After a relentless struggle for intra-party power, Republican Kevin McCarthy is the new Speaker of the US House of Representatives. The 57-year-old politician was elected to the office of power in the 15th ballot last night (local time) after several party colleagues refused to support him in previous rounds and thus he repeatedly failed to secure the required majority.
He finally won the poll by 216 votes to 211. Former President Donald Trump’s ally is thus becoming Democratic President Joe Biden’s most powerful political opponent. McCarthy is the new number three in the state ranking after the US president and his vice president and follows Democrat Nancy Pelosi in the powerful role.
The party’s internal rebellion against McCarthy paralyzed the House of Representatives for days and plunged it into chaos. The lengthy process is seen as a sign of internal dissension among Republicans.