Several Republican voices in Congress, including Senate leader Mitch McConnell,
have contradicted the president, Donald Trump
, after he questioned the realization of a peaceful transition should he be defeated in the next presidential election.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Trump refused to pledge to hand over power peacefully if he loses to Democrat Joe Biden.
"We will have to see what happens," he replied, loading the voting process with doubts again.
The concern sown by the president received a categorical response from the Republican leader in the Senate.
McConnell tweeted Thursday that "the winner of the Nov. 3 election will be proclaimed Jan. 20.
It will be an orderly transition as it has been every four years since 1792.
"
The presidential change process has been a guarantee of American politics practically since its founding.
[Five falsehoods in Trump's attacks on vote by mail, which will be key in November due to the coronavirus]
Although McConnell did not mention Trump directly, it
is clear that his tweet was a response to the comments of the president
, who a day before repeated his criticism against the vote-by-mail system.
"You know that I have complained insistently about the ballots, they will be a disaster," he responded to reporters.
Senate Majority Leader, Republican Mitch McConnel on Capitol Hill;
in Washington DC on September 23, 2020. Getty Images
"If they get rid of the ballots we will have ... it will be a transfer ... it will be very peaceful. There will not be a transfer, frankly, there will be a continuation," Trump added, making it clear that he only thinks about the victory in November.
[Follow our coverage of the 2020 presidential election]
Mitt Rommey, Republican senator from Utah and who frequently criticizes Trump, wrote on Twitter:
"A peaceful transition is fundamental for democracy; without that, there is Belarus," he
wrote giving the example of the European country that is going through a political crisis in the face of the complaint. election fraud by President Alexandr Lukashenko, who was not recognized as a legitimate winner by the United States.
"Any suggestion that a president may not respect this constitutional guarantee
is unthinkable and unacceptable
," Rommey added.
Marco Rubio, Republican senator from Florida and Trump contender in 2016 also wrote on the social network: “As we have done for the last two centuries, we will have a legitimate and fair election.
It may take longer than usual to know the result, but it will be valid and at noon on January 20, 2021, the president will be sworn in peacefully. "
The Republican leader in the Lower House, California Representative Kevin McCarthy, also contradicted Trump: "(it will be) a very peaceful transition."
Several studies show that
voting fraud is extremely rare in the United States
, and as of 2018 five states have conducted their elections almost entirely via mail-in ballots, also called absentee voting.
Among those states is Utah, which is republican in government.
[Biden says in an interview with Noticias Telemundo that he is concerned that Trump will speak of an "insurrection" if he loses the elections]
On the side of the Democrats there were also responses to the president's
words
,
some using words that call him a dictator or that he is calling for fascism
.
"President Trump: You are not a dictator, and the United States will not allow you to be one," wrote Senate Minority Leader, New York Democrat Cuck Schumer.
"Democracy is at stake. And all voters in every corner of the country, regardless of their party or ideology, should ask their Republican senators to speak up and demand that Donald Trump not be allowed to do what he says he is going to do. do, "he added.
Lower House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was not surprised: "You are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey. You are in the United States.
It is a democracy, so why not try for a moment honor their oath to the country's Constitution
,
"he
said.
Bill Pascrell, Democratic Rep. Of New Jersey, tweeted: "(Trump) is openly calling for fascism. We have to say it out loud. That includes reporters. This year, 247 of 248 Republicans in Congress voted to keep Trump in office. the White House. They did it because they value their power more than democracy. Never forget it. "
Other Democratic representatives, such as Mark Pocan and Adam Schiff also criticized Trump.
The latter stated: "This is a time when I would say to Republicans of good conscience working in your administration, this is the time they have to resign."
