US mass media projection: Joe Biden wins the presidency

JUST IN: Joe Biden has declared victory in the US presidential election and made his first speech as President elect, pledging "not to divide but unify" the country.

While speaking to supporters in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, Biden said: "The people of this nation have spoken. They've delivered us a convincing victory. A clear victory."

He vowed to be a president for all:  "I am a proud Democrat, but I will govern as an American president."

"Let's give other a chance. It's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature".

The new president elect also made a call for unity: "to make progress we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies" (...) "We must make the promise of the country real for everybody, no matter their race, their ethnicity, their faith, their identity, or their disability."

Kamala Harris also thanked voters for choosing  hope and unity,"decency, science and truth,"

Incumbent president Donald Trump has still not conceded the election. 

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European and world leaders have congratulated the US President elect and Vice-President Kamala Harris on their victory. Here are some messages from Romanian leaders:

The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Saturday congratulated Joe Biden on his victory, in a message posted on Twitter: "I look forward to further consolidating our solid and dynamic Strategic Partnership in all its dimensions. Romania will continue to work to strengthen the security, prosperity and resilience of our transatlantic community".

In turn, the President of the Social Democratic Party Marcel Ciolacu also congratulated the Democratic candidate Joe Biden: "At the end of an election campaign that took place amid exceptional circumstances and with so much at stake, the American people have spoken. I welcome the election of Joseph Biden following a contest that has captured the attention of the entire planet and I wish the new President success with the important and difficult mission that awaits him! Democratic nations around the world and US allies need an America that is involved, vigilant and investing in its vital role as a global leader, strengthening the transatlantic relationship with NATO and reasserting the importance of its strategic partnerships", Ciolacu wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday.The Social Democrat leader gave assurances that his party will continue to support the development and deepening of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA, as an essential component of a strong transatlantic relationship, in permanent transformation and adaptation.

Dacian Cioloş, co-president of the USR PLUS Alliance and leader of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, also congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election in  a post on social media: "The US president elect has earned a well-deserved victory in this election, based on a substantial policy program, which addresses  priorities that I also share and support both at European level and in Romania: a better performing healthcare system, well-targeted social programs for vulnerable categories and special attention to the digital domain. It is precisely in these areas that we would like to expand our Strategic Partnership. (...) Congratulations, Joe Biden! Congratulations, Kamala Harris, the first female vice president of the United States! I have no doubt that the USA will continue to be the same reliable partner to Romania." Dacian Cioloş also expressed confidence that the Biden administration would be open to introducing a visa waiver program for Romanians.

The copresident of the USR Plus Alliance Dan Barna also welcomed the victory of Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden. In a Facebook post, Barna said "the Romanians have always been reliable allies of America in the endeavors to build a free, democratic and prosperous world. I am confident that under the Biden-Harris administration, the Strategic Partnership between our countries will acquire even more substance, something which will be reflected in an even closer relationship between our peoples and governments". 

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UPDATE: Democrat Joe Biden has defeated the incumbent US President Donald Trump to become the 46th President of the United States of America, according to international news agencies, after US media projections showed he would win Nevada, Arizona and Pennsylvania, surpassing the 270 electoral votes needed to win.  

The former vice president in the Obama Administration posted a message on Twitter, shortly after the US mass media projected him the winner of the November 3 election: "America, I'm honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country. The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise this: I will be a President for all Americans-whether you voted for me or not. I will keep the faith that you have placed in me," Joe Biden wrote on Twitter. 

The US incumbent president, Republican Donald Trump, on Saturday accused Biden of "rushing to falsely pose" as the winner and warned "this election is far from over". Trump also said his campaign would start challenging the results in court as from Monday.  

The US saw the highest voter turnout in a century. 

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Joe Biden is projected to win the race for the White House in a tight contest against incumbent president Donald Trump. Votes are still being counted, including in key battleground states, following the highest voter turnout in a presidential election since 1900. Also, a record number of Americans voted by post in these elections because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Biden said it was time for Americans "to come together as a nation", "to unite" and "to heal". His running mate Kamala Harris is to become the first woman to be elected vice-president.