Invasion of US Congress Is a Stain on Democracy

Published in Sankei News
(Japan) on 9 January 2021
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
The peaceful transition of political power lies at the heart of democracy. Resorting to violence to stop that process must not be allowed.

Supporters of President Donald Trump invaded and temporarily occupied the halls of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, where Congress was the process of certifying the election of President-elect Joe Biden.

Before this incident, Trump addressed a large rally of these supporters in front of the White House, where he claimed the presidential election was fraudulent, and called on the crowd to march to the Capitol. Trump’s remarks were directly connected to the occupation of the Capitol which followed and led to an act of sedition.

Trump's rash behavior and irresponsible language and action deserve to be harshly criticized. After instigating the events, Trump posted a video on Twitter, telling his supporters, "I know your pain ... But you have to go home now." The appeal to his supporters to disperse came too late.

The events at the Capitol have left a monumental stain on U.S. history. It will take considerable effort to restore America’s prestige.

Biden’s victory and popular vote in last November’s election has been confirmed, but Trump has refused to concede. Trump took legal action, alleging election fraud, but his lawsuits were dismissed for lack of evidence. By pressuring Georgia’s secretary of state to "find 11,780 votes," Trump crossed the line into coercive conduct.

Five people died as a result of the insurrection at the Capitol, including a woman who was shot by Capitol police. This tragic bloodshed in a building that symbolizes U.S. democracy is shocking.

The United States is a leader among democratic nations, as opposed to countries like the despotic Communist China. We must be concerned when we see incidents like this which demonstrate that democracy is broken in America.

Trump won 74 million votes, the largest number of votes of any sitting U.S. president in history, but still fell short of vote for Biden.

The U.S. presidential election ends when the defeated candidate congratulates the winner. Such customs are the essential lubricant that makes democracy work.

The transition of the presidential office will occur at noon on Jan. 20. In a video posted on Jan. 7, Trump said, "A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power." In effect, he is conceding defeat at last.

Although Trump's remaining time in office is short, we hope he will reflect on how his speech and conduct have wounded democracy, and that he will take responsibility for ensuring a smooth transition of power.


米議会へ乱入 民主主義の大きな汚点だ

平和的な政権交代は民主主義の核心である。それを阻もうと暴力に訴えることは、あってはならない。

 バイデン米次期大統領の当選を正式に認定する手続きが行われていた連邦議会議事堂内にトランプ大統領の支持者らが侵入し、上院本会議場を一時占拠した。

 これに先立ち、トランプ氏はホワイトハウス前での大規模集会で演説し、大統領選に不正があったと主張して議事堂への行進を呼びかけた。これが議会乱入につながった。結果として扇動したことになる。

 軽率で無責任なトランプ氏の言動は強い非難に値する。トランプ氏は事件発生後、ツイッターに動画を投稿し、デモ隊に「気持ちは分かるが自宅に戻ってほしい」と呼びかけたが後の祭りである。

 事件は米国史上の大きな汚点となった。威信の回復は並大抵のことではない。

 昨年11月の米有権者による一般投票でバイデン氏が当選を確実とし、勝利宣言した。だが、トランプ氏は敗北を認めなかった。

 選挙に不正があったとして裁判に訴えたが、大半は証拠不十分などとして却下された。トランプ氏がジョージア州の州務長官に「票をみつけろ」と求めたのは度を越した圧力である。

 この事件で、警察に銃撃された女性1人を含む5人が死亡した。米民主主義を象徴する建物での流血の惨事に愕然(がくぜん)とする。
PR

 共産党独裁の中国に対し、米国は民主主義諸国のリーダー格の国である。その米国で民主主義が十分に機能しない事態が起きたことは憂うべきことだ。

 トランプ氏は一般投票で現職として史上最多の7400万票を獲得したが、バイデン氏には及ばなかった。

 米大統領選は敗者が勝者に祝意を表明することで決着をつけてきた。こうした慣習は民主主義の潤滑油として欠かせない。

 大統領の交代は20日正午である。トランプ氏は7日、投稿した動画で「新政権が20日に発足する。今は円滑で切れ目のない政権移行に集中している」と語った。ようやく事実上の敗北宣言をしたことになる。

 トランプ氏の残る任期はわずかだが、民主主義を傷つけた言動を反省し、責任ある政権移行に努めてもらいたい。
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