Nancy Pelosi: Person of the Year!

Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt, January 11

Every battle has clear winners and losers. In the battle over Capitol Hill, Trump lost everything. In contrast, Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, emerged victorious. It was Pelosi and her leadership that preserved America’s Constitution and allowed the country to overcome one of the most severe political crises the United States has faced to date. Pelosi led America with strength, resilience and solidarity, and ensured that Trump doesn’t abuse his power to undermine American democracy. In recent days, she held direct conversations with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in order to limit Trump’s military authority and prevent him from launching a war. The events on Capitol Hill have proven that US institutions remain steadfast even in light of crisis. Shortly after clearing the Capitol building from rioters, Pelosi ordered the resumption of vote counting and approved the November election results. This is a woman who knows the limits of her authority but also understands the value and importance of US institutions to ensure the peaceful transition of power in the country. If I were to nominate a single person for the title “person of the year,” I would most definitely suggest Pelosi. She has stood up to Trump’s desperate attempts to change the election outcomes and install himself as an autocratic leader. I previously wrote an article about Kamala Harris, sharing my admiration for her ability to persuade Americans to elect her as vice president. Today I write about Nancy Pelosi, and nominate her for the person of the year award. American women are leading the ranks and have the ability to lead complex organizations under pressure. They have proven success and distinction. We are surely close to the day when a woman leads America not only from Congress, but from the White House! – Muhammad Amin (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)