WASHINGTON/AUGUSTA (dpa-AFX) – Maine is now the second US state to have the former US president Donald Trump excluded from the primary for the White House. The responsible ministry in Augusta announced this on Thursday evening (local time) on the short message service X, formerly Twitter. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, whose role also includes elections, concluded in a statement that the former president’s primary election application was “invalid.” According to a constitutional amendment, Trump is “not qualified to be president.” Accordingly, people who have incited an “insurrection” against the constitution are excluded from elections. Trump’s campaign team announced that they would take action against the decision.
Trump supporters stormed the parliament building in Washington on January 6, 2021. Congress met there to formally confirm Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. Trump had previously incited his supporters during a speech. As a result of the riots, five people died.
Based on these events, various plaintiffs in various US states are attempting to have Trump’s name removed from ballot papers for the 2024 presidential election. The 77-year-old wants to move into the White House again for the Republicans. It can be assumed that the question of his participation in the elections will ultimately have to be clarified by the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court.
The Colorado Supreme Court had previously ruled last week that Trump was unfit to be president because of his role in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and therefore could not take part in the primary. However, the American Center for Law and Justice appealed the decision on behalf of the Colorado Republican Party. The Colorado Supreme Court has suspended its decision until the issue is finally resolved. Secretary of State Bellows in Maine also suspended her decision for the time being./gma/DP/mis