Too little support: Republican Scalise resigns from top position in the US Congress University lecturer released for glorifying Hamas – institute director is also critical

The chaos in the US parliament continues: Republican Steve Scalise, nominated for president of the House of Representatives, has withdrawn his candidacy due to internal party resistance. The House of Congress remains largely unable to act for now – amid international crises such as the bloody escalated conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The ultra-conservative MP Scalise ultimately failed to gain sufficient support within his own group.

Dissenters in their own ranks

The Republicans nominated the 58-year-old from the state of Louisiana on Wednesday for the influential post at the head of the House of Representatives. Most likely, however, he would have been denied a majority in the House due to various dissidents within his own ranks. Shortly after his election as candidate, a dozen Republicans announced that they would withhold their votes from Scalise in a vote for president. There were more during the internal negotiations behind closed doors. And so Scalise appeared before the press on Thursday evening (local time) to announce his withdrawal.

“There are still people who have their own agenda,” Scalise said. He warned: “This House of Representatives needs a leader.” The Speaker of the Parliamentary Chamber ranks third among states, after the President and his deputy. Because Democrats currently hold the presidency, the office is particularly important in the hands of the opposition.

Historically fragile situation in the US parliament

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.

Scalise currently leads the Republican faction in the Chamber and was chosen as candidate by his group after a week of deliberations. But he only narrowly defeated his party rival Jim Jordan, who is considered a loyalist of former US President Donald Trump. In turn, he is considered the most promising candidate for the Republican presidential candidacy for the November 2024 elections – and would like to see a confidant in the office of chairman.

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. Because he could not have counted on the votes of US President Joe Biden’s Democrats.

Fragmented faction

The political drama reveals the deep divisions within the Republican faction in the House of Representatives. Radical and ultra-right forces have now acquired so much power there that they can actually set the tone. This is not only due to the narrow majority, which allows a few people to exert a lot of influence. It is also a consequence of the fact that the parliamentary faction leadership has allowed members of the far right to have their say in recent years, as they are often protégés of the still popular party leader Trump.

“I don’t regret anything”Representative Matt Gaetz told CNN after Scalise withdrew his candidacy. It was the Florida hardliner who initiated McCarthy’s downfall. “People say it’s chaos here,” Gaetz said. He sees it differently.

Now it becomes even clearer what has already emerged in recent months from the dispute over the debt ceiling and the budget: The radicals are not interested in lasting solutions and consensus, but want to push the political system to its limits. break with all rules and conventions and make radical demands.

Centrist candidate

It is therefore completely unclear whether the group can quickly agree on a new candidate that they would support in elections. Many Republicans prefer Trump supporter Jordan. However, a compromise candidate would also be possible, with fewer MPs in the group likely to object. There are several names floating around. One possibility would be current interim spokesman Patrick McHenry.

The name Trump came up again and again. The former president doesn’t seem to have much say, at least within the Republican caucus, but he is still involved. His favorite candidate, Jordan, failed in the first internal vote.

In January it became clear that Trump cannot rely unconditionally on the loyalty of his supporters. At the time, Trump supported McCarthy – but he was only elected in the 15th round because the radicals had long refused to support him.

Another option would be a centrist candidate, on which the more moderate Republicans could agree with the cooperative Democrats. According to media reports, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has already put such a solution in play. But given the deep political divisions between the camps in the US, such cross-party solidarity would be nothing short of a sensation. And it would be a shame for the Republicans if they could not find their own candidate despite a majority in the House of Representatives.

The situation in the world is worrying

But there are pressing problems in the US and beyond. The interim budget that ultimately cost McCarthy the office expires in mid-November. In fact, a new federal budget should be negotiated now. The US government also warns that previously approved aid to Ukraine is running out. So Congress must approve new funding. And Biden also wants to ask Parliament for further support for Israel, his traditionally close ally. At the moment, even that is not possible. (saw/sda/dpa)