McCarthy also failed on the 11th ballot – the first sign of an agreement with the dissidents
After 11 ballots, Republicans have yet to agree on a speaker for the House of Representatives. Voting has now been postponed.
In the US Capitol, the House of Representatives is trying to elect a president and convene the 118th Congress with a new Republican majority.
Photo: J. Scott Applewhite (AP, dpa)
Republican Kevin McCarthy failed in the 11th attempt to run for the presidency of the US House of Representatives Thursday. Many right-wing Republicans again refused to support the 57-year-old in several rounds of voting Thursday in Washington. His opponents within the party consider McCarthy to be too moderate and question his loyalty to former President Donald Trump. McCarthy’s interventions were unsuccessful.
McCarthy made far-reaching concessions to his Republican opponents on Thursday night. However, this did not change the rejection of his candidacy by representatives of the far-right of the party.
Pushed Across Lane: Kevin McCarthy punches Troy Niles of Texas in the side. He supports Niels McCarthy as a speaker, but at the same time he belongs to the right-wing Freedom Bloc movement, which has many opponents.
Photo: Keystone
As before, 21 of his 221 fellow Republicans refused to vote in the latest vote. But McCarthy can only give four opponents in his ranks the necessary majority.
Then it was decided to postpone the elections again. It should continue on Friday afternoon (local time).
McCarthy’s Republican backers still hoped that dropping the vote to single digits in upcoming rounds of voting would put pressure on the remaining remaining contestants to follow suit. On the other hand, there are fears that the risky strategy of unleashing the most extreme section of the party could eventually lead to a backlash from moderate Republicans.
In 1856, 133 ballots were needed
After dark, there were increasing signs that an agreement could be reached with the radicals. McCarthy is said to be prepared to severely weaken his position and grant a rebellious wish. This is by accepting the reintroduction of a rule allowing one MP to vote to impeach the leader.
The House electoral marathon is a disaster for the Republican opponents, who have secured a majority in the House since the fall midterm elections. Even if McCarthy was eventually elected, it would be an embarrassment of historic proportions: a hundred years ago, more than one round of voting would have been needed to elect a president in the inaugural session of the House of Representatives in 1923.
An uncomfortable situation for California Republican Kevin McCarthy.
Photo: Alex Brandon (AP, Keystone)
Even for 160 years there have not been eleven votes in the election of the “Chairman of the Council”. In 1856, it took Congress two months and 133 ballot papers to reach an agreement. Republican Congressman John James of the US state of Michigan called on his colleagues to stand behind McCarthy. “There is no doubt that the problems that divide us today are far less serious than those we had in 1856,” he said.
Banning elections has tangible results: without a president, members of parliament cannot take oaths, set up committees and begin drafting legislation. The election is repeated until the candidate obtains a simple majority in the House of Representatives.
One of McCarthy’s most staunch critics, Rep. Matt Gaetz, even cast his vote for former President Donald Trump. Trump is not a deputy. Voting for him was a symbolic gesture that shows the former president’s influence in the party. Trump has spoken in favor of McCarthy as Speaker of the House. When voting, members of parliament can also vote for people who are not members of the US Congress. Trump was not given any realistic chance of being elected Speaker of the House.
When Trump is named, a shout can be heard: Republican Kevin McCarthy is failing again to be elected Speaker of the House.
Video: AP
The office of the speaker of the house is the third highest position in the hierarchy of the united states government, after the president and vice president. McCarthy wants to succeed Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
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