A victory for democracy
The surprisingly clear outcome of the US mid-term elections on 3 November 2026 is a victory for democracy and a clear defeat for far-right politics, with its racism, xenophobia and outdated nationalism.
The reactionary forces, which believed themselves to be on a seemingly unstoppable march across the globe, have been halted. This trend was already becoming apparent in the recent elections in Hungary and Brazil.
Every morning, the deepest night is followed by dawn and the light of a new day.
So too in politics.
In his final speech, Martin Luther King said: “It is all very well to talk about the New Jerusalem, but one day a preacher of God must speak of the New New York, the New Atlanta, the New Philadelphia, the New Los Angeles, the New Memphis, Tennessee,” King proclaimed passionately, whilst the crowd cheered him on. “That is our task.”
The new ‘left-wing’ Democratic mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, had already shown his way of stopping the right-wing populists in his metropolis of millions: ‘Short-term solutions no longer work,’ he commented in this context. ‘The system is too broken.’
Mamdani outlined the key points of his election manifesto: fast, free buses; comprehensive childcare; a rent freeze; and city-owned supermarkets in every borough to keep prices low. All of this was to be funded by moderate tax increases on the wealthy. A realistic programme that could also work in Europe.
The best way to bring out the good in people is to help improve their current lives. In the face of the current youth protests, this could also be a programme in Germany and across Europe that might strengthen the centrist democratic parties once again. That is also, no doubt, the key lesson to be learnt from the victory of democracy and the Democrats in the US. It is certainly no magic bullet, but it is undoubtedly a helpful programme. Above all, the political parties’ health strategy contributes to combating the looming ‘apocalyptic fascism’ (Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor).
Trump’s reign is over! It is surely the end of an era!
In today’s New York, the reactionary Republicans and their lying President Trump now play only a minor role. It is worth fighting for a better world. A better, more peaceful, fairer and more environmentally friendly world is not only possible, it is also desperately needed. We can stabilise our planetary home and rid it of fascism.
Mikhail Gorbachev has already shown us how to do this once before in a difficult situation. We can draw courage from this for today. We are living in an age of decision. Every single one of us matters.
