[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5499]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        OTHER PEOPLE'S ELECTIONS

  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, today I reflect on some of the recent 
elections held in other countries. While citizens of other countries 
may have different values about the level of government intervention in 
areas, let us say in economics or labor rights, overwhelmingly, most 
citizens of the world would prefer to live in a democracy than a 
totalitarian-run system. This was presented last summer by the Pew 
Research Center for the People in the Press. Pew Research Center 
interviewed over 66,000 people in 44 countries over 2 years. The 
majority demonstrated strong preferences in democratic governments, 
even in Muslim countries.
  Over the past 3 weeks, other people have elected leaders, sometimes 
new, sometimes the incumbent. I wish for all, of course, to live under 
the same sunshine of freedom that we in the United States have here.
  In Taiwan Saturday, March 20, incumbent President Chen, Taiwan's pro-
independence leader, was declared to have won by a slim margin, just a 
hair over 50 percent. This election was preceded by threats from 
mainland China and Chen's international detractors, and jittery nerves 
by many who urged ``don't rock the boat.'' On election eve, President 
Chen and his Vice President were shot in a craven attack.
  The aftermath of the election is a little calmer: there are street 
protests and a recount is imminent. Also, in a win for China, though, 
election authorities nullified the results of a controversial 
referendum championed by the President because too few voters took part 
in it.
  However, I still see some optimism. The apparent reelection of Chen 
is sending a message both to Beijing and Washington: while not outright 
declaring independence, China's people are standing up for their status 
as a sovereign body; they are not completely buying into Beijing's 
domineering ``One China'' policy. Further, I find it telling that while 
an insufficient number voted in the referendum, of those who did, 90 
percent pulled the yes lever to the two questions: one, whether to try 
to set up a framework for direct talks with China; and, two, whether to 
buy more advanced weapons if China refuses to move missiles aimed at 
their island. I wish President Chen every success in my support of his 
leading his people to a democracy.
  Now, let us look at Spain. I understand the emotional and political 
tumult in which Spain found themselves on March 11 and after. However, 
I am discouraged that circumstances influenced the election the way 
they did, for the singular reason that the Spaniards appear to think 
that the Socialist Party will bring them relief from the retributions 
of extreme Islamic fundamentalists. I sadly believe they are wrong. 
Gustavo de Aristegui wrote in The Washington Post on Sunday, March 21: 
``In 1984, I had a long talk with a high-ranking Sunni cleric in a 
mosque in Damascus. He was very friendly when he learned that I was a 
Spaniard. After 2 hours of conversation about politics and theology, 
which are very much intertwined in that part of the world, he said to 
me: `Don't worry, we will liberate Spain from Western corruption.'''
  The writer emphasized that this was a moderate, respected clergyman. 
Now, that is a chilling, foreshadowing, looking into the minds of those 
who would destroy that way of life in Spain.
  Yet, what did Spaniards sacrifice in their election of the Socialist 
Party candidate? Since 1986, the Partido Popular turned from 21 percent 
unemployment down to 9 percent, foreign debt from 80 percent to less 
than 50 percent GDP, a deficit of 6.7 percent of GDP in 1996 to a 0.5 
percent surplus in 2002, and a growing economy while much of the world 
experienced a downturn. This is the stuff that democracies are made of: 
living economically securely, planning futures, and thriving.
  Like President Chen, I support our ally Spain and the new leadership 
that they have openly and fairly chosen. I only ponder that democracies 
also value economic prosperity, and capitulation to bullies may 
compromise that for which they have worked.
  Heading east, President Putin won reelection in Russia this month. He 
has promised to translate his landslide reelection into concrete 
reforms: modernizing the economy, the bureaucracy, the banking system, 
utilities, health and social services. Last Monday President Bush 
called him to congratulate him and urge him to follow through on his 
reforms, to move forward towards his promises of market-based and 
democratic reform.
  Madam Speaker, let us hope so. Like the leader of Taiwan, the leader 
of Spain, I wish the leader of Russia, President Putin, success; but I 
will define success as: how free are your people?

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