Despite seven votes since Tuesday, McCarthy failed to get the necessary 218 votes to become speaker of the lower house, the third most powerful post in US politics after the presidency and vice presidency, the AFP news agency reported.
All 212 Democrats voted for the representative Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, minority leader, the New York Times reported.
Without a “speaker”, as its president is called, the lower house, which began a new legislature after the midterm elections in November, cannot swear in its members, decide on the integration of the various committees, or address bills or open any of the investigations that the Republican opposition promised into Democratic President Joe Biden.
Furthermore, the blocking of McCarthy leaves the Republican Party unable to capitalize so far on the slim majority it obtained in the last legislative elections
McCarthy, meanwhile, told reporters that he planned to stay in the race and had spoken with his main backer, Trump, who yesterday called on renegade Republicans not to “turn a huge win into a gigantic, embarrassing defeat.”
US Congress.
US Congress.
McCarthy, who cannot be elected without the support of rebel Republicans, accepted one of their demands to facilitate the removal of the “speaker”, according to several local media.
Still, opposition to his candidacy continued.
“We are determined to make significant changes,” Rep. Dan Bishop said on the floor.
Trump openly called for unity and sided with McCarthy: “It’s time for all of our great Republican members of the (Lower) House to vote for Kevin. Republicans, don’t turn a big win into a gigantic, embarrassing loss.”
After three rounds of voting on Tuesday, another three this Wednesday and a seventh on Thursday, the leaders did not manage to dissipate the differences of the Republicans for McCarthy to reach the 218 votes he needs.
This is a debate that is unprecedented in the last 100 years: in 1856 it took two months. Meanwhile, the paralysis prevents congressmen from taking an oath and approving or rejecting projects.
The president of United States, Joe Biden, pointed out that the situation is “shameful” and that “the rest of the world” is watching the situation closely. His party, the Democrat, points to the candidacy of Hakeem Jeffries, who also does not reach the necessary votes.
USA: the difference between the Republicans in the lower house
The majority of seats in the House of Representatives will be used by the Republican Party to open a series of investigations into the US president, Democrat Joe Bidenin the way in which he managed the Covid-19 pandemic and other policies of his administration.
However, there is still a difference to choose the “speaker” in Congress: McCarthy has failed to reach a majority of 218 votes due to the opposition of some twenty congressmen who are sympathetic to Trump who are resisting that election.
McCarthy seems willing to give up certain concessions in order to get elected, since had the same opposition in 2015when the more conservative wing of the party refused to allow him to take office.
The choice of a Speaker of the House of Representatives could be decided in hours or weeks. In 1856 it took two months.
Source: Ambito
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