Page 9 - NorthAmOil Week 01 2021

NorthAmOil COMMENTARY NorthAmOil

Georgia Senate runoff a

game-changer for Biden

The Democrats’ double victory in Georgia’s runoff election

narrowly hands them control of the Senate, making it

significantly easier for US President-elect Joe Biden to
proceed with his legislative agenda

US US President-elect Joe Biden is set to have an eas- dismissed since November. Trump had also
ier time pushing through his legislative agenda repeatedly called on Vice-President Mike Pence
WHAT: than previously expected, after his Democratic to overturn the result when the latter presided
Biden will now be able Party won the double Senate runoff election in over the January 6 joint Congressional session.
to push through his Georgia this week. As a result of the Georgia But Pence made it clear that he would not do
legislative agenda more victory – which had previously been considered so, and Biden’s victory was certified in the early
easily. unlikely and sees Democrats win Senate races in hours of January 7, after the Capitol was secured
the state for the first time since 2000 – the Demo- following the riot.
WHY: crat and Republican numbers will be evenly split Finally, Trump conceded that he would be
A double Democrat in the Senate at 50 each. However, incoming leaving office and handing over power after
victory in Georgia’s runoff US Vice-President Kamala Harris will have the Biden’s victory was certified. He maintained,
has narrowly handed tie-breaking vote for the Democrats. however, that he “totally” disagreed with the
their party control of the outcome of the election. Despite Trump’s ongo-
Senate. Violence and chaos ing objections, however, the handover of power
The Georgia result still needs to be officially to Biden is set to take place on January 20, and
WHAT NEXT: certified in the coming days, and it was over- will likely be smoother now that Trump has
Biden is expected to focus shadowed by a day of violence and chaos in agreed to it – though further violence by certain
more on decarbonisation Washington, DC. A mob of extremist support- factions among his supporters cannot be ruled
than his predecessor ers of incumbent US President Donald Trump out.
Donald Trump, whose broke into the US Capitol, disrupting the Con-
final days in office are gressional process to certify the electoral college Biden’s agenda
proving tumultuous. vote in November’s presidential election. Once Biden is in office, his task will be made sig-
Trump had hitherto refused to accept Biden’s nificantly easier by the Democrats having control
election victory, alleging widespread voter fraud over the whole of Congress. Initial expectations
but failing to present credible evidence to back in the wake of the presidential election were that
up his claims. Numerous lawsuits by the Trump the Republicans would hang on to Senate control
campaign and its supporters have been lost or and would be able to block his proposals.

The Georgia
runoff result was
overshadowed by chaos
and violence at the US
Capitol.

Week 01 07•January•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P9