(Too) old American politicians: Republican McConnell resigns

Republican Mitch McConnell plans to resign from his top position in the US Senate in November. “One of the most underrated talents in life is knowing when it is time to move on to the next chapter of life,” the 82-year-old said in the Senate on Wednesday. It’s time for a new generation of leadership, McConnell continued. He has been a senator in the House of Representatives for about twenty years and is currently the leader of the Republican minority. McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in the history of the US Senate. The Republican said he would continue to serve in the Senate even after leaving his leadership post.

The Republican recently made headlines with health concerns. Last year, McConnell fell during a private dinner at a Washington hotel. He suffered a concussion and was treated in a hospital. As a result, he suffered failures at press conferences. This fueled concerns about his health.

According to the House of Congress, he has been chosen nine times since 2006 to lead the Republicans – as majority or minority leader, depending on the outcome of the respective general elections and the parties’ seats in the Senate. The arch-conservative politician has long been considered one of the most important masterminds in American politics.

Former US President Donald Trump does not support McConnell and regularly insults him publicly. But the 82-year-old always ultimately bowed to pressure from the party’s powerful Trump wing. What will be remembered most is that McConnell, after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, denied then-President Barack Obama’s nominee a hearing. At the time, Obama unsuccessfully nominated a moderate candidate, Merrick Garland, to succeed Scalia. Obama’s successor Donald Trump then nominated conservative Neil Gorsuch in his first days as president, who was confirmed by the Senate. Garland is now the US attorney general. (sda/dpa/lyn)