The world reacted with mixed emotions to the breach of the Capitol on Wednesday. Some expressed distress, disappointment, and indignation to Donald Trump, his supporters, and the state of democracy in America.
- “A fundamental rule of democracy is that, after elections, there are winners and losers. Both have to play their role with decency and responsibility so that democracy itself remains the winner….President Trump regrettably has not conceded his defeat since November, and didn’t yesterday either, and of course that has prepared the atmosphere in which such events, such violent events, are possible.” — German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
- “American democracy is obviously limping on both feet….This, alas, is actually the bottom. I say this without a shadow of gloating. America no longer charts a course and therefore has lost all rights to set it — and even more so to impose it on others.” — Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s upper house of parliament.
- “We must call this out for what it is: a deliberate assault on Democracy by a sitting President & his supporters, attempting to overturn a free & fair election! The world is watching!” — Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.
- “Last year, President Trump extended painful economic sanctions placed on Zimbabwe, citing concerns about Zimbabwe’s democracy. Yesterday’s events showed that the U.S. has no moral right to punish another nation under the guise of upholding democracy. These sanctions must end.” — Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
- “Presidents who don’t do much good and are unwilling to leave, we know that in Afghanistan.” — former Afghan government adviser Torek Farhadi.
- “We’re not going to intervene in these matters, which are up to the Americans to resolve … We hope there will be peace, that democracy, which is the people’s power, will prevail.” — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He also accused social media companies of “censorship” after they locked Trump’s accounts.
- “I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core. @JoeBiden won the election. I look forward to working with him as the next President of the USA.” — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.