class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>
Steve Scalise (58) has resigned from the race for the presidency of the US House of Representatives. He said this to journalists on Thursday evening (local time), after failing to gain sufficient support within his own group.
Although the latter had previously nominated him for the influential post, he would probably have been denied a majority in the Chamber of Congress due to several dissidents in the Republican ranks.
The division within the party caused dissatisfaction among parliamentarians. Republican Rep. Troy Nehls told CNN: “We are confusing the American people. They think this whole place is a circus. Suddenly Jim Jordan nominates Steve Scalise and we vote for Jim Jordan. This is just absolute chaos.”
He initially had the upper hand against Jordan
“There are still people who have their own agenda,” Scalise said after a meeting of his group. There are disagreements that need to be resolved. Scalise warned: “This House of Representatives needs a Speaker.” The Speaker of the House of Representatives ranks third among states, behind the President and his Vice President.
Scalise was chosen as candidate by his group behind closed doors on Wednesday, but the vote was extremely close. The ultra-conservative politician won by 113 votes to 99 against his party rival Jim Jordan, who is considered a loyalist of former US President Donald Trump.
A dozen Republicans refused to vote for him
The previous leader, Kevin McCarthy, was voted out as leader of the House of Representatives in a historic vote last week. Radical Republicans had driven him from office. It was the first time in American history that a Speaker of the House of Representatives had lost his job in this way. The drama largely brought the US parliament to a standstill.
US Republicans only have a slim majority in the House of Representatives, so Republican dissidents have powerful influence in their hands when it comes to votes – even if there are only a few of them. The party currently has 221 MPs in the House of Parliament. 217 votes are needed to be elected chairman. Scalise could therefore only have had four dissidents in his group. He could not count on the votes of US President Joe Biden’s Democrats. After his election as candidate, a dozen Republicans announced that they would withhold their votes from Scalise in a vote for president.
Strictly conservative profile
The 58-year-old representative from Louisiana currently leads the Republican caucus in the House. He is currently being treated for blood cancer. Many initially had doubts about whether he would even be available for the office. Nevertheless, he was the second candidate, besides Jordan, to announce he would enter the presidential race after McCarthy was voted out.
Scalise has a staunchly conservative profile and advocates against abortion and gay marriage. He also speaks out against stricter gun laws, doubts scientifically proven climate change and supports Trump’s travel ban on people from Islamic countries. Scalise also made headlines in 2002 with a speech to a group of white supremacists, for which he later apologized. Nevertheless, even he is seen by some party hardliners as part of the Washington political establishment they reject. (neo/SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
