From Ford Model T cars that popped off the assembly line in just 90 minutes to 60-second service for burgers, the United States has had a major hand in making the world a frenetic and impatient place, primed and hungry for instant gratification.
So waking up to the news Wednesday that the winner of the U.S. election might not be known for hours, days or longer 含羞草研究社� pundits filled global airwaves with their best bets 含羞草研究社� was jarring for a planet weaned on that most American of exports: speed.
In the absence of an immediate winner between President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden, the guessing game of trying to figure out which of them would end up in the White House, and how, quickly turned global. Government leaders scrambled to digest the delay and ordinary people swapped views, hopes and fears on feeds and phones.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 hearing it may take some time before things are sorted out,含羞草研究社� said the finance minister of Japan, Taro Aso. 含羞草研究社淚 have no idea how it may affect us.含羞草研究社�
In Paris, a Spanish resident, Javier Saenz, was stunned to wake up without a declared winner.
WATCH:
含羞草研究社淚 thought there was going to be something clear. And I have read different articles, no one really knows who is going to win,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 am very shocked by that.含羞草研究社�
But the lack of result was not that surprising to experts 含羞草研究社� and not, in an of itself, an indication that anything was wrong. In a year turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic, many states made it easier to vote by mail. That meant a slowdown in compiling results because postal ballots mail often take longer to process than those cast at polling places.
Still, the unease of not knowing was mixing with sharpening concerns about how America might heal after the divisive election and anxieties fueled by Trump含羞草研究社檚 own extraordinary and premature claims of victory and his threat to take the election to the Supreme Court to stop counting.
From Europe, in particular, came appeals for patience and a complete tally of votes. In Slovenia, the birthplace of first lady Melania Trump, the right-wing prime minister, Janez Jansa, claimed it was 含羞草研究社減retty clear that American people have elected Donald Trump,含羞草研究社� but he was a lonely voice among leaders in jumping ahead of any firm outcome.
The German vice chancellor, Olaf Scholz, insisted on a complete tally, saying: 含羞草研究社淚t is important for us that everything be counted and in the end we have a clear result.含羞草研究社�
The main industry lobbying group in Germany, Europe含羞草研究社檚 biggest economy, warned that business confidence could be damaged by sustained uncertainty. And the German defence minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, said that 含羞草研究社渢he battle over the legitimacy of the result 含羞草研究社� whatever it will look like 含羞草研究社� has now begun.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淭his is a very explosive situation. It is a situation of which experts rightly say it could lead to a constitutional crisis in the U.S.,含羞草研究社� she said on ZDF television. 含羞草研究社淭hat is something that must certainly worry us very much.含羞草研究社�
In financial markets, investors struggled to make sense of it all, sending some indexes up and others down.
In the vacuum of no immediate winner, there was some gloating from Russia, Africa and other parts of the world that have repeatedly been on the receiving end of U.S. criticism, with claims that the election and the vote count were exposing the imperfections of American democracy.
含羞草研究社淎frica used to learn American democracy, America is now learning African democracy,含羞草研究社� tweeted Nigerian Sen. Shehu Sani, reflecting a common view from some on a continent long used to troubled elections and U.S. criticism of them.
In Zimbabwe, the ruling ZANU-PF party含羞草研究社檚 spokesman, Patrick Chinamasa, said: 含羞草研究社淲e have nothing to learn about democracy from former slave owners.含羞草研究社�
Traditional U.S. allies clung to the belief that regardless of whether Trump or Biden emerged as the winner, the fundamentals that have long underpinned some of America含羞草研究社檚 key relationships would survive the uncertainty and the U.S. electoral process.
含羞草研究社淲hatever the result of the election, they will remain our allies for many years and decades, that is certain,含羞草研究社� said Thierry Breton, the EU含羞草研究社檚 commissioner for the internal market.
That idea was echoed by the Japanese prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, who told a parliamentary session that 含羞草研究社渢he Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation of Japanese diplomacy, and on that premise I will develop solid relationship with a new president.含羞草研究社�
John Leicester, The Associated Press
Like us on and follow us on .
Want to support local journalism? Make a donation
