Trump's return sparks fears of democracy's decline
The French daily "Le Monde," in an article published on Tuesday, assesses that American democracy is becoming "unstable," and Donald Trump's re-entry into the presidential race is an "alarming signal" of erosion in the U.S. political system.
According to "Le Monde," Trump's presence on the ballot four years after he refused to acknowledge his defeat in the 2020 election demonstrates not only the "weakness of the Republican Party" in the face of the former president but also a serious weakening of American democratic institutions.
The paper recalls the dramatic events of January 6, 2021, when the Capitol was stormed. Trump, trying at all costs to hold onto power, questioned the legality of the election and fueled social tensions. In the opinion of Le Monde, his re-entry into the presidential election is a "disturbing signal" for the future of democracy in the U.S.
"Le Monde" criticizes the Republican Party's "inability" to publicly admit that Trump lost the 2020 election and its submissiveness to his influence. The newspaper notes the "accomplices" of the Republicans among conservative Supreme Court judges who enabled Trump to avoid responsibility for actions undermining Joe Biden's victory.
Trump responsible for "extreme polarization"
The French daily places the main responsibility on Trump for the "extreme polarization that weakens American democracy." At the same time, it points out President Biden's "reckless" commitment to a second term, which may contribute to political chaos. "Le Monde" also notes that Vice President Kamala Harris decided too late to participate in the elections.
All these factors make the election in the U.S. scheduled for November 5th a potentially unprecedented event in the history of American democracy. A country that has long been a global model for democracy unfortunately appears uncertain and unstable – summarizes "Le Monde."
Experts indicate that the rivalry between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is evenly matched. This means that the final election results may take several weeks to determine. To win, one of the two candidates must achieve 270 out of 538 votes in the Electoral College.
