Kevin McCarthy was chosen as Yu
| Reuters News Agency, News Dvar |
Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker of the United States House of Representatives on Saturday. Despite the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, McCarthy struggled to win a majority due to a far-right insurgency that cast doubt on the party’s ability to govern.
Even in the last vote, McCarthy did not receive the confidence of the absolute majority of the House of Representatives, of 218 members, but won with a result of 216 to 212. This was possible after six Republican rebels agreed to abstain from voting, instead of voting for another Republican candidate. This is the narrowest victory for a Speaker of the House of Representatives in the last 160 years, and it signals to McCarthy the difficulties he will face in a polarized House of Representatives with a small majority.
McCarthy was forced to agree to various demands of the rebel group members, including the requirement that any member of Congress be able to vote on a motion to impeach him at any given moment. McCarthy’s resignation is expected to significantly reduce his power, especially in times of crisis or when trying to pass controversial legislation in the House of Representatives. Also, in the current situation, McCarthy may have difficulty reaching agreements and compromises with the Democratic Party, which controls the White House and the Senate.
“My father always told me: ‘It’s not about how you start, but how you finish,'”
McCarthy said in his inaugural address yesterday morning. He was applauded by his Republican colleagues
“Our system is built on checks and balances. This is our time to be a check and provide a balance to the president’s policies.”
McCarthy has the authority to block the legislative initiatives of the Biden administration, and to force votes on issues related to the agenda of the Republican Party. Later in the speech, the new chairman presented his order of priorities, in which the issues of immigration and cutting government spending are high on the agenda.
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