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US Election Night in pictures
It was a night of suspense and drama as one of the closest presidential races in history drew to its climatic end in front of crowds of revellers at Belgium’s biggest election night party.
Scroll down for photos of the night when it finally became clear that Barack Obama would decisively claim a second term in the White House.
The party at the Renaissance Hotel was hosted by www.thebulletin.be and the American Club of Brussels and was swamped by supporters, underlining the depth of interest in American politics among Brussels’ international community. The hotel in the Luxembourg quarter was at maximum capacity throughout the evening.
US Ambassador Howard Gutman opened the event, thanking everyone for caring about the election, about his country and about Belgian-American relations. A live debate by Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad was followed by talks by prominent European speakers, and live music by rockabilly outfit the Saint-Gillbillies completed the entertainment package.
The party drew to a reluctant end at 3.00 and Europe had to wait until 5.20 for confirmation that Obama had won after weeks of a race that had been too close to call. In the end, he easily beat Republican contender Mitt Romney in seven of the nine key marginal states.
Yes, we know the queue was too long…
Arm to the left, arm to the right: now it’s time to party!
Lift off: US Ambassador Howard Gutman officially opens the event
Let’s squeeze a few more into this room…
All eyes on the screen: supporters of all hues follow live news from across the Atlantic
Welcome to my party…
A long night awaits…
Cheers of delight as CNN predicts the likely outcome of each state’s electoral college vote
Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad stands
Picking up a souvenir of the night
A Romney supporter
It’s the Reds vs the Blues
It’s time to debate
Meet my friend Barack Obama
Chilli dog anyone?
High five, dude
Helicopter view
Returns two hours off…
Keeping in touch
Oh yes, the press were also invited
Thumbs up from the President of the United States
The Saint-Gillbillies entertain
Tension rises
Faces in the crowd
The evening kicked off with a VIP dinner, attended by US Ambassador Howard Gutman, wife Michelle, British Ambassador Jonathan Brenton, Nato’s Jamie Shea, American Club of Brussels president Maggie Nicholson and prominent business figures
Ambassador Gutman interviewed by a local TV station
The dinner was punctuated by a speech from Ambassador Gutman, in which he said it had been a privilege for him and his wife, Michelle, to work with Belgium in rebuilding the Belgo-American partnership. As he approaches the end of his term in Belgium, he said that he and his wife hoped that whatever the future brought, it would bring them back often to Belgium. “And wherever we are, we will always carry a piece of Belgium in our hearts.”