BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Thursday blamed the mob violence on the U.S. Capitol the day before directly on President Trump, although she and other leaders of America’s strongest allies in Europe expressed faith in the strength of American democracy.
“These photos made me angry and sad,” said Merkel, speaking ahead of an online meeting of Bavarian partners from her conservative party, the Christian Social Union, minutes after the United States Congress confirmed President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr’s victory.
“I deeply regret that, since November, President Trump has not accepted the loss and did not do it again yesterday,” said the chancellor. “He fed uncertainties about the outcome of the election and it created an atmosphere that made the events of the previous night possible.”
Merkel grew up in communist East Germany and has spoken frequently about her admiration for the United States, even in the face of tensions between Berlin and Washington during her more than 15 years in power. His comments on Thursday reflected a deeply rooted faith in the strength of democracy in the United States, maintained by many in Europe.
“What happened today in Washington, DC, is not America,” President Emmanuel Macron of France said in a formal speech, recalling longstanding historical ties between his country and the United States. “We believe in the strength of our democracies. We believe in the strength of American democracy. “
However, images of armed protesters carrying blue pro-Trump flags attacking and vandalizing the corridors of Congress shocked, saddened and irritated many in Europe, where an older generation still speaks with reverence about the American role in ensuring peace after the spill. blood of two World Wars.
For others, especially younger Europeans, photos of armed hooligans dressed in camouflage or bizarre superhero clothing reinforced the stereotype of Americans as armed cowboys with little regard for the rule of law, a view that has been solidified in the minds of many more the four years of Trump’s presidency.
In 2016, Ms. Merkel marked the election of President Trump, reminding him in a speech that “freedom, respect for the law and the dignity of human beings, regardless of their origin, skin color, religion, gender, orientation sexual or political beliefs ”are the principles of liberal democracy.
On Thursday, she reminded him of how a democratic election should work.
“A basic rule of democracy is that after elections there are winners and losers. Both must play their role with civility and a sense of responsibility if democracy is to win, ”said the German Chancellor, who was escorted to the plenary of the US House of Representatives by Biden in 2009 to speak at a joint session of Congress.
“It is tragic that people have lost their lives at the events, but for me it is a sign of hope that Congress will continue its work overnight and it is now clear that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been confirmed and the United States will start a new chapter in two weeks, as it should be, ”said Merkel on Thursday.
Despite his opposite personalities and leadership styles, the chancellor was able to maintain cordial relations with Mr. Trump throughout his term. German lawmakers and members of the chancellor’s cabinet also maintained ties with their Washington colleagues, who continued to value international cooperation.
Recalling France’s support for settlers during the American Revolution and the United States’ support for France during the two World Wars, Mr. Macron also issued a note of hope.
France, he said, is “strong, fervently and resolutely with the American people and with all the people who want to choose their leaders, determine their own destinies and their own lives through free and democratic elections.”
Even Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe, expressed faith in the idea that U.S. democracy would triumph over the forces trying to sabotage it. “Violence is incompatible with the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms,” he said. wrote on Twitter. “I am confident in the strength and robustness of the institutions in the United States.”
Similarly, Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, saw a reason for hope. “Yesterday’s attack on the Capitol was only successful in reaffirming the principles we share,” he wrote on Twitter. “Spain will work with the United States for a fairer world and for the triumph of democracy over extremism.”
Aurelien Breeden contributed reporting from Paris, Jason Horowitz of Rome, and Raphael Minder of Madrid.