European Parliament President David Sassoli spoke of “deeply concerning scenes from the U.S. Capitol tonight.”
World leaders expressed shock at political unrest in the United States (U.S.) Wednesday which saw supporters of President Donald Trump storm the Capitol building in Washington DC.
Nonetheless, many also said they had faith in the resilience of the nation’s democratic institutions.
European Parliament President David Sassoli spoke of “deeply concerning scenes from the U.S. Capitol tonight.”
“Democratic votes must be respected,” Sassoli wrote in a tweet, adding: “We are certain the U.S. will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected.”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the violence in Washington an assault on American democracy.
“In the eyes of the world, American democracy tonight appears under siege. This is an unseen assault on U.S. democracy, its institutions and the rule of law,” he wrote on Twitter.
“This is not America. The election results of Nov. 3 must be fully respected.”
Calling Wednesday’s scenes in Washington “a shock,” European Council chief Charles Michel also said that “we trust the U.S. to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to JoeBiden.”
Canadians are “deeply disturbed and saddened” by the events in Washington DC, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, calling the storming of the Capitol an “attack on democracy in the United States.”
“Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people,” Trudeau tweeted on Wednesday evening.
In the U.S., Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the “unacceptable” storming of the Capitol. “Lawlessness and rioting — here or around the world — is always unacceptable.”
Former U.S. president George W Bush spoke of watching “scenes of mayhem” in disbelief and dismay.
“It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic.
“I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement,” he said in a statement tweeted by The Bush Center.
Mr Bush’s predecessor Bill Clinton said that the Wednesday’s assault “was fueled by more than four years of poison politics spreading deliberate misinformation, sowing distrust in our system, and pitting Americans against one another.
“The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost.”
Fellow Democratic former president Barack Obama called the Wednesday violence “incited” by Trump “a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation.”
