The Republicans in the US House of Representatives have chosen a new candidate for chairman of the parliamentary chamber. After Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan were eliminated, Rep. Tom Emmer prevailed in a caucus vote on Tuesday. The 62-year-old has until now been the so-called ‘Majority Whip’ among Republicans: this means that he helps the party leadership in the House of Representatives to get majorities in the group for bills. It remains to be seen whether Emmer will actually be elected chairman of the House in a vote in the House of Representatives.
Emmer won against several competitors on Tuesday. According to reports in the American media, 117 party members ultimately voted for him. To be elected to the third most important office in the state, after president and vice president, an absolute majority is required among the members of the House of Representatives present. This will probably require 217 votes in the parliamentary chamber. Because the Republicans only have a narrow majority there with 221 seats, a candidate can only afford a few dissidents within his own ranks.
Lack of support for Trump
Scalise and Jordan announced their withdrawal due to a lack of support. Jordan, a loyalist of former US President Donald Trump, failed in three rounds of votes in parliament. Scalise had already thrown out a vote in the House. A problem for Emmer is likely Trump’s lack of support. Before the elections, his supporters had raised the mood against Emmer in the parliamentary group on social networks. The conservative lawyer has represented the US state of Minnesota in the legislative chamber since 2015.
The U.S. House of Representatives has now been without a properly elected leader for three weeks. This paralyzes the legislative work in parliament. Republican Kevin McCarthy was voted out of office in a historic vote in early October. 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. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
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.
