A decision is expected to be made today (local time) in the power struggle between US Republicans in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced that he would put a motion for his own impeachment to a vote later in the day.
The “motion to vacate” was presented by his ultraconservative party colleague Matt Gaetz, outraged by the compromise with the Democrats in the US budget dispute.
The result of the vote was uncertain. If McCarthy is removed from office, the search for a new speaker will likely paralyze work in the House of Representatives. This would also affect the already difficult and urgent negotiations with the Senate on a final budget.
The arch-conservative revolt against McCarthy is a direct result of the budget dispute. This brought US federal institutions to the brink of a budget freeze last week. Despite warnings from a group of about two dozen radicals, McCarthy turned to Democrats for help to avoid the shutdown through stopgap funding until November 17.
Removal by the party itself would be a novelty
In the nearly 250 years of US history, the speaker of the House of Representatives has never been removed from office by a vote of his own party. It remains unclear what McCarthy’s chances were. Republicans have a slim 221-212 majority in the House. If all Democrats voted against McCarthy, five dissident Republicans would be enough to oust him.
In the USA there is no mandatory faction. It remained a big question whether Democrats would help McCarthy. Many of them are upset that he allowed Democratic President Joe Biden to be impeached. This initiative is considered hopeless.