The impasse for the election of the president of the United States House of Representatives continues, after three days of resistance from a group of ultra-conservatives against the name proposed by the Republican Party itself. Kevin McCarthy tried again to reach out this Thursday and make concessions in vain to the twenty supporters of Donald Trump who are blocking the election of the new speaker.
After 11 votes, some twenty Republican congressmen continue to boycott Kevin McCarthy, favorite to succeed Democrat Nancy Pelosi as House speaker. Thus, the Chamber closed the debates without agreement and returns to plenary session this Friday starting at 12 local time. Without those 20 votes, McCarthy doesn’t get the half plus one needed to secure the job.
In the absence of a president, the House of Representatives, which began a new legislature after the mid-term elections held in November, cannot swear in its members, decide the members of the different commissions or present bills. “I hope Republicans will put an end to the bickering, pettiness and backstabbing so we can work in the service of the American people,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“Significant changes”
McCarthy has agreed to one of his demands to facilitate the impeachment of the House speaker: that the number of votes needed to call for possible impeachment be reduced to just one. But so far nothing has worked; opposition to his candidacy even seems to be gaining momentum.