The future of the presidency of the House of Representatives in the United States is still uncertain following the impeachment of Kevin McCarthy. Republicans are looking for a successor, but internal divisions make the task difficult.
Currently, Louisiana elected representative Steve Scalise is leading the preferences in an informal vote organized by members of the Republican Party. However, he has not yet managed to gather enough support among Donald Trump’s supporters to ascend to the office of president and allow an official vote to be held.
The impeachment of Kevin McCarthy created a paralysis in Congress, with the House of Representatives unable to bring bills to a vote. This notably blocks any additional aid to allied countries like Israel, but also important foreign policy decisions, like Ukraine.
The appointment of a new president of the House of Representatives is therefore crucial to breaking this impasse. Steve Scalise seems to be the favorite so far, but his candidacy is not unanimous, in particular because of his budgetary positions and his fragile health.
It is important to emphasize that the race for speaker of the House of Representatives is a reflection of the divisions within the Republican Party. Moderates oppose Trumpists, creating fissures within the party and making it difficult to choose a leader who can unify the different factions.
The US Congress therefore finds itself in a delicate situation, with major issues pending and little hope of a rapid resolution. President Joe Biden called on Congress to act quickly to fund national security imperatives and avoid a government shutdown.
The process of nominating the new Speaker of the House of Representatives is still ongoing and it remains to be seen who will succeed Kevin McCarthy. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress remains deadlocked, with important decisions pending and divisions that appear far from resolved.