American embassies have for a long time expressed opinions on how elections have been conducted abroad. Above all, it has been about criticism of the legitimacy of election outcomes in authoritarian countries or lack of democratic development.
Now, that type of comment seems to become much rarer.
New instructions from the Foreign Department – in extension the Trump government – instead stipulate that the embassies should comment on election outcomes only when it benefits American interests.
"When it is appropriate to comment on a foreign election, our message should be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noting common foreign policy interests", it says in a document that the news agency AP has taken part of.
In the document, which has been signed by Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, it also says that statements should "avoid opinions on the fairness or integrity of an election process, its legitimacy or the democratic values of the country in question".
Embassies will in the future only be allowed to leave comments on irregularities in elections after special permission from Washington.
