class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>
After weeks of internal power struggles between the parties, Republican Mike Johnson is the new leader of the US House of Representatives. The 51-year-old was elected to the powerful post on Wednesday, it was officially announced after the vote in the parliamentary chamber.
The hardliner and supporter of former President Donald Trump is now third in the state rankings, after the US president and his vice president. With Johnson’s election, the US Congress is back to work after more than three weeks of largely deadlock. Whether the chaos in parliament has actually come to an end remains to be seen. Because Johnson already faces his first big test.
The previous speaker of the parliamentary chamber, Kevin McCarthy, was voted out of his powerful post in a historic vote in early October. Johnson was the fourth Republican candidate for president after McCarthy was voted out. Three candidates previously nominated by the Republicans had dropped out due to a lack of support within their own ranks; two of them before a plenary vote had even taken place. Republican Jim Jordan, on the other hand, endured three failed runs in the House before his group removed him from the race.
220 votes – he needed 215
The complete chaos dramatically demonstrated the fragmentation of the Republican Party, which for weeks failed to agree on a new leader in the internal power poker. This led to the accusation by the Republicans that they were completely dysfunctional and incapable of political work. Members of the Republican caucus have also expressed increasing frustration and anger in recent days.
The Republican faction finally chose Johnson as its candidate behind closed doors late on Tuesday evening. At the first attempt he obtained the necessary majority in the plenary.
The American Republicans only have a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. That’s why Republican dissidents wield powerful influence when it comes to voting. Because a Republican candidate could not count on votes from US President Joe Biden’s Democrats. The Republicans currently have 221 representatives in the House of Representatives, the Democrats 212. Not all members of the House of Representatives were present at Wednesday’s vote. Johnson needed 215 votes for an absolute majority and eventually got 220.
Trump’s loyal supporter
Johnson belongs to the religious right of his group. The lawyer and former radio host from the state of Louisiana is one of Trump’s loyal supporters. At the time, he refused to acknowledge Trump’s defeat by Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Johnson is anti-abortion, opposed to gay marriage and has opposed US aid to Ukraine in the past.
Trump supported Johnson’s candidacy and praised his party colleague as a smart and great congressman who was accepted by everyone. Other Republicans from the right-wing fringe of the party also expressed their joy at the appointment. Johnson said on Wednesday evening after his appointment that his group is now united. “You will see that this group will work like a well-oiled machine,” he said after the internal party drama of recent weeks. “We owe it to the American people.” (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.
