On Sunday the people of Macedonia will elect a President in a run-off election between the conservative VMRO-DPMNE Georgi Ivanov, and the Social-Democrat candidate Ljubomir Frckovski. The slate of candidates in the first round included the first female Presidential candidate, uber achiever Mirushe Hoxha and “Brother Ljube” former inmate at Hague.

Elena Basescu

Meanwhile, despite  objections from sections of the Romanian blogosphere and politician Alina Mungiu-Pippidi; model, president’s daughter and occassional grammar victim-Elena Basescu has obtained enough signatures to run for member of the European Parliament.

As potentially snark worthy as Basescu’s candidacy may be; the gold medal winner for the most jaw-dropping bizzare candidate slate (ever?!) goes to to the Sochi mayorial elections. In addition to the usual slate of politicos, tycoons and the suspect in the assasination of Alexandar Litvinenko (whose candidacy has recently been dropped) ; the contestants candidates include a prima-ballerina (who has also dropped out), a porn star, the president of the arm wrestling federation (executive experience?) and also a  nameless male figure skater (I’m betting on Evgeni Plushenko).