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The riots by supporters of the elected US President Donald Trump in Washington, but also the numerous unsuccessful attempts by the Republican to remain in power, as well as the state of the Republican Party, occupy commentators in the USA and Europe.
Here is a selection of the voices.
Washington Post (USA)
:
Trump is responsible for attack on Capitol
"President Trump's refusal to accept his electoral defeat and his relentless incitement of his supporters led to the unthinkable on Wednesday: an attack on the US Capitol by a violent mob that overwhelmed the police and drove Congress from its rooms while the counting of the votes of the electorate was being debated there.
Responsibility for this act of sedition rests directly with the President, who has shown that his continued tenure poses a great threat to US democracy.
He should be deposed.
(...)
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Mr. Biden is right.
Rules, norms, laws, even the constitution itself are only worth something if people believe in them.
Americans buckle up, obey traffic rules, pay taxes, and vote because they believe in a system - and that belief makes it work.
The highest voice in the country has incited people to break this belief, not just in tweets, but by inciting them to action.
Mr. Trump is a threat, and as long as he stays in the White House the country will be in danger. "
Guardian (Great Britain): A coup attempt led by Donald Trump
“The President of the United States spearheaded an attempted coup on Wednesday.
A right-wing mob attempted the coup in the form of violent riots in which the US Capitol building was stormed.
They thereby disrupted the process that would have completed the recognition of the election of (future president) Joe Biden and (his deputy) Kamala Harris.
This process had previously been disrupted by elected officials who made malicious claims that the election was illegitimate and should have led to the continuation of Donald Trump's presidency.
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That was also an attempted coup.
An attempt to violate the Constitution and override the will of voters in this election.
There were two faces of the same thing inside and out, both fueled by leaders of the Republican Party and the US President.
The mob outside would not exist without the politicians inside. "
“De Tijd” (Belgium): A heavy blow to American democracy
“It is clear that the Capitol storm will have a big impact around the world.
Whatever happens, this is a major blow to American democracy.
The whole system is now being called into question.
Aside from the question of whether there is any logical justification for this happening, the main thing that remains is that belief in elections has died in a nation that claimed to be exporting democracy to other countries.
It's not just a black day for the US.
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Authoritarian leaders in China and Russia are laughing up their sleeves.
More than one major blow has been dealt to the Western model of democratically established societies.
It's a nightmare for Joe Biden.
Not only because the handover turns into complete chaos, but above all because he now has to restore the credibility of the USA. "
"Tages-Anzeiger" (Switzerland)
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When will America come to its senses?
“When will America finally come to its senses, when will this nightmare finally be over?
Trump has shown that his character is not fit to be President of the United States.
(...)
The hope remains that President-elect Joe Biden will try to unite the population.
In an impressive appearance in front of the cameras, he tried to calm the minds, not to heat them up any further.
There is also hope that more and more Republican MPs in Congress oppose Trump's insane ideas.
Even Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader in the Senate, has now recognized Joe Biden as president.
Vice President Mike Pence, so far loyal to Trump to the point of self-denial, has refused to prevent the election results from being confirmed in Congress.
Perhaps the first signs are that divided America is finally coming to its senses and recognizing again that political rivals are not enemies.
We, like the whole world, who have been affected by all the disturbing events in the USA, must hope so. "
"NZZ" (Switzerland): Republicans find it difficult to distance themselves from Trump
“The scenes from the Capitol are a scandal.
But they do not primarily reflect the state of the USA, but the state of its president.
(...) A clear distancing from Trump will be difficult for the party for fear of alienation and separation of some of its voters.
But the latest spectacle at the Capitol, which points to a shocking brief loss of control by the democratic, constitutional forces, and the bitter defeat in the Senate run-off in Georgia that was sealed on Wednesday should make it easier for Republicans to make a sober assessment of their situation.
(...)
The trick of the Republicans as well as the Democrats in the next few years will be to distance themselves from Trump's sphere of influence and the extremist elements of his supporters, but to retain the majority of his electorate, millions of perfectly normal American citizens.
It is by no means certain that this feat will succeed. "
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"The Age" (Australia)
: Trump has failed morally and politically
“By refusing to accept the peaceful transfer of power, (US President Donald) Trump has tainted the cycle of American politics and made violence inevitable.
Instead of advocating law and order, as he claimed, he promoted lawlessness and anarchy.
If anything, it's noteworthy that it took so long to break out of this type of violent riot, given the way Trump has been poking his supporters for months.
Trump's lies about election fraud, along with his disastrous handling of the coronavirus pandemic, will ensure he will go down as one of the worst presidents in American history - and possibly the worst.
In addition to moral failure, he ended his presidency with political failure.
Four years ago, Republicans controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Now they have lost power in all three. "