McCarthy loses the 11th ballot to be elected Speaker of the House for the division in the Republican Party
The House of Representatives adjourns the session for the second consecutive day
The leader of the Republicans in the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy has lost this Thursday the eleventh round to be elected president of the same, marking the longest vote in 164 years.
McCarthy has gotten 200 votes, while he needs a minimum of 218 to hold the position of Speaker of the House. His party mate Kevin Hern has received seven votes, while fellow Republican Party member Byron Donalds has obtained 12 supports. On his part, the Democratic candidate, Kaheem Jeffries, has maintained the 212 support of the total representatives of his own party.
After that, the lower house has postponed the voting session, again, until Friday at noon, without it being clear if, with the resumption of the plenary session, there will be an agreement.
McCarthy has indicated that he is making progress, “without setting a deadline”, and ensuring that he does not believe that the multiple failed votes undermine his power. “All (lawmakers) will have to learn to work together. It’s better that we go through this process right now, so that we can achieve the things that we want to achieve for the American public,” she said.
The Chamber continues to be paralyzed in the absence of the election of a president, delaying the swearing in of the newly elected members during the midterm legislative elections, as well as the investigations or the approval of norms and laws.
The Republican Party, which has a majority in the lower house, is divided to choose the person who will lead the House of Representatives, causing the need to call the twelfth ballot. Since 1859, legislators had not had to be summoned to more than ten votes.
The representatives have met again this Thursday to resume the voting, after two days without progress, in which the supporters of the hard wing of the Republicans have refused to support McCarthy.
In addition, despite negotiations to get his vote, politicians opposed to McCarthy have nominated new candidates — such as former President Donald Trump — to win ballots for him, as CNN has reported.
The Republican leader had made several concessions overnight, including reinstating a rule whereby a single House member could force a vote to oust the president, in order to appeal to his detractors, as reported by the NBC network.
These measures are increasing tensions among moderate Republicans, due to the “growing frustration” generated by McCarthy’s concessions to his opponents.
This blockade has previously been criticized by US President Joe Biden, who has described the situation in the House as “shameful”.
