Global Leaders React to Barack Obama's Re-Election

World leaders hail President Barack Obama's sweeping re-election, with allies pledging to deepen cooperation with the United States on fighting the world economic slump and maintaining security across the globe. The US president also received a special personal message from his step grandmother.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

US, World

Topics

International Relations, United States, US Politics, World

People

Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Angela Merkel, Hong Lei, Sarah Obama

Places

China, United States of America, Russia, Germany, Kenya, Beijing

Transcript

SCRIPT: The morning after the historic night before... From one country to the next newspapers spell-out the same message: Obama will lead the United States of America for another four years. Global leaders have been quick to offer their congratulations. SOUNDBITE 1, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German, 25 secs): "I would like to congratulate the re-elected president Barack Obama. We know each other well. I am delighted about working together. Russia too expressed relief - Perhaps largely for having side-stepped Mitt Romney-the man who notoriously branded Moscow as Washington's main foe. Even so US- Russian relations are far from rosy... SOUNDBITE 2 Sergey Rogov (man), Head of the Institute of the USA and Canada of the Russian Science Academy (Russian, 19 secs): "Obama has won and that means the reviving of Russian-American politics will continue. Even so I think that in the coming weeks we can expect a new wave of anti-Russian propaganda. " US-Sino relations however are much more positive. Back when Obama took office back in 2009, he called for a broader relationship with Beijing- And it's one that seems to have borne fruit... SOUNDBITE 3 Hong Lei (man), Chinese foreign ministry spokesman (Mandarin, 15 sec): " Over the past four years through the concerted efforts of the two sides, China-US relations have made positive progress." Far from lofty government chambers, there was another message for Obama-this time from his step grandmother in Kogelo, Western Kenya. SOUNDBITE 4 Mama Sarah Obama (woman), Barack Obama's step grandmother (Luo, 5 sec): "This is more important than the first one, because he has gone back for the second time, and won again." A second term in office, a second chance for Obama to follow through on his promises. Here he is, signed, sealed delivered-for another four years at least. UPSOUND Song: "Signed sealed delivered" SHOTLIST: Various locations, 6-7 November 2012 unless otherwise stated. SOURCE: AFPTV unless otherwise stated ROME, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV *Still images captured from the screen* -Financial Times (online) -Daily Telegraph (online) BERLIN, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV *Still images captured from the screen* -Berliner Morgenpost: "Hello, Mr. President - Barack Obama is re-elected" -Bild: "Obama is President" Spiegel: "Obama conjures the U.S. agreement" BERLIN, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - Angela Merkel arriving at press conference SOUNDBITE 1 MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR discussion with Sergey Rogov Head of the Institute of the USA and Canada of the Russian Science Academy SOUNDBITE 2 BEIJING, CHINA, MARCH 14, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV -VAR of the ten-day annual session of parliament, the National People's Congress BEIJING, CHINA, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV SOUNDBITE 3 KOGELO, KENYA, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV -VAR of Mama Sarah Obama SOUNDBITE 4 CHICAGO, US, NOVEMBER 7, 2012, SOURCE: POOL -VAR Barack Obama on stage after winning the US Presidential election 2012