Escalation of Violence in Washington – The Beacon of Democracy Shakes – News

The images won’t be soon forgotten: Trump supporters storm the Capitol. Those who enter the parliament building, wave Trump flags, disperse in the parliamentarians’ offices, put their feet on the table and trample the institution. SRF correspondent Isabelle Jacobi on a shock to American democracy, hopefully beneficial effects.

Isabelle jacobi

US Correspondent, SRF

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After studying in the United States and in Bern, Jacobi worked for Radio SRF from 1999 to 2005. He then worked as a freelance journalist in New York. In 2008 she returned to SRF as a producer for Echo der Zeit and in 2012 she became editor-in-chief. Jacobi has been a US correspondent in Washington since the summer of 2017.

SRF News: With a little distance from the facts: What happened in Washington? Was it an attack on democracy?

Yes, that was it. Angry rioters stormed parliament to prevent it from confirming the election of a new president. This is a clear attack on democracy. Even if it was ultimately unsuccessful. But the storm on Capitol Hill also set a dangerous precedent for the action to be copied. In other parliaments, locally or in other countries.

But it is also a red flag that has been understood by some congressmen. When they returned from the evacuation in the Capitol basement, they were visibly scarred by the experience. There was agreement, something like this should not happen.

A unifying shock, you say. What are you thinking to do?

First, the majority leader in the Senate was very clear and said: We are not going to tolerate that. This is an attack on our democracy. Several Republican MPs abandoned the plan to oppose Joe Biden’s election, though eight senators and nearly 140 MPs did.

Does this only apply to politicians in Washington or does it also apply to the rank and file?

It is difficult to determine. An initial poll shows that 45 percent of Republican voters understand the attack on the Capitol. But you have to be careful with these types of surveys. For most, the event certainly caused horror, and Trump did not clearly distance himself from the attack.

Legend:

Hour 0 in Washington: The morning after the assault on the Capitol, the United States faces uncertain times. Is the country threatening to despair of itself?

Keystone

The majority of the Republican electorate does not want a civil war, which was discussed by many Trump supporters I spoke to on the street Wednesday. She doesn’t want a fight, she wants an economic rebound and low taxes.

In the United States, many people have lost faith in democracy. How can this be achieved again?

Trump has created a movement that is essentially undemocratic, unwilling to accept the outcome of a legitimate popular election. Supporters deeply believe that there has been electoral fraud; no court has endorsed it, no state, but conspiracy theories for many are more compelling than the facts.

Millions of voters feel betrayed and no longer believe in the workings of American democracy. Now they have responded and will not leave, including their leader Trump. New President Joe Biden considers it his duty to save and heal the soul of the nation. But it will not be so easy. You have to prepare for turbulent years.

Trump remains in office for two weeks. Will the days be unpredictable?

Yes, most of all, Washington is not exactly looking forward to President Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony or ceremony. As more protests have been announced, hopefully the security breaches will have been resolved by then.

The interview was conducted by Simone Hulliger.