By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
“The result will be an indication if we are once and for all done with what Trump represents”, wrote the “New York Times” on the eve of the elections, highlighting the real stakes of the elections. Trump’s election, but more importantly the extent of the victory, came to show that not only are we not done, but we are just getting started, leading to a series of analyses as to where the new government might lead. His victory was absolute. He won all 7 swing states contested by the two challengers, and became the first Republican in 20 years to win the popular vote. We are living in Trump’s world, the “Economist” wrote the next day, explaining that he is becoming the force that will shape the United States in the coming years in his own image. But how did a man who seemed political finished after his defeat in 2020, and especially after the events on Capitol Hill, make such a comeback?
Many analyses have been made as to the reasons for Trump’s astonishing victory. The fact that 6 out of 10 Americans thought, according to exit polls, that the country was moving in the wrong direction ultimately proved to be an insurmountable obstacle, as did the failure of the government to manage inequalities and inflation. Kamala Harris herself had problems. She failed to substantially differentiate herself from the Biden administration, she struggled to respond to concerns about her past, and she she did not convince that she could manage immigration and the economy. She overestimated how bothersome Trump’s presence and rhetoric ultimately was to the average American, the abortion factor, and most importantly, she underestimated the public’s rage toward the system.
This election, however, had little to do with Kamala Harris. And had everything to do with Trump. In an environment of total degradation of the political system, extreme populism and pent-up rage, Trump became the ultimate protagonist. Hence the Democrats felt they had no choice but to focus on him, playing on his terms. Faced with the incumbent vice president, and taking advantage of the system’s inability to grasp the realities and their ramifications, he managed once again to present himself as antisystemic and the agent of protest and change. The degradation of traditional media contributed to his effort, which allowed him to easily win the “information” war, with the assistance of Elon Musk, a man of enormous influence, who, from a certain point onwards, acted as a running mate for Trump, investing in false and misleading news. Fake news became the only news and Musk with the people became the main source of information. The stakes he raised were also attractive in this environment. He spoke of a “last election” because with a potential new victory of the Democrats, it would be the illegal immigrant vote that would now determine the election, consolidating the opinion that the election was about the survival or not of America as we know it. This was prioritised by voters as more important than the Democracy ticket ran by Kamala. With an enraged and vulnerable audience, Trump played with emotion and prevailed easily. Despite his scandals, trials, controversial views and extreme rhetoric. At the end of the day, these may have been what pushed him toward victory.
If the elections in America leave anything in their wake, apart from an unprecedented uncertainty, it is confirmation of how vulnerable Democracies are today. Cyprus is no exception. On the contrary, our Democracy is facing the same problems that brought Trump to power. Perhaps to an even greater extent: Erosion of institutions, total degradation of the political and legal system, pent-up rage that seeks outlets through controversial alternatives outside the system. Society showed it with the rise of ELAM, shouted it with the selection of Fidias. Most of all, however, the political system’s inability to grasp the realities and their ramifications. The latest interview of the President, with the lowest popularity in history after 20 months in office (since during this time he has managed to break every election promise he made), where he expressed the opinion that if elections were held today he would be re-elected, was absolutely indicative of how disconnected the system is from society. With a government and parties that seem powerless to respond to its concerns, focusing entirely on image and sidelining policy. A huge problem is also created by the degradation of traditional media. With their coverage of the President’s “revelation” of a meeting with a close Trump campaign associate whom he did not want to name, they have confirmed that they function as agents of political narratives rather than agents of news and checks and balances. This degradation, along with the intensification of problems and outrage, paves the way for alternative sources of news that seem uncontrollable at the moment. Fake news can easily become the only news in Cyprus too.
In this environment of absolute erosion of institutions, proven incompetence and inability to grasp the realities, in a society that for years now has become used to slogans, it is considered impossible for Trump not to find many imitators here in Cyprus. Besides, by being elected for the second time, he has demonstrated the easiest way at the moment to come to power. ELAM made its intentions clear once again with the protest against migrants on Friday. Many others will be quick to capitalise on the rage by appealing to the most extreme instincts – exploiting real issues such as immigration, inequalities and cost of living and proposing non-existent solutions. The Cypriot Trump does not seem far off. On the contrary, given the current circumstances, he looks like an inevitable destination.
Source: THE INEVITABLE CYPRIOT TRUMP
