By: Valyne Laibuta (vklaibuta@gmail.com)
Thumbnail photo courtesy of nbcnews.com
The US Congress certified that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris, are the victors of the 2020 US elections. US congress confirmed the results today despite the delays caused by pro-Trump supporters who stormed and occupied Capitol building in Washington DC on Wednesday, 6th January 2020 to disrupt the final election count.
The Capitol riot was President Donald Trump’s last efforts to halt the certification of the election results after spewing false claims of election fraud in a weeklong campaign. Despite inciting the riots, President Trump released a statement earlier today agreeing to respect the election results. The statement came shortly after Congress certified the results earlier today.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” stated Trump.
US leaders and world leaders alike have condemned the Capitol riots that were instigated by Trump’s baseless claims. President-elect Joe Biden denounced the riot and called protesters “extremists” and stated that the violence the protesters have caused is “an assault on the citadel of liberty the Capitol itself. An assault on the people’s representatives and the Capitol Hill police sworn to protect them … An assault on the rule of law … An assault on the most sacred of American undertakings: The doing of the people’s business.”
Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, told Russian News agencies that the US electoral system does not meet “modern democratic standards”.
“This is largely the reason for the split in society now observed in the United States”, added Zakharova.
Washington DC Mayor, Muriel Bowser, extended a state of emergency for 15 days after the Capitol protests left at least 4 people dead and 14 police officers injured. Mayor Bowser decided “to extend the state of emergency to ensure peace and security through the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris”.