That's a bad place to start when looking at autocracies which distort the democratic system to provide an illusion of legitimacy. But you knew that.
I don’t see how that’s worse than the French people voting Macron out and France still being governed by Macron and his people.
Throwing around words like autocracy is by now lame and tired, just like those crying racism all the time.
Oh, is it still? OK, maybe... But just barely, ad not for long.
> the elections “were well ... marred by the absence of a level playing field”.
Yeah, that's what should'a tolja it's not much of a democracy any more.
> I don’t see how that’s worse than the French people voting Macron out and France still being governed by Macron and his people.
That's probably mostly because the French people have done nothing like voting Macron out. France hasn't had a presidential election this year, not last yar IIRC.
> Throwing around words like autocracy is by now lame and tired
Yeah, you're right, it is. When it's unwarranted. But do you know what's even more lame and tired? Defending autocrats.
Especially if it's done as badly as your attempt here.
The wide acknowledgement is only wide in a particular EU bubble.