WASHINGTON Foreign policy, economy and internal security. Joe Biden begins to build the government team by focusing on proven figures of the Obamian establishment. And on the same day the signal that has been awaited for three weeks now arrives from the White House. Donald Trump has authorized the Administration agencies to initiate the transition of powers. The official announcement was made by Emily Murphy, head of the General Services Administration, the structure that manages the transition from one government to another. Murphy called Biden the apparent winner of the November 3 election, after Michigan also certified the results of the polls yesterday. At the same time Trump tweeted: We will continue to support our position strongly and continue our just fight and eventually win. However, in the interest of the country, I recommended that Emily Murphy do as required by the protocols and my team do the same.
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At this point Biden can accelerate the settlement plans. His team is taking shape. The Secretary of State will be Anthony Blinken, 58, a close associate of Joe’s twenty-one, deputy national security adviser in the second Obama administration. The important Treasury Department box goes to Janet Yellen, 74, Federal Reserve Chairman from 2104 to 2018. Biden also confirms the rumors, relaunching John Kerry, 76, former chief of diplomacy and 2004 presidential candidate, as coordinator of the task force on climate change. Secretary for Internal Security will be Alejandro Mayorkas, 61, the first exponent of the Latin community in this position. Avril Haines, 51, will instead be the first woman to lead the Directorate of National Intelligence, the umbrella agency that coordinates the activities of the 17 intelligence services, including the CIA and FBI.
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Two other important points: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, African American, was chosen as UN ambassador, but with the rank of minister and therefore will be able to attend government meetings. Finally Biden has almost completed the advisor package to the White House. Chief of Staff Ron Klain is now joined by Jake Sullivan, 43, as National Security Advisor. This first batch looks a lot like a restoration after Donald Trump’s tumultuous years. The new leader has focused on Washington profiles, with experience gained in the years in which Biden was in the White House as vice president.
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The internal signals are very clear. Mayorkas, son of immigrants Cubans who fled Castroism, will first have to restore the management of internal security to normal, eliminating the tougher measures adopted on the border with Mexico. First of all: the separation of children from families. Avril Haines was deputy director of the CIA and then Obama’s deputy national security advisor. Now he will have the delicate task of restoring trust between intelligence agencies and the White House, freeing minds and archives from the poisons of the Trumpian years. All of these appointments, except for Kerry and Sullivan, will need to be ratified by the Senate.
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November 24, 2020 (change November 24, 2020 | 02:33)
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