Because of the continuing outbreak of "Corona"

Biden wants a safe inauguration and expects the ceremony to be brief

  • Biden during a videoconference in Wilmington, attended by Vice President Kamala Harris.

    A.F.B.

  • The US President-elect: "In my inaugural speech, I will ask people to commit to wearing masks for 100 days."

picture

US President-elect Joe Biden announced that he wants his inauguration ceremony to take a virtual form, and for the ceremonies to be largely brief, that is, without the gatherings that usually include in Washington thousands of people, in an effort to ensure the safety of everyone in the face of the continuing outbreak of the new Corona virus. (Covid-19) in the United States.

“We will follow what science and expert recommendations say about how to keep people safe,” Biden said during a videoconference in Wilmington, Delaware, in the presence of his vice president, Kamala Harris. On Pennsylvania Avenue, I think there will be a ceremony on the podium, but I don't know how it will go. ”

Former US presidents used to swear an oath during ceremonies held in outdoor spaces on the US Capitol building in front of their predecessors, but President Donald Trump refused to confirm his attendance at the event, and continues his refusal to acknowledge the election loss.

Biden, who is 78, will be sworn in to become the 46th president of the United States on January 20, and Biden said he expects that "the inauguration ceremony will be something closer to the Democratic Party convention than to the usual inauguration ceremony."

The conference of Democrats was held mostly due to the "Covid-19" pandemic.

He explained that he was sure of one thing, adding: "In my inauguration speech, I will ask people to commit to wearing masks for 100 days."

After expecting the winter to be bleak, Biden called for providing assistance to the Americans from now on what is known as "unemployment benefits", in light of the bad numbers recorded by the labor market last November due to the resurgence of the "Covid-19" outbreak.

The US President-elect warned, saying: "If we do not act now, the future will be very dark," while time is running out, especially since much of the aid provided to the unemployed and families ends on December 26th.

Biden urged Congress and outgoing Republican President Donald Trump to strike a deal in the interest of the American people.

He warned that "if Congress and President Trump fail to act by the end of December, 12 million Americans will lose the unemployment benefits they depend on."

He continued, "I am not the only one who says that this situation is urgent .. The Americans need help and they need it now."

Biden said bipartisan efforts in the Senate to pass the $ 908 billion subsidy bill are optimistic, but new legislation is also needed in January, and he has thrown his weight behind a second stimulus plan of $ 1,200 per American.

Biden's speech came shortly after the release of US unemployment data, which showed a significant slowdown in the US labor market recovery last November, indicating that the jump in cases of "Covid-19" had hurt employment there and limited the broader economic recovery in the states. United.

"What I encourage is the recent efforts of the two parties working on the aid package," Biden said. "I suggest the two parties include a check of $ 1,200 for every American who needs help, as it was in the spring."

Biden expressed confidence in the possibility of reaching an agreement, saying that there are "a sufficient number of Democrats and Republicans in the US Senate to reach a serious aid package," indicating that they are close to the possibility of proposing a package that meets the immediate basic needs.

To convince the Democrats who might resist this new proposal, the president-elect offered that after the provision of this assistance, which would undoubtedly be considered less ambitious than the party demanded, new negotiations take place upon assuming his duties in order to discuss a broader program of support for the entire economy.

"It is only a down payment," he said, expressing his regret that "many people have lost hope in finding a job."

Prior to that, Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi spoke of "momentum", referring to the possibility of a vote by Christmas.

Pelosi had spoken the day before yesterday, with the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, who appears to be on the same line, and this means that the proposal may become official early next week.

Last November, the unemployment rate in the United States decreased to 6.7%, but this data is relative, as it does not include people who have left the labor market or are not actually looking for work.

The president-elect calls on Congress and Trump to conclude an agreement on "unemployment benefits" for the benefit of the American people.

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news