Biden steps down: A seismic shift ahead of crucial election

The echoes of Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from seeking re-election have not quieted. On Sunday, he stated, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” The foreign press is commenting on Biden's resignation.

Commentators of the largest German newspapers considered it a justified, albeit risky, decision that may lead to internal conflicts within the Democratic Party. Still, it could also give the campaign new impetus.

"Sueddeutsche Zeitung" writes that the Democrats face chaos and potentially a great opportunity. Joe Biden's resignation did not free the Democrats from their problems, but it is the beginning of an unprecedented story containing threats and opportunities - reports Stefan Kornelius.

"Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" describes the whole situation as a fiasco caused by their people. As Nikolas Busse writes: “The Democrats have dared to take an uncertain experiment shortly before the elections. Kamala Harris needs to convince the party. The only certainty is that the thrill in Europe will only intensify.”

"Tagesspiegel" believes the decision was made very late but not too late. Daniel Friedrich Sturm points out that “Biden achieved more during his incomplete term than other presidents in eight years and will go down in history as one of the great presidents,” and “without the USA, Ukraine would have already lost the war with Russia a long time ago.” “In stepping down, Biden is doing his country a favour. If he wants to show an even greater historical format, he should hand over the White House to someone ready to fight against Trump in the coming days,” he adds.

“President Joe Biden gives up,” his resignation from candidacy in the elections is “a dramatic moment in the history of the USA,” a necessary, overdue step - comments the Italian press on his decision.

“La Stampa” summarizes the president's decision with the words “Bye-bye Biden.” American journalist Alan Friedman writes in this newspaper that Biden was prompted to this decision by the "democratic elite," but - as he adds - there is a division in the party regarding what happens next. According to the columnist, there is a risk of “chaos” during the Democratic Party convention. “And on the other side, there is an adversary, an enemy of democracy” - he adds.

The commentator of the journal “La Repubblica” writes about the “drama of Biden's decision,” noting that the current situation is one of the most difficult challenges for the Democrats because - he recalls - “never before in history did a candidate withdraw just a month before the convention.”

“Corriere della Sera” notes that the past weeks have “crippled President Joe Biden” and raised doubts about his age, causing “horror at the possibility of his clear defeat.”

“Il Messaggero” writes about “a necessary, perhaps belated choice,” and “Il Giornale” states: “The game has changed.” According to the newspaper, “The Democrats now have to come up with a strategy, and the Republicans counterattack.”

The Spanish radio station Cadena SER believes Biden's decision is late, but fortunately, it appeared early enough to rally the ranks of the Democratic Party against Donald Trump's candidacy.

The newspaper “El Pais,” writing about Biden's "towel thrown in time," notes that Vice President Kamala Harris rightly received the support of the Democratic leader as the party's future candidate in the elections.

However, Spanish commentators do not hide that Joe Biden's actions overshadowed Harris’s tenure as vice president, and the American politician too often remained in his shadow.

“El Mundo” believes Biden’s Sunday decision is not only “historic,” which means a step in the right direction. It also calls it “an act of common sense.”