Bush re-election triggers cautious congratulations in Europe

EU leaders are doing their best to deal constructively
with the Bush victory, but it is a day of hangover
in many European capitals.

After the official results of the US Presidential
elections declared victory for the Republican
candidate George W. Bush over the Democrat John Kerry, EU
leaders were getting ready to deal constructively with
the situation. 

Congratulations came in from many corners, but former
French foreign minister Huber Védrine was probably
spot on when he said that there is “a kind of
hangover in global opinion … just about all peoples
wanted a change”.

However, French President Chirac congratulated Bush,
saying: “We must continue our collaboration
in a spirit of dialogue and common respect  we
can only find satisfying answers to all the many
challenges we are confronted with today in a close
transatlantic
partnership”.    

Outgoing Commission President Prodi spoke of the need
to continue “the work to strengthen the
bonds of friendship and co-operation with the
USA”.  

Early afternoon on 3 November, British Prime Minister
Tony Blair declined to comment directly on the
presumed outcome of the US elections but he made a
joke about it in the House of Commons on the outcome of
the Presidential elections in Afghanistan. “I am
sure that the whole house will join me in sending
congratulations to President … Karzai of Afghanistan.
… Like everyone else, I await the outcome of the other
presidential election with interest,” he added.
Later, when it was clear who had won the
election, Blair said: “Europe and America must
build a new alliance. All of us in positions of
leadership not just President Bush … have a
responsibility to rise to this challenge.”

German chancellor Schröder
said:  “We will continue our close, good
working relationship.” US ally in the war in
Iraq, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski,
has welcomed the outcome of the US elections as
“good news” for Polish interests. 

“Whoever the winner is … this government will
reinforce its relationship with the US which is an ally
and a friend. The US can count on Spain continuing to be
a firm partner in the fight against terrorism,” said
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

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