American President’s Impeachment Accelerates Division

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January 1, 2020

Published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei)
(Japan) on 19 December 2019
by (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Eric Stimson. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

President Donald Trump is facing an impeachment trial. While we wish that it could resolve the so-called “Ukraine doubts,” in reality it is more likely to end in a political show by the two main parties who will criticize each other. If the turmoil of American politics continues, it will negatively influence international politics as well. We hope that the trial does not become an occasion that further incites confrontation.

In principle, the American president, as head of state, is not subject to indictment on criminal charges. The U.S. Constitution provides for impeachment proceedings by Congress to remove the president as a means of succession. It is like a treasured sword passed down through the generations.

Because of this, it must be used carefully, but the opposition Democratic Party moved to impeach Trump as soon as suspicions of wrongdoing came to light. Compared to the two years that were wasted on the previous investigation into the Russia question, the Democratic Party here acted rather impatiently.

The Republicans asserted in rebuttal that Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate and former vice president, was involved in the Ukraine question. Wasn’t all this an overreaction?

The administration’s reaction was also chaotic. It stubbornly resisted congressional subpoenas and failed to provide documents. It is unclear whether this corresponds to the “abuse of power” that the indictments refer to, but it surely is contempt of Congress.

Yet, no Republican representative agreed with the House decision to impeach. There will not be the necessary two-thirds vote to convict in the Senate with only Democrats voting. The Democrats’ failure to provide evidence that would cut through the Republican Party is a political defeat for them.

The reaction of the American people is split cleanly in two. According to a CNN survey, 45% agree with impeachment, and 47% oppose it. There is a feeling that the decision to indict Trump accelerated the division among the American people.

The Republican Party appears to be looking into summoning Biden’s relatives for the impeachment trial. If this turns into even more mudslinging, American prestige among international society will only sink. It would likely be in the national interest for the trial to end quietly. The final verdict must be determined by the next presidential election.

トランプ米大統領が弾劾裁判にかけられる。いわゆる「ウクライナ疑惑」の解明につながってほしいが、現実には二大政党が非難し合う政治ショーで終わりそうだ。米政治の混迷が続けば、国際政治にも悪影響を与える。裁判がさらなる対立をあおる場にならないようにしてもらいたい。

国家元首である米大統領は違法行為の疑いがあっても原則として刑事訴追されない。米憲法は代替措置として、連邦議会が大統領を罷免できる弾劾手続きを設けた。いわば伝家の宝刀である。

それだけに慎重に取り扱うべきだが、野党の民主党は疑惑が明るみに出ると、すぐに弾劾訴追へと動いた。先立つ「ロシア疑惑」調査に2年を費やしたのと比べ、かなり性急だった。

ウクライナ疑惑に、2020年の民主党の大統領候補のひとりであるバイデン前副大統領が関与していると反論され、過剰反応した面があるのではないか。

政権の対応も乱暴だった。議会が求めた政権幹部の証人喚問をことごとく拒否させ、資料提供にも応じなかった。訴追理由の「権力乱用」に該当するかどうかはわからないが、「議会妨害」はまさにその通りである。

だが、訴追を決めた下院での採決に賛成した共和党議員はいなかった。民主党単独では罷免に必要な上院の3分の2の多数に届かない。共和党を切り崩すだけの証拠を提示できなかったことは、民主党の政治的な敗北である。

米国民の反応はまっぷたつに割れている。CNNテレビの世論調査によると、弾劾に賛成（45%）と反対（47%）が拮抗する。訴追に踏み切ったことで、米国民の分断が加速された感がある。

共和党は弾劾裁判にバイデン氏の親族を召喚することを検討しているようだ。さらなる泥仕合になれば、国際社会における米国の品位をおとしめるだけだ。裁判は淡々と終えるのが、米国の国益だろう。最終決着は、次の大統領選に委ねるしかない。

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