The high presence of this far-right opposition contributed to the erosion of
democratic norms by challenging the legitimacy of the election. Due to a large
percentage of citizens rejecting the democratic process as a means of peaceful
power transition, concerns were raised regarding the stability of democratic
institutions, whilst also leading to the normalisation of far-right rhetoric within
mainstream political discourses and legitimising their ideologies within the
public sphere.
Media Influence during the Presidential Election:
Media and news outlets were essential in influencing public opinion through
their biased and selective coverage and framing of election storylines. Media
biases affected the manner in which candidates were portrayed, the issues that
were highlighted, and the tone of reporting, which created a varying public
perception. Far-right groups such as QAnon and the Proud Boys took advantage
of these media biases to reinforce their ideologies, leveraging stories that
supported their views.
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