WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish democracy champion and former President Lech Walesa says a victory by Republican Donald Trump in this year's U.S. presidential election would bring “misfortune” to the world.
Walesa said in a short entry on Facebook on Sunday that he does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, but that the matter “is too important for the world” for him to withhold his views.
“I deeply believe that Americans will vote responsibly. In my opinion, I am completely convinced that Trump’s election WOULD BE A MISFORTUNE FOR THE U.S. AND THE WORLD,” he wrote, using all capital letters.
He did not explain his thinking further.
Walesa, 81, played a historic role as leader of Solidarity, a labor union that advocated for workers' rights and greater freedoms during the 1980s, when Poland was still under Soviet-backed communist rule.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his defense of workers' rights and universal freedoms more broadly. Solidarity ended up playing a crucial role in the peaceful collapse of communism.
Walesa went on to serve one term as president of Poland.
FILE - Lech Walesa former President of Poland, speaks after being awarded withthe "Golden Medal for services to reconciliation and understanding among peoples" in Berlin, Monday Sept. 26, 2022. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP, file)
MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Gunmen chased down the lawyer for Mozambique's leading opposition politician and a senior opposition official and fatally shot them in their car in the capital, their party said Saturday.
This comes as the country waits for the results of a tense election that has drawn more allegations of vote rigging and clamping down on dissent against the long-ruling governing party.
Elvino Dias, a lawyer and advisor to opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, was killed late Friday night by gunmen in two vehicles who riddled his car with bullets on a main avenue in the city of Maputo, the PODEMOS opposition party said.
Paulo Guambe, a senior member and the spokesperson for PODEMOS, also was in the car with Dias and died in the shooting, the party said in a statement.
The killings are “further clear evidence of the lack of justice that we are all subjected to,” PODEMOS said.
PODEMOS is a relatively new opposition party that challenged the 49-year rule of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) party in the Oct. 9 election. Although Mondlane ran for president as an independent, he was supported by PODEMOS. Mondlane, PODEMOS and other opposition parties have accused Frelimo of electoral fraud and rigging the election.
Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo holds a clear lead in the presidential race, according to preliminary results. The final election results are due to be announced next week. Chapo is expected to be announced as the winner to succeed President Filipe Nyusi, who has served a maximum of two terms.
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People queue to cast their votes during the general elections in Maputo, Mozambique, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Mangwiro)
Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, right, casts his vote in general elections in Maputo, Mozambique, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Equeio)
Supporters take part in a ruling party rally to support presidential candidate Daniel Chapo ahead of elections, in Maputo, Mozambique, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)
Daniel Chapo, right, presidential candidate for the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique party, holds up his finger after casting his vote in the general elections, in Inhambane, Mozambique, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo)
Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane holds up his finger after casting his vote in general elections in Maputo, Mozambique, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Equeio)
