Friday, September 20

Assault on the Capitol: the worldwide reaction to the “shameful scenes” in Washington

World leaders have condemned the violent scenes in Washington after supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday.

The assault forced a suspension a joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s electoral victory, which was subsequently certified.

Many leaders called for peace and an orderly transition of power, describing what happened as “Horrifying” and an “attack on democracy.”

In Argentina, President Alberto Fernández expressed on Twitter his “strong support” for President-elect Joe Biden and condemned what he called “the serious acts of violence” that occurred on January 6 in Washington.

We express our condemnation of the serious acts of violence and the outrage of Congress that occurred today in Washington DC. We are confident that there will be a peaceful transition that respects the popular will and we express our strongest support for the President-elect @ JoeBiden . pic.twitter.com/HRbBxsOl9z

– Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) January 6, 2021

In Colombia, President Iván Duque wrote that he rejected the acts of violence that occurred in Washington and expressed his “solidarity and support for the honorable members of Congress and all the institutions of the United States.”

For his part Sebastián Piñera, president of Chile, also condemned the events of January 6 and wrote that his country rejects what he called “the actions aimed at altering the democratic process in the United States.”

Chile rejects the actions aimed at altering the democratic process in the US and condemns violence and undue interference with constitutional institutions

Chile relies on the strength of US democracy to guarantee the rule of law and the rule of law.

– Sebastian Piñera (@sebastianpinera) January 6, 1200

The Venezuelan government, which the United States does not recognize as legitimate, indicated that “with this unfortunate episode, the United States suffers the same thing that it has generated in other countries with its policies of aggression ”.

“ Shameful scenes ” In other parts of the world, several leaders also joined in condemning the violent events in Washington.

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized what he called the “shameful scenes “In the US Capitol.

” The United States defends democracy around the world and now it is vital that there is a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, “he wrote on Twitter.

Trump supporters forced his entry into Congress on signal protesting the triumph of Biden. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that those who broke into the US legislature were “attackers and rioters” and indicated that she felt “angry and also sad” after seeing pictures of the scenes in Washington.

At a meeting of German conservatives, the Chancellor declared: “I am very sorry that President Trump has not yet admitted defeat, and that he has continued to raise doubts about the elections.”

China, for its part, attempted to draw comparisons between Trump supporters who entered Congress to try to subvert the outcome of the US elections and pro-democracy protesters who stormed the Hong Kong Legislative Council last year. past.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, stated that the events in Hong Kong were more “severe” than those in Washington, but “no protesters were killed.”

Comparisons between the two incidents have caused outrage among pro-democracy activists Hong Kong and its supporters.

“Attack on Democracy” In the European Union, several leaders qualify They called the events in Washington an attack on democracy.

The president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, expressed on Twitter his “concern” about the assault on the Capitol that was carried out by supporters of Donald Trump.

“I follow with concern the news that comes from the Capitol in Washington,” Sánchez tweeted.

And he added: “I am confident in the strength of US democracy. The new presidency of Joe Biden will pass the crypto stage, uniting the American people. ”

How was the chaotic “day of infamy” that the US lived with the violent assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters Protesters gathered outside the Capitol before the congressional session began. In France, President Emmanuel Macron said in a video on Twitter : “When, in one of the oldest democracies in the world, supporters of an outgoing president take up arms to challenge the legitimate results of an election, a universal idea – that of ‘one person, one vote’ – is undermined.”

And he added: “What happened today in Washington DC is definitely not American. We believe in the strength of our democracies. We believe in the strength of American democracy. ”

We believe in democracy. # WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/dj3hs69 KKn

– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 7, 2021

The events of January 6 also caused a stir in the United States’ northern neighbor and one of its closest allies, Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that Canadians were “deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy.”

“Violence will never succeed in overriding the will of the people,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Democracy must be maintained in the United States, and it will be.”

To the other side of the world, in N In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted that “democracy – the right of the people to cast a vote, have their voice heard and then that decision is peacefully confirmed – should never be overturned by a mob.”

In India, the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has enjoyed a good relationship with President Trump, said he was “distraught to see news of riots and violence” on Washington.

“The orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue,” he tweeted.

Turkey, an ally through NATO, said it invited “all the parties ”to show“ restraint and common sense. ”

In Japan, one of the United States’ closest allies and partners, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, said his government expected a “peaceful transfer of power” in the United States.

And in Singapore, the chief minister, Teo Chee Hean, indicated that he had seen how the “shocking” scenes occurred in Washington, adding: “It’s a sad day.”

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