“We campaign in poetry, but we govern in prose”. So, apparently, said Mario Cuomo. Judging by yesterday’s Irish Times, there’s not a great deal of poetry in the Irish election campaign either.

Voting takes place on May 24. Everything appears frenzied back in Ireland. As an emigrant I am completely disenfranchised. The only thing I can vote in is the Belgian communal elections which are, of course, fine in their way but perhaps lack the excitement associated with national politics. Then, of course, there are the Belgian federal elections on June 10 which I can’t vote in either. Poor Mr. Waffle has bought a comic strip book outlining the main issues. You think I’m joking? I’m not.