Reuters
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
The United States House of Representatives today elects the successor to Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi. This is usually a piece of a hammer, the result of which is determined weeks or even months in advance. This time it threatens to become chaos, because Republican candidate Kevin McCarthy (57) is unable to get enough party members behind him.
McCarthy was a successful Republican leader for three years. At the elections in November Republicans won 222 seats in the House, 5 more than the 218 needed for a majority. McCarthy then became the clear candidate for this important and honorable position. He was even allowed to take a seat in the president’s office.
However, it cannot be ruled out that he could pack his bags again. A dozen Trump supporters from the ultraconservative wing of the Republican Party have opposed him as president, saying he is too weak and not conservative enough to run against Democrats.
