Laurent Balt

MSc - Development Studies @lse_ID | MSocSci - Politics @uct_news | Policy analyst | Public policy, politics & economics in South Africa & Western Europe

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

Back to writing with a few thoughts on what Change Starts Now tells us about launching a party, and what many small parties get wrong:

https://t.co/2xhlyMUq3w

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

The Arsenal. Your Premier League champions.

[Michael Pettis @michaelxpettis]

1/10
President Macron says "We must acknowledge that these imbalances are both the result of weak EU productivity and China’s policy of export-driven growth."

The first part of that statement is technically not true.
https://t.co/3QFDaqmKwJ via @ft

[New Streets @NewStreetsSA]

Pedestrian and cyclist safety cannot only rely on humans doing the right thing, it also requires physical design to prevent it.

Speed bumps, protected cycle lanes, bollards, centre medians are just some options to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

[Marlowe @PMarlowe1939]

Frantically announcing and unannouncing every possible tax and levy, while looking through a pair of binoculars through Richard Hughes’ window at the OBR to see if he’s smiling or frowning at the Excel model on his laptop

[Maia @maiamindel]

The best lack all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity?

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

It was only ever Arsenal.

A boyhood Gooner, our new number 10 – welcome home, Ebere ❤️

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@_night_brain__ https://t.co/9YeOBk5yJW

HMT pipped us by 3 months but the UK are not alone

[Mike Bird @Birdyword]

Based on previous American crises about shortages of critical commodities, it's just about time for a farmer in Montana to find the vital economic resource (a complete and functioning Chinese economy) in his back yard

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@RoriMoseli Meddling in the policy affairs of a smaller neighbour? You really are a child of the Mbeki ANC

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

😱

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@RoriMoseli Looking forward to your presser in a blue polo shirt 🙏🏼

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@RoriMoseli I'm inclined to agree with you on the substance, but I think there's another element - DA ministers seem to care about *looking good* at their jobs. Their comms teams are generally good, which I think has become a key weakness of the ANC in govt

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@LennyMbulle Just funny he remembered they exist

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

Lesotho???

[The Spectator Index @spectatorindex]

Longer list of new reciprocal US tariffs

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@comradesipho intern in charge of the modelling for this must’ve had so much fun

[Laurent Balt @lfvbalt]

@comradesipho I don’t think this is “brutal”. SA had the same convo when Zuma was convicted - I’ve never been a believer in courts not enforcing the law for political expediency