Who will replace Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives? This question has agitated the American political scene since the surprise dismissal of McCarthy on October 3. Infighting within the Republican Party has paralyzed Congress, leaving the country without political leadership and blocking urgent measures.
In an informal vote held on Wednesday, Louisiana MP Steve Scalise topped the vote and appeared to be the favorite to become Speaker of the House. However, he has not yet managed to convince enough members of the Trumpist party, who play a key role in this election, to ascend to the post of president and allow a vote to be held in plenary session.
Steve Scalise, 58, is a respected member of the Republican Party and is known to the general public for surviving a serious gunshot wound during baseball practice in 2017. However, his candidacy is contested by some members of the fringe Trumpist, who question his budgetary positions and raise concerns about his health, given his battle with blood cancer.
This division within the Republican Party reflects the yawning fractures that cross the American political scene. The process of selecting a new Speaker of the House of Representatives is seen as crucial to restoring political stability and allowing the institution to resume normal functioning.
In the meantime, the House of Representatives is unable to submit texts to a vote, thus blocking the adoption of urgent measures, such as additional aid to Israel after the Hamas offensive or the allocation of funds for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
The US Congress faces a critical situation, as President Joe Biden’s mandate requires the adoption of crucial measures for national security and the country’s economy. Without a new president of the House of Representatives, Congress cannot pass new laws or adopt a budget for the federal state, thus risking plunging public administration into total paralysis.
It is therefore essential that the Republican Party quickly finds a consensus and appoints a new president of the House of Representatives in order to revive the functioning of Congress and allow the adoption of urgent measures for the good of the country. The current political situation highlights the importance of strong leadership and an ability to overcome divisions for the good of the nation. All attention now turns to the upcoming plenary vote, which will determine who will take on this crucial responsibility.