World Leaders react to Bush's victory

[Bugfatty300]

(B) = Pleased with Bush
= Indifferent
(K) = Not pleased with Bush

Note: This list is not in any order of anything.

So far alot of countries have accepted Bush.

Putin (Russia) (B) Biggest Bush praiser

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Bush victory meant Americans had not allowed themselves to be cowed by terrorists.

If Bush wins... I can only feel joy that the American people did not allow itself to be intimidated, and made the most sensible decision," Putin said at a Kremlin news conference after talks with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi

Blair (UK) (B)

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has offered congratulations to U.S. President George W. Bush on his re-election Wednesday, saying the United States and Europe must rebuild their alliance and urging renewed action towards settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Berlusconi (Italy) (B)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that "Bush will keep up that policy that gives the United States the role of promoting freedom in the world."

He added that Bush's victory would help maintain close ties between the United States and Italy.

Alexander Downer FM (Australia) (B)

He said: "We've had a very good relationship with them (Bush administration) for the last four years and I'm sure we'll be able to keep building on that over the next four," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Otto Schily IM (Germany)

German Interior Minister Otto Schily said Washington would continue to be "a very important partner, if not the most important one."

"We had differences over Iraq, but we're not looking back now -- we're looking to the future," he said.

Jacques Chirac (France)

In a letter, Chirac expressed the "wish" that Bush's victory will "be the chance to reinforce the French-American friendship" and help solve global crises.

"We will be unable to find satisfying responses to the numerous challenges that confront us today without a close trans-Atlantic partnership," wrote Chirac in the letter, addressed to "Dear George."

Ehud Olmert DPM (Israel) (B)

"Now that Mr Bush is elected, we are very happy and we congratulate the American people for their choice."

Kwasniewski (Poland) (B)

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, whose country also backed the war, said "further cooperation with George W. Bush is good news" that would mean the continuation of strong cooperation on international issues such as the fight against terrorism.

Zapatero (Spain)

"I would like to express the desire of the Spanish government to contribute to a relationship based on efficient and constructive cooperation with the government of the United States, with President (George W.) Bush."

Rasmussen (Denmark)

Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen appealed for "a fresh start for the trans-Atlantic partnership" but held firm with Bush on Iraq. Denmark has 501 troops in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra.

"We will stay there as long as needed so the Iraqis can be helped to become masters in their own homes," he said.

Koizumi (Japan) (B)

In Tokyo, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said "the basic recognition about the importance of the Japan-U.S. friendship and the Japan-U.S. alliance will not change."

Ahmed IM (Pakistan) (B)

Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said President Pervez Musharraf and Bush enjoyed a close personal rapport and "personal contacts play a very important role in decision-making in today's world of politics".

Shinawatra (Thailand) (B)

In Thailand, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said his country would have good relations with whoever wins, but that talks on a free trade agreement between the countries would "move forward quicker" if there was a Republican administration.

"People worry about security because if the Republicans win, war and terrorism will escalate,"

Persson PM (Sweden)

"It is an incumbent president in a situation where a great part of the nation experiences that it is in war with terrorism," Persson said. "The economy is moving in the right direction. These two issues together should have given Bush a clear victory. Despite this, it was very narrow. This shows that the U.S. is divided."

So far I havn't found any leader's comments that openly denounce Bush's victory. If anybody knows any I will gladdly add them.

 

[eyrei]

No world leader is going to openly denounce the president of the US at this point. Ask some of their parliamentary leaders and you might get some very different responses...

 

[emzie]

As always, diplomatic politeness.

 

[GenMarshall]

I am shocked that no Nation are not pleased with Bush in this list

 

[andvruss]

I am shocked that no Nation are not pleased with Bush in this list

Well, any nation to publicly state that would be foolish. The US is major, if not the biggest, trading partner around the globe. Also, it would not be wise to get on his bad side so early on...

 

[Fetus4188]

I am shocked that no Nation are not pleased with Bush in this list

Honestly, who in their right mind would express their displeasure at the result when the person they do not like is the most powerful man in the world?

 

[emzie]

While the American people (who voted for him) might dislike France, Bush understands the relationship is vital. French people might dislike America, but their leaders recognize the benefits of a good relationship with America.

Anyway, it's common diplomatic protocol to congratulate any new leader. Bush did it with the Socialist PM elected in Spain, even after all the anti-Bush comments.

 

[Quasar1011]

I don't think Iran is too happy...

 

[Bugfatty300]

I believe, for several on that list, that it is in their nations' best interest to not tick him off now that they know Kerry isn't coming to save the day. They are stuck with him for another four years.

 

[ainwood]

Perhaps (-) would have been better than ( ) for indifferent?

 

[emzie]

Yeah, it does look as if France is rolling their collective eyes at Bush. Only 90% are!

 

[Double Barrel]

I think the whole "American people that dislike France" is beating a dead horse.

The MEDIA makes a big deal about nothing, so it stands to reason that the continue to pursue this idea, as well.

But most folks are just indifferent, which isn't "good" or "bad", they just don't care because there is life to live.

 

[stratego]

I am shocked that no Nation are not pleased with Bush in this list

That's a small list out of 200 nations.

 

[Dell19]

The idea of diplomacy tends to be to avoid showing your displeasure especially when there is nothing to gain from it...

 

[Bugfatty300]

Perhaps (-) would have been better than ( ) for indifferent?

Well I think it better shows what those leaders and much of their countries were doing as soon as they heard the results

 

[ainwood]

Well I think it better shows what those leaders and much of their countries were doing as soon as they heard the results

Or what you perceive that they were doing.

 

[kronic]

I think, the reactions of most leaders in "Old Europe" were pretty ambivalent.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Or what you perceive that they were doing.

I sincerely apologize for my most unwarranted generalization that much of France and Germany(as well as other places) are rolling their eyes at America.

 

[Hugin]

Out of that list, I believe only Russia publically voiced support for Bush prior to the election. Putin essentially said that if Kerry was elected then the terrorists had won. But other than for that abnormality, no one could reasonably support Bush prior and risk Kerry winning and visa versa. Some of them might truly be glad Bush is elected but it is impossible to know (at least, it is impossible to know until all their private letters and journals are released to historians in another 100ish years).

As for Iran, they wouldn't have been happy with Kerry either. In general, they aren't happy with the U.S. at all (and they aren't too friendly of the U.N. either).

 

[luiz]

No sane world leader will ever criticise the result of an american election. Unless of course he has nothing to lose, like Kim Jong. All others will "congratulate" the president. It's politics, but it doesn't mean at all that they're pleased.