Opinions #26/24

The two traditional party candidates agree with each other and with a couple of media outlets, excluding independent candidates, particularly one, the most insidious, from a crucial moment in the campaign. It takes place in the USA, where Biden and Trump, divided over everything and ready to accuse each other of being criminals, reach an agreement banning Robert Kennedy Jr. from the televised debates. A bipartisan pact that goes beyond the rules of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which for the past forty years has regulated access to the most important television spaces: face-to-face meetings of White House candidates. To avoid boosting the candidacy of RFK Jr. who has a strong Democratic tradition but is also valued by Republican voters for his stance on vaccines and immigration, the incumbent and the one who would like to become president again decided to conduct televised debates three months in advance. The first aired June 27 on CNN and the second is scheduled for September 10 on ABC. The move was designed to deny RFK Jr. the time needed to register signatures in support of his candidacy in all 50 states of the federation plus the District of Columbia (Washington DC). The burden, which falls only on independent candidates, requires thousands of volunteers, millions of dollars, and is scrutinized by inspectors in every state. The screening, which by law must take place by the end of August. Since one of the conditions imposed by CNN was that signatures in support of Kennedy’s candidacy be certified in enough states to guarantee a majority of voters (270), the trap was triggered automatically, even though the “third party” announced that it had submitted lists in enough states to exceed the required quorum. That’s the way it is. US political leaders blocked the situation, demonstrating once again that access to the pinnacle of power comes in different ways, changing the rules to suit interests. An obscure image of American democracy that ultimately increases disillusionment internationally. In particular, in those worlds – Asia, Africa, and Latin America – where the critical process towards the US system is intensifying, Tim Murithi explains in his analysis, the tendency is to create groups of countries capable of giving life to a resolutely multipolar system. A leadership problem that also affects Europe. In dealing with the ongoing wars – Ukraine and Gaza – the appearance of double standards leads, according to Gianandrea Gaiani, to European foreign policy being seen as inconsistent and therefore unreliable.