Paris, 4 November 2024. This election, to which more than 75 million voters have already anticipated, is not only a confrontation between two antagonistic models, but also symbolizes the viability and continuity of a democratic system under attack. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is making a strong appeal to American voters to cast a vote that safeguards the democratic pillars that support the development of human rights in the country.
A second term of Donald Trump, even more radical and extremist, would be a turning point. His obvious hostility for democratic values, demonstrated by his attempt to interfere in the results of the 2020 elections and for which he is the subject of a judicial investigation, serves as a warning against the project of accelerated dismantling of institutions, the rule of law and the balance of powers.
The images of the assault on the Capitol, promoted by himself in his refusal to acknowledge his electoral defeat, remain as an indelible imprint in the country’s collective memory and as irrefutable proof of his manifestly anti-democratic behavior, which has multiplied exponentially in the last four years. This time, criminalising and eliminating political opponents will be the focus of his personal vengeance.
At the same time, his openly xenophobic and racist discourse, echoing the white supremacist message, has characterised the Republican campaign. To the insults and taunts that denigrate millions of racialised people, he has added campaign promises that point to massive deportations and lash out against the immigrant population, which he has even referred to as "the poison that contaminates the American blood".
A hypothetical victory by the Republican Party in Congress and/or the Senate would pose a real threat to the survival of the fundamental rights that have taken so much effort to build over the last century. The dismantling of Roe v. Wade, which deprived millions of women of the right to decide about their own bodies, is just the beginning of what could be a progressive rollback of rights.
Given these serious circumstances, FIDH, with its strong commitment to the defense of human rights, believes that these votes will not only once again test the resilience of democratic values in crisis, but will also be decisive in the struggle for the fundamental rights of millions of people.