(Washington) The Hamas attack on Israel had repercussions that reached the US Congress, giving impetus on Monday to negotiations between Republicans over the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Throwing a stone in the pond, the expelled “Parliament Speaker” Kevin McCarthy made it clear that he did not rule out the possibility of returning to the Council, citing his diplomatic experience with Israel and the necessity of filling his position as quickly as possible. Allow Congress to act.
Because the vacancy in the House of Representatives, announced by Trump’s supporters on Tuesday in a historic vote, has led to the suspension of the vast majority of this institution’s parliamentary work – despite many elected officials calling for the release of urgent aid to Israel.
Without a Speaker in the House of Representatives, Congress cannot vote on a new budget for the federal state, nor decide on a possible additional envelope for Ukraine.
Scalise, Jordan…
Republicans have enjoyed a majority in the House of Representatives since last January, making them de facto responsible for electing the president of this institution.
But extremely strong tensions between moderate elected officials and Trump supporters completely derailed this process, culminating in the firing of Kevin McCarthy on October 3.
But the surprise attack by Palestinian Hamas increased pressure to restore order in this parliamentary group, as the United States is a historical partner of Israel.
Two officially elected Republicans are already vying for House Speaker: on the one hand, the group’s leader, Steve Scalise, a member of the hard right, who suffers from leukemia.
Photo by Michael A. McCoy, New York Times Archives
Steve Scalise (left) and Jim Jordan (right) are running for Speaker of the House.
On the other hand, the feisty Jim Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and close confidant of Donald Trump. The former president, a candidate for the 2024 election, has already lined up behind Jim Jordan, ensuring his running mate has his “full support.”
…or McCarthy?
But to everyone’s surprise, Kevin McCarthy announced on Monday that he might also be a candidate for his old position, something he ruled out last week.
After being repeatedly pressured about his possible return to power, the elected official from California limited himself to telling the press: “It is up to the parliamentary group to choose.”
Photography by Jose Luis Magaña, The Associated Press
Kevin McCarthy
Before launching into a blistering tirade recounting his “numerous” trips to Gaza, his May speech to the Knesset, and his phone conversations “last week” with President Isaac Herzog.
Then he decided: “We can’t do anything without a president.”
Many of Kevin McCarthy’s followers have already called on the elected official to run again.
“This period of chaos and uncertainty has proven that it was a mistake to fire him,” Florida elected official Carlos Gimenez said.
Kevin McCarthy’s re-election would be a dramatic turnaround. But it would require the compliance of a handful of pro-Trump rioters – far from a guarantee.
A handful of these Donald Trump loyalists have also suggested that the former president himself could be the next Speaker of the House.
It’s a surprising proposition, to say the least, but not impossible: The Speaker of the House does not technically need to be elected to Congress to get into office.
But the scenario seems highly unlikely, especially since current Republican rules prohibit the accused from holding a position in the leadership of the parliamentary group.
The Republican Party General Staff wants the party to reach a solution by Wednesday evening.
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