More spectacle is hardly possible. What happens in the US Congress on Saturday night leaves observers in disbelief. There are desperate last minute negotiations on the open stage, heated arguments, near fistfights between MPs. The situation suddenly turns several times in the opposite direction. TV commentators hold their breath live.
The gavel finally falls – and Republican Kevin McCarthy (57) is the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the 15th ballot (!) 216 Republicans voted for the Californian, six party members abstained. McCarthy’s opponents did not vote for alternative candidates from their own ranks in the final round. He is the new number three in the state ranking after the US president and his vice president and succeeds Democrat Nancy Pelosi (82) in the powerful office.
Gaetz annoys the Republicans
This historic Republican election debacle began Tuesday. For days they tried to collect enough votes for McCarthy. However, some party colleagues strongly opposed him and demanded a wide range of concessions. It wasn’t until Friday that the deadlock began to move: with further concessions, McCarthy drew more than a dozen of his critics to his side. It looks like he has the votes he needs when the House of Congress meets again late tonight.
McCarthy is confident of victory. But in the end, a single voice is missing. One of his strongest opponents, Matt Gaetz (40), abstained at the last minute, sealing McCarthy’s 14th consecutive electoral defeat. impotence in the hall. Hectic conversations begin.
Trump: tipping the scales
A confidante of McCarthy talks to Gaetz for several minutes. In the end, McCarthy himself goes to his opponent. The two exchange a few words, their faces tense, and then McCarthy turns. Another deputy sheriff angrily charges at Gaetz, but a party member stops him at the last moment. It’s getting loud. Former US President Donald Trump (76) also spoke.
Photos from the rally show right-wing MP Marjorie Taylor Greene, 48, waving her mobile phone in front of party members. On the screen you will see that “DT” is on the other side: Donald Trump. Meanwhile, party members are working on Gaetz.
But he won’t move until McCarthy’s camp has already filed a request to adjourn the meeting. McCarthy and Gaetz speak briefly again, then McCarthy runs to the chair, changes his voice to stop the adjournment. Others follow. And shortly afterwards the 15th and final ballot will follow. McCarthy has the necessary votes together. The applause erupts even before the result is known.
“I never give up”
He did – finally. Thanks in part to Trump. In any case, McCarthy thanks him “especially”. “He really helped get the final votes. I don’t think anyone should question his influence.” Then he says, “I want to be honest: it wasn’t the way I planned it.” But: “I hope one thing is clear after this week: I never give up.” After being sworn in, he briefly raises his fist in the air.
He enters his new office with maximum weakness. For him, the day-long election debacle was a public disgrace and a humiliation of historic proportions. McCarthy has made significant concessions to his opponents in recent weeks and days – and allowed himself to be blackmailed.
Dream job that will soon become a nightmare?
The radicals urged, among other things, to change the rules of procedure in the chamber, so that they, as a minority, would have more power to drive the chairman before them. It is difficult to imagine that reasonable cooperation is still possible after the elections – after all, it was not only about political goals, but also about personal matters.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, 72, is already warning that McCarthy’s “giving in to the extremists in his party” makes it much more likely that there will be a “shutdown” or a US bankruptcy “with devastating consequences for our country.” Schumer warns that McCarthy’s “dream job” could become a “nightmare” for the American people. It should continue to be spectacular in American politics. (SDA/department)