Vote results could have consequences abroad

Russia shrugs off worries about new House probe

PARIS— The Democratic victory in the U.S. House of Representatives could echo from Moscow to Beijing to Riyadh, with Democrats now able to launch new investigations into President Donald Trump’s international business empire and his political dealings with other nations.

For Moscow, the Democratic victory means a probable reopening of the House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denies any involvement in Trump’s election victory, and the Kremlin shrugged off concerns that a Democratic-controlled House would increase pressure on Russia.

“It’d be hard to make (the relationship) even worse,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

European moderates welcomed a rebalancing of U.S. politics after the midterm election, but few expect big change in relations with Trump.

EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovici tweeted that the Democrats took the majority in the House of Representatives “despite powerful Republican gerrymandering,” calling it a “tremendous success.”

French President Emmanuel Macron’s government spokesman, Benjamin Griveaux, said the vote “shows the vitality of a great democracy.”

French lawmaker Guy Teissier said the midterm result “will not change things dramatically” for Europe.

Business lobby groups in Europe said they expect protectionist U.S. policies to continue. European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber said it’s time for Europeans to stop following Washington’s example and realize “we are the biggest and largest economic power.”

Italy’s deputy premier, Matteo Salvini, tweeted his congratulations to Trump for the results of the U.S. midterm elections.

Salvini wrote “godonaldgo” and “Compliments to president #Trump for the seats conquered in the Senate and the confirmation in crucial states, against everything and everyone: leftist journalists, actors and singers, directors and pseudo-intellectuals.”

At a news conference later Wednesday, Salvini declined to comment on specific policies of the leader he called a “slightly strange president” but said Trump at least kept his campaign promises on the economy, trade and immigration.

Germany’s foreign minister said the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections means foreign policy will depend more on whether Republicans and Democrats can work together, but that doesn’t alter the changes that have taken place in trans-atlantic relations.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Wednesday: “What this election doesn’t change is that without the U.S., we will not be able to solve problems in an ever more complicated world.”

Maas added: “We must remain realistic. In the past two years, the balance in the partnership with the United States has shifted for the foreseeable future, and the election won’t change anything about that either.”

Maas renewed his argument that Europeans must answer Trump’s “America First” policy with a “Europe United” approach.