Should the powers of the interim speaker be strengthened? Accept an alliance with the Democrats? Support the candidacy of a Trump lieutenant? All options were on the table on Thursday, the 16th day of chaotic paralysis in the U.S. House of Representatives caused by bickering between Republicans.
• Also read: The American Congress has been paralyzed for 15 days and still cannot elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives
This is a completely unprecedented situation: one of the two chambers of Congress, said to be one of the most powerful parliaments in the world, has not been able to vote on a bill for more than two weeks.
Separately, President Joe Biden is preparing to allocate significant funding to Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, and Israel, which is at war with Hamas, in a speech at 8pm (0000 GMT Friday). , to promote. The Chamber cannot currently grant this request.
The vast majority of that institution’s powers were suspended by the historic October 3 firing of its leader, Kevin McCarthy, a victim of divisions between moderate Republicans and Trumpists.
Trump’s lieutenant
The Conservatives make up the majority in the House of Commons and are therefore responsible for choosing the “Speaker”. But these 221 parliamentarians cannot agree on a new president.
Ohio elected official Jim Jordan, a member of the party’s most conservative fringe and a close confidant of Donald Trump, is currently the only Republican candidate vying for the post.
But after two weeks of very slow negotiations and two votes in the chamber of the House of Representatives, the fifty-year-old still does not have the support of enough of his colleagues to be elected.
Around twenty moderate Republicans criticize the combative elected official for taking too extreme positions and for this reason refuse to elect him as “speaker”.
Will he stick to his candidacy despite everything? Republicans met on Thursday to discuss how to proceed.
An example of the very high tensions that exist in a faction completely divided between Trumpists and moderates: American journalists reported shouts and insults in the room where the elected officials met.
Several moderates also said they have received death threats since voting against Jim Jordan.
- Listen to the American political column with Professor Luc Laliberté about QUB radio :
Exit from the crisis
The group is currently examining several scenarios to emerge from this crisis, starting with the possibility of temporarily strengthening the powers of the interim “Speaker” Patrick McHenry.
The sole responsibility of this North Carolina elected official — recognizable by the bow tie he always wears with his suits — is currently organizing the election of Kevin McCarthy’s successor.
But thanks to a vote in the House of Representatives, the forty-year-old could be authorized to head this institution for a few months.
It’s time to pass a new state budget, which expires in less than a month. And that the Republicans get into marching formation.
Another possible outcome: a surprising alliance between moderate Republicans and Joe Biden’s party, the Democrats, who have so far been largely spectators of these negotiations.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called on Republicans to end “their civil war” and called for forming “a coalition that cuts across party lines.”