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As much as the applause may be among the Democrats, future President Biden has delicate tasks ahead of him and his political room for maneuver is still uncertain. What is he doing? An overview.
When Joe Biden takes office as President of the United States on January 20, he will have little time for a classic start-up phase. The corona pandemic, in particular, will require swift action. However, it is not yet clear which majorities he will face in Congress: there will be ballot elections for both Senate seats in the state of Georgia in January. They will decide whether the Democrats can get a majority in this House or whether the Republicans can defend their majority. A majority in both houses would significantly expand Biden’s room for maneuver, especially on controversial issues – the House of Representatives is controlled by the Democrats anyway.
Biden outlined these goals for his presidency:
Corona-Krise
Containing the pandemic is the most urgent task of the new administration. In the week before the presidency, the number of new infections each day reached a record of over 120,000, and during the election campaign Biden Trump had repeatedly accused him of inaction. Now he wants to present a plan on Monday, he said that night. Among other things, this will involve investments in personal protective equipment and loans for small businesses, as well as standardized guidelines for the healthcare sector. It also wants to appoint scientific advisors and experts who will lead the response to the pandemic. During the election campaign, Biden had repeatedly stressed that he relied on wearing masks, which he wants to make mandatory in state institutions. With the governors, Biden will likely promote stricter and more uniform requirements. However, he is here in a similar way to Chancellor Merkel: his influence over the federal states is limited. Biden promised citizens and businesses generous help: there had been huge discussions between Republicans and Democrats before the election. Also, Biden wants to bring the United States back into the World Health Organization.
Economy, taxes and budget
A sensitive point for Biden, because doubts about his ideas of economic policy were one of the reasons why Trump did so well in the elections and why part of the classic Democratic clientele continued to vote for the Republican. Criticism of the country’s economic inequality was a central theme in Biden’s election campaign. He wants to tax wealthy people with an income of over $ 400,000, including to finance social programs and the expansion of the health care system. He also wants to raise Trump’s lower corporation tax from 21 to 28 percent. He was hoping for additional revenue – at least four trillion dollars over the next ten years. However, this would not be enough to offset the alleged overspending by the state where Biden’s plans are likely to translate to around $ 5.6 trillion. And the national debt has already risen to over $ 20 trillion under Trump.
Environment and energy
Unlike Trump, Biden has no doubts about climate change. He announced that the United States will rejoin the Paris climate agreement under him as president – a simple statement is enough. Biden wants to rely on renewable energy and lead his country out of dependence on fossil fuels. He also wants to cut subsidies for the energy sector.
Health care
While Trump’s goal was to overturn President Barack Obama’s health care reform, Biden represents an expansion of “Obamacare”. Low-income workers in particular should benefit. But middle-class families should also have more access to health insurance. The cost of the aid is estimated at $ 750 billion over ten years. This is where the Supreme Court of the United States also counts. If that reverses the reform, Biden needs a new global law – the argument in Congress is likely to be tough. Further reform plans concern drug prices.
“Black Lives Matter”
The plight of blacks in the United States, particularly the extent of police violence, but also the riots it has triggered in many cities, has been the dominant social issue in the United States this year, along with the corona virus. Biden, who during his career also voted for police laws heavily criticized by blacks, had made institutional racism a topic of his electoral campaign. It supports police reform and better economic conditions for blacks.
Immigration
Under Biden, the harsh rhetoric against immigrants from the southern states of the continent is likely to end. The future president does not want to invest any more money in building a wall on the border with Mexico and in expanding legal immigration opportunities. Eleven million people who have entered the country illegally must receive American citizenship as they make an important contribution to the country’s economy. The protection against expulsion for the so-called “Dreamers” – young people who have illegally entered the country with their parents – must be re-enforced. But anyone who entered the country illegally and committed crimes should be deported.
Foreign policy
Unlike Trump, Biden is a staunch supporter of international cooperation: in his time as vice president, the Paris climate deal and the nuclear deal with Iran fell. The new administration is therefore likely to pursue a more cooperative style within NATO and towards the EU. However, the central issues are not out of the question. The target of spending two percent of gross national product on military spending, which Trump vehemently backed, dates back to Biden’s time as vice president. And trade disputes are likely to continue with a democratically run US administration that traditionally is not against protectionist tendencies. The style of the topic is likely to change.
Russia must adapt to a reliable critical position under Biden, which also affects the federal government, because Biden is also critical of the North Stream 2 project. Relations with North Korea are also likely to deteriorate significantly. Conflicts with China will not subside under Biden: both the dispute over fair trade conditions and China’s ever-growing military presence in the Pacific region should be taken very seriously by the Biden administration. Again, discussions can be expected to take place in a calmer and more predictable framework.
In the past, Biden has advocated a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem ordered by Trump should not be canceled.
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