"I am a dictator, all right, because I am not elected. But I think my functioning is most democratic." President Pervez Musharraf, in response to Newsweek's question of returning the country to a more democratic system.
MALAYSIA
Passing The Baton
It’s official now: Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammad will bow out of office in October 2003, after hosting a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference. Always a maverick, he broke the news in his inimitable style. Last week, at the annual meet of his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Mahathir declared he was resigning as party president—and, impliedly, as PM too. As observers tried to analyse the provocation, citing reasons ranging from sheer weariness and attempts to marginalise Islamist Opposition, an UMNO spokesman revealed on June 25 the blueprint of Mahathir’s retirement plan: he goes on leave two months prior to the OIC meet in October, handing over the command to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Post-summit the arrangement would be formalised.
RUSSIA
Purchasing Power
The last vestige of the Soviet era was voted out Wednesday: the State Duma voted in favour of allowing sale and purchase of land. The 1993 Russian Constitution did allow private ownership, and though many collective farms transferred land to their members, the change in ownership was only on paper. Since members couldn’t sell their share, collective farms controlled most of Russian land. The law is expected to sail through the Upper House.
