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Many people in the US celebrate Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump.
Photo: Brian Lawless / AP
The waiting is over.
After trembling for days, we finally know who won this US election.
There is no longer any doubt that Joe Biden will become the next president.
Even Trump's bull market channel Fox News declared the race over.
Even possible challenges in the states by Trump and his most loyal supporters will not change anything.
Biden's victory is close in many states, but the sum of the results is clear.
The thing has been done.
If Trump only wants to retain a bit of decency and dignity, he should quickly admit defeat.
The US and the world will be redeemed.
Finally.
After four bitter, unbearable years, Donald Trump's presidency ends.
This president has turned people against each other like no other in modern history.
He was instrumental in dividing his own country.
He has alienated allies around the world, he has poisoned the political culture of the USA with his lies, and he has exacerbated central global challenges such as climate protection or the corona crisis through his ignorant inaction.
End of a demagogue
Donald Trump ultimately failed on himself.
He came to power in 2016 with diabolical demagogy against strangers and those who think differently, with bold lies and with the help of Russian trolls.
Then he would have had the chance to change his tone, style and parts of his politics.
As president, he could have become president of all Americans through a little more openness, empathy and inclusion.
But he missed this opportunity.
His life is a struggle.
Instead of approaching his opponents, he continued to harass and torment.
He acted out his bad character in the White House.
He has bent democratic norms by trying to obstruct Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia.
He wanted to abuse the Ukrainian government, his Justice Minister and the FBI to take action against his political opponents, and he was resistant to advice when it came to advocating the defense of human rights and democracy worldwide.
He preferred to court autocrats like Kim Jong Un, the Saudi rulers or Vladimir Putin.
The majority of voters no longer wanted to go along with this.
America, this proud old democracy, has freed itself from the burden of this impossible presidency.
They flocked to the ballot boxes in droves.
Joe Biden received a good 75 million votes, five million more than Donald Trump.
In the suburbs of the cities there was a real uprising against Trump and many members of the working class who had previously supported Trump no longer wanted to endure this president.
Joe Biden now has a clear mandate for a new departure.
He ran in this election campaign as an alternative to Trump.
He wants to bring the country together, he no longer wants to divide America into "blue" and "red" states, he wants to contain the hatred and anger of the Trump years.
For Biden, this will also include reaching out to all those Americans who voted for Donald Trump.
As clear as Biden's lead may be, he cannot ignore the fact that nearly 70 million voters were on Trump's side.
Biden takes over a political debris field
It will be difficult, but it can work.
Unlike Trump, Biden is a reconciler.
He can listen, understand, involve.
He knows only too well that if he wants to be successful, he - unlike Trump - has to forge compromises, from which everyone benefits.
Biden is not to be envied: Trump leaves his successor in ruins.
The new president must finally get the corona crisis under control, he must stabilize the economy, he must resolve social conflicts, repair the relationship with his allies and he must ensure a breakthrough in climate protection,
In Europe we often tend to shake our heads at the US.
The country has dark sides and many flaws.
They came out with the presidency of Donald Trump.
But America also has a different face.
The country is incredibly diverse, optimistic and rational.
It is this America that the world needs as a role model more than ever.
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