ABC NEWS

US presidential election votes must all be counted, Australian Foreign Minister says amid Trump challenge

ABC NEWS logo ABC NEWS 4/11/2020 23:00:43 By political reporters Stephanie Dalzell and Jack Snape
Marise Payne wearing glasses and looking at the camera: Foreign Minister Marise Payne has weighed in on the US election controversy. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty) © Provided by ABC NEWSForeign Minister Marise Payne has weighed in on the US election controversy. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne says it is important every vote in the US presidential election is counted.

Her reaction follows moves by President Donald Trump's campaign to challenge results and halt counting.

"The US systems and processes which have been in place for a very long time now, which underpin that democratic process, they will deliver an outcome," Senator Payne told ABC on Thursday morning.

"What is important is that every vote is counted. And I'm sure that they will be. I'm absolutely confident that they will be."

Her comment, made in direct response to a question about whether vote counting was being undermined, is the most significant statement provided by Australia's senior level of Government over the US election controversy.

Mr Trump's campaign has announced it will launch a series of challenges to election results in key Midwest states.

It says it is suing to temporarily halt ballot counting in Pennsylvania until there is "meaningful transparency".

Morrison still to comment

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is yet to make a public comment on the US election, though has a media appearance scheduled for Thursday morning.

Federal ministers have said they will let the democratic process play out before responding to the result.

Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it was in Australia's national interest for all the votes to be tallied.

On Twitter, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull posted just three words: "Count every vote."

Liberal backbencher and former diplomat Dave Sharma said: "Patience and humility are both necessary virtues."

"Above all else, being a democratic leader means respecting the verdict of the voters, the sanctity of the process and facilitating a peaceful transfer of power when needed," he said.

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jeudi 5 novembre 2020 01:00:43 Categories: ABC NEWS

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