Let them eat cake returns (a meter longer)

President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev turned 50 years old. He has been in power since 2003 and claims to have a democratic, free, economically developed country. To congratulate him on his outstanding contributions to Azerbaijan and its people in the last eight years, the city of Sumgayit (allegedly a group of local businessmen) decided to prepare a birthday cake. But this was no ordinary cake. And it wasn't the businessmen in their fancy suits who did it either. Supposedly this is the biggest cake by size even in Europe (if not the whole world) said the Sumgayit city official with much pride on his face. 

Last year, it was the city of Ganja that built the biggest cake to celebrate President's 49th birthday. Looks like this is becoming a tradition. I am wondering which city is going to proudly announce its biggest birthday cake next year.

According to local news, the cake is 50meters long. Last year it was 49 (you can read about it here). You can watch the video [AZ] below. The man talking at the very beginning of the video is the head of the city executive administration. My favorite part is when the cameraman shows random kids asking them what the cake is for- some don't have a clue, others think its for celebrating Heydar Aliyev's birthday. Given how quickly people were taking the cake apart, it was good.

I only wish that the democracy the President Aliyev so often talks about, comes to Azerbaijan sooner than later. Perhaps this is what the President secretly wished for as well when blowing the candles on his birthday cake?!

"Let them eat cake"

RFE/RL

We all know this famous expression from our history classes. "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche" which is the original version of this expression was supposedly said by Queen Marie Antoinette when she was told that peasants had nothing to eat. It is contested whether she actually said these words but whether she did it or not, it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw images of a cake, prepared especially for the President of Azerbaijan's 49th birthday in the country's second largest city- Ganja.

RFE/RL

The President was turning 49 and so the city of Ganja decided to prepare a birthday cake that was 49 meters long (mind you this has been continuing for the last three years with cake getting longer every year by one more meter). It took over a month of preparation and the cake weighted approximately 12 tons. The city officials refused to disclose any information on the amount spent on the cake however, it could be calculated from the amount of ingredients used for the cake (the original version of the article [AZ] can be read here).

RFE/RL

There is an image of an old lady held by the police officers trying to get her share of the cake (apparently people were not allowed anywhere near the cake but were given their shares by the police officers). Sad... But bitter reality... She is most probably, just one of the average pensioners whose life is based on the 75EUR a month and who probably is hungry pretty much most of the time... 

She might have never said it but "Let them eat cake" might as well suit these images and the attitude of the authorities in Azerbaijan toward their very own people.

RFE/RL

RFE/RL