President Joe Biden has been a commendable leader—for the United States, for the world, and certainly for Greece. However, he has been betrayed by the inevitable fate that comes with age. He has grown old (a reality we should not fear—only those who have already passed do not age). His physical and mental capacities have inevitably declined, perhaps more so than some of his peers, leaving him no longer able to "do the job"—and what a job it is.
Biden is not the first elderly person (quite the opposite, actually) who has refused to accept his physical limitations, unable (or unwilling) to acknowledge his condition and retire with the honor he deserves.
There were moments when reason overpowered his stubbornness, but these were few. He promoted economic growth, attempted to ensure that this growth was distributed as fairly and proportionately as possible within the entrenched social and class conditions of a traditionally conservative country, and enacted significant social policy reforms that even Obama could not achieve.
He maintained essential balances in relations with Europe (at least he did not disrupt them) and was a key force in supporting Ukraine against Russia's aggressive revisionism, which threatened Europe and the Western world.
For Greece, Biden proved to be a valuable ally.
He managed to maintain the West-Turkey balance, preventing worse outcomes. His decision to deny Turkey F-35 jets and impose strict conditions on acquiring new F-16s and upgrading their existing fleet, along with elevating Greece to a "strategic partner" of the U.S., are developments that should not be underestimated.
Trump's reckless, toxic, and divisive campaign strategies, particularly his blunders during their debate, highlighted that Biden should have stepped aside to allow a younger, capable Democratic Party member to take on the challenging task of defeating Trump.
The randomness in history (the most predictable factor being the unpredictable one!) has played a decisive role in events, circumstances, and balances for centuries.
The assassination attempt on Trump by a fanatical, disturbed young man in Pennsylvania and the miraculous survival of the former president acted as a catalyst, boosting his appeal among his fervent supporters and even reasonable conservatives. After this incident, Biden remaining in the presidential race became simply suicidal. Influential figures persuaded him to retreat, although there was no institutional way to force him.
Now, the "game is reopening."
At least, that's the hope of Democrats and sensible Americans, regardless of party preference, as Vice President Kamala Harris takes the nomination.
If rumours are true that she will choose Michelle Obama as her running mate, the chances of defeating Trump (with his far-right, racist VP candidate) increase significantly.
However, such a scenario—two Black women leading the superpower—poses risks and could provoke unpredictable reactions.
Harris's disadvantage is the limited time left until the elections. Her success will depend on her abilities and the organisational prowess of the Democratic Party and her campaign team.
The willingness of sponsors, who had started abandoning Biden's campaign, to return and support the new Democratic candidate strongly suggests confidence among political insiders.
Paraphrasing the beloved American patriotic cry, let's hope that in November we can all say, "God save America… and the whole world!"
And a "naive" question: Isn't it somewhat paradoxical and "cunning" that in a vast democratic country like the U.S., it's legal and acceptable for the immensely wealthy and socially powerful ruling class to fund the campaigns of all political opponents? Are they doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, without expecting any "return"? Unless this great nation of realism has decided that "since it's happening anyway (i.e., bribery), let's regulate it to exorcise transparency"…
Translated by ANTHEE CARASSAVA