World Reacts To Announcement Of Bush Victory
3 November 2004 -- European Commission chief Romano Prodi today extended his "warm congratulations" to U.S. President George W. Bush on his reelection.
Earlier today, before Bush's rival, Senator John Kerry conceded the election, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed a Bush victory.
"Bush has proved to be a firm politician, a man of strong character. He is a consistent, reliable and predictable partner," Putin said.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was in Moscow, said Bush's reelection would "make our life easier."
Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that, for his country, four more years with Bush is "really good news."
Reaction to Bush's reelection was mixed in the Islamic world. Many leaders publicly said they would continue to work with Bush. But many citizens of Islamic countries voiced concern about U.S. military operations currently under way in Afghanistan and Iraq, and threatening rhetoric from Washington toward Syria and Iran.
(AFP/AP)
[For reaction from around the world to the U.S. presidential election, see RFE/RL's webpage "World Reacts To U.S. Election".]