After the previous president, McCarthy, was voted out, the US House of Representatives was left leaderless and unable to act. Now, Republicans have nominated Rep. Scalise for the top job.
In the search for a candidate for President of the US House of Representatives, Republicans nominated Representative Steve Scalise. Scalise is the current number two Republican in the US House of Representatives and won the internal party vote with 113 votes to 99. 111 votes were needed.
The nomination does not automatically mean that Scalise will have the necessary majority in the House of Representatives in the election. The previous leader, Kevin McCarthy, was eliminated as leader of the House of Representatives in a historic vote last week.
Make the House of Representatives operational again
Without a president, the chamber of Congress cannot decide on new aid to Ukraine or Israel, which is being attacked by radical Islamist Hamas. The recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has increased pressure to quickly elect a new president and thus make the House of Representatives capable of acting again.
To be elected to the third most important position in the state, after president and vice president, an absolute majority is required among the members of the Chamber of Deputies present. Republicans only have a very narrow majority in the House, so a handful of dissenters is enough to block a candidacy.
An arch-conservative opponent of abortion
Scalise, 58, of Louisiana, is considered an arch-conservative and made headlines in 2002 with a speech to a group of white supremacists, for which he later apologized. He is known as an opponent of abortion. However, some party hardliners still consider him an integral part of the Washington establishment.