(Kyiv) One of the leaders of the American hard right said on Sunday he wanted to dismiss the Republican president of the House of Representatives, after the latter managed to push back the paralysis of the federal administration with the support of the Democrats.
“I fully intend to table a motion to impeach the president [Kevin] McCarthy this week,” Florida lawmaker Matt Gaetz said on CNN.
“I believe we need to move forward, with a new leader who can be trusted,” he added.
PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Matt Gaetz
This fratricidal initiative was expected: Mr. McCarthy, elected at the cost of numerous negotiations with the Trumpists, said on Saturday that he was aware that he was risking his seat.
“You know what, if I have to risk my position to defend the American people, I will,” he assured.
In a final attempt to avoid the paralysis of the American administration, a resolution proposed by Mr. McCarthy was adopted by Congress just three hours before the “shutdown”, with the support of the Democrats.
With other Trumpist elected officials, Matt Gaetz is campaigning for drastic reductions in state spending. He accused Mr. McCarthy on Sunday of “lying to House conservatives.”
The only thing everyone has in common is that no one trusts Kevin McCarthy.
Matt Gaetz
“Kevin McCarthy’s goal was to make several contradictory promises to delay everything […] and ultimately, break down the spending guardrails,” he accused.
Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House on 15e turn in January, when Trumpists finally agreed to support him in exchange for huge concessions, including a return to allowing individual lawmakers to call a vote to impeach the House speaker.
A concession which therefore comes back to haunt him today.
Aid to Ukraine
Kyiv announced on Sunday that it was “working” with the United States.
“The Ukrainian government is actively working with its US partners to ensure that the new US budget decision, which will be made within the next 45 days, will include new funding to help Ukraine,” the Ukrainian government spokesperson said. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleg Nikolenko.
“This situation will not prevent the flow of aid from continuing to arrive in Ukraine,” he assured.
International support for Ukraine is crucial in the country’s fight against Russia.
The United States has helped Kyiv the most, releasing some $110 billion in civil and military aid since February 2022.
The United States avoided the paralysis of its federal administration at the last minute, with the adoption by the Senate, just three hours before the “shutdown”, of an emergency measure allowing its financing to be temporarily continued.
PHOTO SENATE TELEVISION VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Senate approved the resolution by a vote of 88 to 9.
The emergency measure adopted by the US Congress provides that the US administration continues to be funded for 45 days. However, it excludes aid to Ukraine at war requested by the White House.
US lawmakers are now set to consider a separate bill for $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which President Joe Biden wanted to see included in the budget. A vote could take place early next week, according to American media.
A handful of Trumpist Republican elected officials refuse to release any new aid to Kyiv, believing that these funds should be allocated to managing the migration crisis.