invent_the_future

Chega is more concerned with appealing to cops rather than military, they're not so much about "defense" as they are about "security". As you said historically the country is not equipped for war but the fascists loved their state police and they wouldn't mind having it again

media is busy with the upcoming elections here (Portugal) but tbh I don't think I've heard the "defense" narrative being pushed ever, maybe some talk once in a blue moon about bringing back obligatory conscription but other than that I think it's too much of a small country and quite peripheral for that talk to gain traction

also there aren't many pockets interested in - or capable of getting it, really - "defense" money, but the defense budget increased in 2023 I'm sure, some RRF money thrown in there as well

on the other hand I've never heard talk about dismantling the very strategic American base in Azores, we're still part of NATO (founding member!) and whoever holds the belief that we shouldn't be is ridiculed, even though we joined during our fascist era

I believe the common conception about "defense" here is: no more, no less

Am I remembering correctly that the soviets proposed to the UK and France (possibly the US too?) a counter-alliance as reaction to this? which to no surprise they declined?

don't particularly like them but I've got a peculiar taste when it comes to metal

they're a curious band to bring out in a leftist forum, seeing as the OG lineup had some sort of falling out and the two remaining parties formed they're own Batushka (so I'm not even sure which one is the one that you mention)

they also walk a fine contradiction of being, as you say, "satanic"-associated but using liturgical music/chants and imagery in their albums (it's part of the gimmick anyway and probably the reason they got somewhat popular)

https://www.thelibraryproject.ie/products/the-land-for-the-people-second-edition-eimear-walshe

and here is the companion piece I mentioned, glad my mind wasn't playing tricks on me

FOUND IT!! https://www.eva.ie/thelandquestion/

Well let's just stay at the very end

The show has some good acting, some very good episodes and does tackle some important issues but the bigger picture stuff got very cringe indeed

I really do not understand the obsession with multiparty democracy.

A multiparty system has been sold as the defining trait of democracy (or at least synonymous with an electoral cycle), election ballots must have little symbols for each little party. But even those who buy into it fall into inevitable contradictions: when, for example, they're made aware that nations like the PRC and the DPRK have other parties (similar to the post-imperialist scenario you've stated), they become quite perplexed; also, all these people would be only satisfied if the party they support won not only the general elections, but also every election in every region/municipality/district/etc, essentially desiring the one-party system they are feverishly against.

These are just brief points on how that obsession falls over itself, I purposely don't want to get into how the basis for the obsession (be it the electoral cycle, how a multiparty system actually behaves, etc) is a sham on its own.