Akbayan congratulates the American people for defeating Donald Trump and electing their first woman Vice President in the recently concluded US elections.
Trump’s electoral defeat is an important turning point in the global struggle to defend democracy.
It is a crucial victory that allows democracy to live another day.
It contains, in the belly of the beast no less, the spread of despotism, and reclaims much-needed democratic spaces to push back more against the global threat of authoritarian populism.
We laud the courage and strength of many Americans who, despite the pandemic and Trump’s various attempts at voter suppression and gerrymandering, have voted in historic numbers and chosen the path of democracy.
We stand in full solidarity with them as they pick up the pieces and begin the challenging process of repairing their badly damaged institutions of governance and hopefully, building a better democracy.
We likewise welcome the electoral victories of democratic socialists and progressives led by Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and the squad of progressive women of color Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley in the US Congress and various state governments.
The accumulated lessons and experiences of their victories inspire and guide us to continue breaking political barriers, and broaden and strengthen further our resistance against authoritarian rule here in the Philippines.
Lastly, Akbayan calls on Mr. Rodrigo Duterte to take a good hard look at the result of the US presidential election.
Trump’s defeat serves both as a warning and reminder to Duterte and his minions that all tyrants, regardless of their popularity and power, will fall. Mr. Duterte has been warned.
“Beware the Ides of March.” Those who lust for unlimited power will be strangled by their own grip. The people will fight back. History and democracy will push back. Today’s tyrants will be tomorrow’s toppled despots. Today, it is Trump. In 2022, it will be Duterte and his continuity candidates.
