The US House of Representatives ended its day Thursday without managing to elect its new president, remaining completely paralyzed by dissension in the Republican ranks.
Favorite Kevin McCarthy has still not managed to reach the perch after a third day of negotiations and 11 rounds of an election which still seems hopeless. Debates are due to resume Friday at 12 p.m. (12 p.m. Eastern).
The group still refused to fall into line after a ninth vote, an unprecedented scenario in 160 years.
This blockage has very concrete repercussions: without a President of the Chamber, elected officials cannot take the oath or therefore pass a bill.
“I have hope today that Republicans will stop bickering, backbiting and backstabbing, so that we can work in service to the American people,” said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
” Wrong way “
Members of the most conservative fringe of the party, these elected Trumpists fundamentally do not trust Mr. McCarthy and take advantage of the very thin Republican majority won in the November mid-term elections to set their conditions.
The Republican, who cannot be elected without their support, notably acceded to one of their requests aimed at facilitating the ousting of the ” speaker “.
But opposition to his candidacy seemed to crystallize.
“We have to fix this broken system,” said Montana elected official Matt Rosendale, urging other Republicans to join their revolt.
“Less serious” than in 1856
The election of the speaker , the third most important figure in American politics after the president and vice president, requires a majority of 218 votes. Kevin McCarthy currently capped at 201.
How long will his candidacy remain viable?
The elected representative of California does not have a credible competitor. Only the name of group leader Steve Scalise is circulating as a possible alternative, without his chances seeming serious.
The House will continue to vote until a Speaker is elected. What is generally only a matter of a few hours could extend over several weeks: in 1856, the elected members of Congress agreed only after two months and 133 turns.
“There is no doubt that the problems which divide us today are much less serious than those which we had in 1856”, launched the elected official John James, calling on his colleagues to line up immediately with Kevin McCarthy.
Democratic President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the situation “embarrassing”, assuring that “the rest of the world” was closely following the mess in Congress.
Annoyance
Annoyance and impatience were also felt in the ranks of the “Grand Old Party”, which largely support the candidacy of Kevin McCarthy, giving rise to very lively debates in the hemicycle.
The Republicans are thus unable for the moment to open the numerous investigations they had promised against Joe Biden.
PHOTO JOSE LUIS MAGANA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
A situation that the Democrats observe with a certain amusement, between smirking and applause to their Republican colleagues. Joe Biden’s party is united around the candidacy of leader Hakeem Jeffries, but the elected official does not have enough votes to access the perch either.
Facing a hostile but messy House could prove to be a political boon for Joe Biden, if he confirms his intention to run again in 2024 – a decision he is due to announce earlier this year.