The United States once again finds itself plunged into a political impasse that threatens to paralyze the government. Republicans in the House of Representatives are struggling to find a consensus candidate to occupy the post of Speaker of the House, which endangers the proper functioning of Congress.
Since the ouster of Kevin McCarthy three weeks ago, Republicans have tried several times to nominate a new leader for the House of Representatives. But this task turned out to be a real headache for the party, divided between supporters of Donald Trump and moderates.
The last attempt was that of Tom Emmer, the number three Republican in the House. But to everyone’s surprise, he ultimately gave up, failing to gain the support of the entire party. The impasse highlights the deep divisions that exist within the Republican Party, between those who support Trump’s hard line and those who are willing to compromise.
For Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, specialist in the United States, this crisis reveals the divide that exists within the Republican Party. On the one hand, Trump supporters are increasingly radical and refuse to compromise. On the other hand, moderates are ready to find compromise solutions to move things forward. This ideology of no compromise paralyzes the American political system, which normally relies on the ability to find compromise.
This political impasse is not only an internal crisis within the Republican Party, it also represents a threat to the government as a whole. Indeed, without a consensual Speaker of the House, Congress will not be able to vote on the federal budget for the coming year. This situation could lead to a “shutdown”, that is to say the closure of non-essential government activities due to lack of funding. Hundreds of thousands of workers would then find themselves sent home without pay.
Additionally, this political blockage would also prevent Congress from approving military aid requested by President Joe Biden for Ukraine and Israel, two allies of the United States. This aid, amounting to more than $100 billion, is crucial for the security and stability of these countries.
Faced with this political impasse, it is urgent to find a solution to avoid a “shutdown” and allow the government to function normally. An unexpected alliance between moderate Republicans and Joe Biden’s party could be the key to breaking the impasse. Democrats have already expressed a willingness to work with moderate Republicans to find compromise solutions and get things done.
Now is the time for members of Congress to put aside their differences and work together for the sake of the country. The American people expect elected officials to put aside their partisan quarrels and act in the public interest. It is time to show true unity and leadership to break this political impasse that is endangering the very functioning of government.