Erstellt am: 11. 4. 2012 - 15:48 Uhr

Can Romney really buy the Presidency?

Reality Check: Romney and money, Robert Mugabe rumoured to be seriously ill, Astrakhan protests, China scandal, Brejvik trial.

If it happened in some parts of the world, there would probably be outrage, but it happens in the US, and it's called democracy. Mitt Romney has effectively secured the Republican Presidential nomination, or as some commentators are saying, he has successfully bought the nomination. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are still technically in the race, and might still make some waves, but they are not serious contenders, because Romney has something they don't: money. Lots of it. Not money raised by fundraisers - his own, private fortune, which amounts to some 250 million dollars and gives him the means to buy large amounts of negative advertising to smear his challengers.

There is clearly an irony in the fact that the country that is usually the most vocal about others being "undemocratic", political power is available to the person with the most money to buy muck to throw at their opponents. But that's American Democracy for you.

However, as the campaign moves from gaining the nomination to going into battle against Barack Obama, it's not quite so clear whether Romney will be able to buy the White House as easily as he apparently bought the nomination.

On the grand scale of things, pretty much all US politicians are millionaires. You need money to get elected - that's all part of the system, but not many flaunt it quite as brazenly as Romney, and that could be his downfall. In times of austerity, he will probably struggle to find much resonance with republican business owners and executives who may have seen their livelihoods wiped out in the financial crisis. Romney is also not exactly the blue-eyed boy of the Tea Party, who see him as far too moderate and are more than likely suspicious of his Mormon faith.

All this must be music to the ears of Barack Obama. If Romney is going to have a chance in November, he is going to have to both unite and consolidate the Republican party - and that may prove to be something money can't buy. James Boys - a US political expert from Richmond, the American International University in London, told Gennie Johnson about the coming campaign and the uphill road facing Mitt Romney.

• Zimbabwe's uncertain future

Rumours are rife again about the health of Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe. At 88, it would seem unlikely that he will be in office for very much longer - but how would Zimbabwe look without him? Lance Guma, a journalist with the London-based "SW Radio Africa", gave Gennie Johnson his assessment of hte situaion.

• Russian protesters on hunger strike

Anti-Putin protesters in the south-eastern city of Astrakhan are on hunger strike, after the election of a pro-Kremlim mayor. Charles Maynes told Gennie Johnson about the protests and what they hope to achieve.

Power, murder and corruption scandal shocks China

The fall from grace of a former elite member of politburo who's wife is suspected of involvement in the death of a British businessman is threatening to rock China's usually stable political boat.

Bo Xilai has seen his political career and personal reputation crumble, and there are rumours that the whole scandal might have been engineered to oust him from power.

Joanna Bostock reports on China's spiciest scandal for many years.

Brejvik ruled sane

The trial of Norway's notorious killer, Anders Brejvik, starts on Monday. In a reversal of a previous decision, a court has now ruled Brejvik to be "sane", which will be a key issue in the trial, determining whether he will face imprisonment or special hospitalisation. Joanna Bostock asked Knut Magnus Berge, a commentator on Norwegian NRK TV and radio, to describe the feelings in Norway ahead of the trial.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.