The session of the U.S. House of Representatives was adjourned until 10 p.m. (3 a.m. Saturday in Lisbon) this Friday as Republican Majority leadership candidate Kevin McCarthy tries to collect the votes he needs to be elected. become .
On the fourth day of voting, Kevin McCarthy still didn’t get enough votes to get elected, but he got closer to his goal, adding 15 more votes on Friday.
In the 13th round of elections, the Republican candidate for majority leadership in the lower house of the United States Congress received 214 votes, still short of the required 218.
Leaving the chamber, McCarthy assured reporters that, thanks to the delay in the process, the Republican Party will be “more effective and efficient” in running the House of Representatives.
“The government will certainly take more responsibility”he added.
Of the 20 ultraconservative Republicans – close to former President Donald Trump – who refused to support McCarthy on previous ballots, 15 have already changed positions, trying to break a four-day political deadlock.
The change in votes from Trump’s stronghold — which includes the president of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus movement — came after McCarthy agreed to many of his domestic opponents’ demands, namely the reinstatement of a house rule that allows any member to cast a vote to remove him from office.
This Friday morning, McCarthy arrived at the Capitol – the seat of Congress – with an optimistic look and told reporters he was confident of a solution to the problems that stood in the way of his nomination.
McCarthy needs 218 votes to get elected, but despite Republicans holding a 222-seat majority, the 20 members closest to Trump have prevented the success of his efforts, even by running rival candidacies , like Byron Donalds or Kevin Hern.
Even Trump’s call for Republicans to unite around McCarthy seems to have had no effect, with several members edging away from this candidate and preferring to vote for competing candidates, which only hinder a consensual choice.
The turnaround in 14 of these 20 ultra-conservatives is an indication that McCarthy could win his election as early as Friday, but several analysts believe that after these bouts of internal resistance, he will emerge as a weakened leader who has made too many concessions. to his opponents.
At this point, even Democratic opponents are showing interest in McCarthy’s choice for the leadership of the Republican majority.
“This Sacred Chamber Needs a Leader”said Joe Neguse, a Democratic member from Colorado.
The problem among the Democrats was resolved on the first ballot, with the minority leadership choice going to Hakeem Jeffries.
Source: DN
