Republicans nominated a new candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday in an attempt to end the paralysis of Congress. Since October 3, the camp has been torn apart over the choice of its leader, after two unsuccessful attempts. This division, which is coming to light one year before the American presidential election, poses the threat of a “shutdown” in mid-November.
Published on: 10/24/2023 – 7:55 p.m.
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The impasse continues in the US Congress. Three weeks after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, Republicans in the House of Representatives are trying for the third time, Tuesday, October 24, to fill the position of new Speaker of the House and get Congress back to work. This procedure, usually simple, is proving to be a real headache for the party, divided between supporters of Donald Trump and moderates.
If the number three Republican in the House, Tom Emmer, obtained a simple majority of his colleagues behind closed doors as candidate for the position, the hardest part remains to be done. This elected official, little known to the general public, will still have to be dubbed by the entire party during a vote in public session.
Since the ouster of Kevin McCarthy by the Freedom Caucus, House Republicans have failed to unite around a single candidate. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana) was nominated as successor, but he withdrew days later amid strong backlash from hard-right lawmakers. Trumpist Jim Jordan was then chosen, but had to withdraw after three unsuccessful votes, plunging the lower house of the US Congress, supposed to be one of the most powerful parliaments in the world, into an ever-deepening crisis.
Also read: What you need to know about the Freedom Caucus, these Republicans who brought down Kevin McCarthy
Ideology of non-compromise
“This crisis reveals the divide in the Republican Party caught between the supporters of Donald Trump, who are increasingly radical, and the moderates, who are ready to make compromises,” analyzes Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, responsible for course at Sciences-Po Paris Saint-Germain and specialist in the United States. “The American system works through constant compromise. However, the ideology of no compromise, carried by some of the Republicans, paralyzes the system.”
Ally of former President Donald Trump, Jim Jordan seemed, last week, to be on the verge of putting an end to this increasingly embarrassing situation for the party. But 25 Republicans, criticizing him for his overly extreme positions, and all 212 Democrats voted against him. A failure which constitutes a new setback for Donald Trump himself.
“Donald Trump uses chaos as a strategy to present himself as a savior and blame Joe Biden for the situation,” explains Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy. “It’s a classic populist strategy that aims to undermine trust in the establishment and promote radical change. But this time, I don’t see how the Republicans can turn the narrative around and say it’s the Democrats’ fault. This could pose huge problems for them in the upcoming elections because it gives the impression that they are incapable of governing.”
Donald Trump’s allies have not finished causing a stir. They are opposed to the candidacy of Tom Emmer, newly designated speaker, because he voted to certify Joe Biden’s victory in 2020. “With Trump, it’s a little bit like the mafia. If you are not loyal to the end, you are a traitor,” underlines Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy.
While the former president, busy with his legal problems and his presidential campaign, has so far let House Republicans decide their own fate, he said this weekend that he has no plans to bring his support for Tom Emmer.
La menace d’un “shutdown”
Another difficulty caused by the internal divisions of the Republicans: the threat of a “shutdown” (closure of non-essential government activities, due to lack of funding) which hangs over the United States, with hundreds of thousands of workers sent home without pay in a few weeks. Without a “speaker”, Congress will not be able to vote on the federal budget for 2024 by November 17. Federal aviation and agriculture programs could also be suspended.
This situation would also prevent Congress from approving military aid requested by President Joe Biden for Ukraine and Israel, two allies of the United States, exceeding $ 100 billion.
Faced with these gaping internal fractures, an unexpected alliance between moderate Republicans and Joe Biden’s party, which has until now remained a spectator of these negotiations, could be a solution to break the deadlock. Democrats have already said they are willing to support a compromise candidate, which could allow the House to function and avoid a shutdown. “It’s a possibility, but there is no certainty. Here too, it would be seen as a betrayal for the Trumpists,” concludes Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy.
2023-10-24 17:55:28
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