Far-right rejoices at Trump victory

Politicians worldwide are taking stock of Donald Trump's shock US election victory, with the President-elect winning praise from far-right figures in Europe and elsewhere.

Marine Le Pen | Photo credit: Press Association

By Martin Banks

Martin Banks is a senior reporter at the Parliament Magazine

09 Nov 2016


Trump's candidacy had been supported by few world leaders and his shock victory led to a collapse in global financial markets.

However, his victory over Hillary Clinton was welcomed by others.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a telegram to Trump, "expressed hope for mutual work on bringing US-Russia relations out of their critical condition".

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who leads a right-wing coalition with a strong anti-immigration stance, commented, "Congratulations. What great news. Democracy is still alive." 

British Eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farage, interim leader of Ukip and who played a key role in Britain's shock vote in June to leave the EU, tweeted:

"I hand over the mantle to @realDonaldTrump! Many congratulations. You have fought a brave campaign."

French MEP Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right anti-immigration National Front (FN) party, also praised Trump’s win, saying, "Congratulations to the new President of the United States Donald Trump and to the free American people".

In a tweet, Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's far-right anti-immigration party the Northern League, declared, "Now it's our turn."

Elsewhere, the Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, through a spokesperson, said, "We are ready to deal with the elected president on the basis of a two-state solution and to establish a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders."

 

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