Election Fever: The “Blue Tsunami,” Hellenic Issues, and Turkey’s Play for the UN’s Top Job
This week our theme is none other than elections. The midterms this week saw Democrats sweep into power in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in what many are calling a “blue tsunami” that is already upending the political scene in Washington, DC.
Tuesday’s Democratic wave also amounted to a stinging rebuke of President Trump’s policies, as voters frustrated by a cost of living crisis and affordability questions, high gas prices, and an intractable war with Iran, sent a clear message to the White House and the President, who repeatedly told voters on the campaign trail, “pretend I’m on the ballot.”
While we wait to see how Democrats will look to assert themselves in the new Congress, President Trump still has two more years in office, and can wield power to great effect, especially on foreign policy. America’s allies, particularly in Europe, will be watching closely to see what his next moves are on this front.
It wasn’t just Democrats that won big on Tuesday. The Greek American community also had a historic evening. The big story here is Chris Pappas’ election to the Senate, a win that means the community will have one of its own in the Senate for the first time since 2013. Beyond the Senate, Greek Americans scored important wins across the country, from the House of Representatives to statewide elections.
With the midterms in the rearview mirror, we can now focus on another election with global significance. That’s the race for the top job at the UN, as the current Secretary General Antonio Guterres is set to step down. With the race heating up, Turkish President Erdogan has decided he wants to make a play for the position, nominating Feridun Sinirlioglu, a longtime loyalist and yes-man, for the position.
Endy Zemenides, Tyler Stapleton, Ian Lesser, and Michael Rubin join Thanos Davelis this week as we dig into the US midterm results, break down what they mean for Hellenic issues, and look at the race for UN Secretary General that’s heating up.
A little more info on our guests:
Endy Zemenides is HALC’s Executive Director.
Tyler Stapleton is senior director of government relations at FDD Action.
Ian Lesser is a Distinguished Fellow and Advisor to the President at the German Marshall Fund.
Michael Rubin is the director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum.