After three days of electoral chaos in the US Congress, the power struggle for the highest office in the US parliament will enter the next round on Friday. After another five failed rounds in the vote for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the House of Representatives voted on Thursday evening (local time) to adjourn the session to next Friday (local time/18:00 CET).
Republican nominee Kevin McCarthy has failed 11 times in recent days due to an internal party revolt. The election drama paralyzes Congress and is a historic embarrassment for the 57-year-old.
Republicans have a slim majority in the chamber. As a result, McCarthy would need nearly all of his party colleagues’ votes to be elected to the powerful post, which is third in the national hierarchy after the president and vice president. But several Republicans on the right-wing fringe of the faction refused to support McCarthy. As a result, he did not receive the necessary number of votes.
no solution in sight
Despite McCarthy’s repeated concessions to his opponents, they have so far remained tough in their resistance. On Thursday, as before, 20 Republicans stubbornly voted for their party’s alternate candidates, exposing McCarthy and denying him an election victory. Another Republican representative abstained. A solution to the confused situation is not yet in sight – despite intensive negotiations behind the scenes.
McCarthy said Thursday night after the meeting, “We’re making good progress.” He wasn’t more specific. The Republican faction leader again tried to downplay the internal revolt against him, denying that the revolt in his own ranks weakened him. Referring to the drama’s historical scope, he said, “I like making history.” He also holds the record for the longest speech in the House of Representatives.
The current vote for the top job is already one of the longest in U.S. history. Not since the 19th century has it taken members of the House of Representatives as many attempts to elect a new leader as it does now. The last time there was more voting was only in 1859/1860. At that time, Republican William Pennington was not elected Speaker of the Chamber of Congress until the 44th ballot. The process then took several weeks.
Nothing works without a chair
How long the pulling will last this time is completely unclear. Things have been dragging on since Tuesday: the House of Representatives met there for the inaugural lecture after the parliamentary elections in November. Republicans regained control of the Congressional chamber, albeit by a slim margin.
But instead of showing its newfound political strength, the party threw the Chamber into chaos and halted Parliament’s work. Because until there is clarity about the presidency, nothing will work in the Lower House: the chamber cannot start its work. Even those with new MPs cannot be sworn in. Legislative work is excluded.
The chaotic conditions in American democracy come as the country remembers the unprecedented attack on the US Capitol. The brutal attack on the seat of parliament marks its second anniversary this Friday.
Biden: “shameful”
On January 6, 2021, supporters of then-President Donald Trump violently stormed the Congress Building in the capital Washington. Congress met there to formally affirm Democrat Biden’s victory in the presidential election. Earlier, Trump had told his supporters in a speech that he had been robbed of a victory by massive electoral fraud. Five people were killed in the riots.
President Biden, who took office shortly after the attack, wants to commemorate the outbreak of violence this Friday at a ceremony at the White House and honor several police officers for their work that day. Biden described the election drama in Congress on Wednesday as “embarrassing” for the country. He also pointed out that the United States had only just come to terms with the chaos of January 6, 2021, and that American democracy was once again “not portraying a fair picture” to the world’s eyes. (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.
