iffy, for Republicans cannot prevent Democrats from filibustering, which takes 60 votes to stop.  Actually, the USA has recently closed 10 times, and not to worry, for essential services will continue.

Are we entering into a recession?  The Dow Jones sunk 900 points today, with the Nasdaq plunging 4%.  Worst day since 2022.

On the international level, President Trump is suffocating Ukraine's Zelensky more than ever.  Now that Trump got his blackmail minerals deal, he wants Ukraine to give all lands Russian has conquered to them, with more concessions to come.  He keeps upgrading his revenge quotient.

No question that the current U.S. president, Donald Trump, wants to join the president-for-life club, which rarely changes.  

• My posting of 28February2025 identified The New Power Axis, now led by Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-Un, and maybe too, Ali Khamenei.

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  Of course, there are countries where the so-called head of country has served almost forever, like Hassanal Bolkiah, sultan of Brunei = 57 years.
• Al Khamenei of Iran mentioned above = 43 years.
• Putin has been running Russia for only 25 years.
• Here is a long list of these leaders.
• But joining the New Power Axis means that you must also have nuclear warfare capabilities.

By the way, are you keeping up with who is running other key countries?

• President of South Korea is Yoon Suk Yeol.  
• He is a 64-year old lawyer who graduated from Seoul National University (similar reputation as Harvard in the U.S.).  
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  However, he was impeached on 24December2024 for trying to invoke martial law, and his powers are now suspended.  If judged guilty by the Supreme Court, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.  
• To further complicate matters their acting president, Han Duck-soo also got impeached.

• 
  So who is running the country?  Not sure.  Read this.
• Well, maybe deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, might be in charge.

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  In Japan, President and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dropped out of office in August 2024 for a slew of scandals.  Nine candidates ran for the presidency, and former minister of defense Shigeru Ishiba prevailed in October 2024.  However, his win was unexpected for he is not particularly popular with his Liberal Democratic Party members.  He did meet with President Donald Trump on 7February2025.  Said Trump in his usual hyperbole:

“He is doing a fantastic job”, and “He is going to be a great leader”. Trump also described Japan as “a strong and proud nation”, and characterized the U.S. and Japan as having enjoyed “a friendship like few others” over the last 80 years. 

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  Europe is a bit messy, for leaders of individual countries seem to have more power, but:
• European Commission:  Ursula von der Leyen has been president since 2019 for a 5-year term, but recently was asked to continue for five more years.
• Council of the European Union.
• Bit complicated.
• There are three successive presidencies.

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  Poland (January-June 2025).
• Denmark (July-December 2025)
• Cyprus (January-June2026)
• European Council:  Antonio Costa of Portugal, who has been president since 1December2024.  Has a 2.5 year term.

• 
  European Parliament:  
• Kind of like the U.S. Congress.
• There are 720 members, with president and 14 vice-presidents.
• Current president is Roberta Metsola of Malta, since 2022.

• 
  Then there is NATO:  32 countries, and secretary general is Mark Rutte of the Netherlands.
• I tried to find out what one person is the Donald Trump of Europe today, and got nowhere.
• Donald Trump wants to destroy the European Union, and rebuild it in his image.

• 
  Canada.
• Justin Trudeau announced his resignation in January.
• Mark Carney became leader of the Liberal Party on 9March2025.
• Graduated from Harvard and Oxford, earning a PhD in economics.
• Served as the governor of the national banks in Canada and England, and is also a British citizen.
• Runs marathons, with a best in London of 3:31:22.
• Was named as the most influential Catholic in Britain in 2015.

• There is no president of Canada.  The country is led by the Prime Minister.
• Trudeau remains as Prime Minister until a new one is elected by the people.  When?  Anytime when the Parliament calls for one, and it will be back in session on March 24 until October 20.
• How will Carney fare with Trump?  Well....

Carney on Sunday said the retaliatory tariffs Canada has placed on the U.S., which he said will have "maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here in Canada," would remain "until the Americans show us respect."

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