The race for US House Speaker takes an unexpected turn

Congressman Steve Scalise has abruptly withdrawn from the race for Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Washington Post reported on October 12, just one day after House Republicans nominated the Louisiana lawmaker for the role at a caucus of party members.

On October 11, Mr. Scalise – currently the Republican Majority Leader of the House of Representatives – narrowly won the vote to select a candidate for the permanent speakership of the “American” representative body against Representative Jim Jordan – a right-wing Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump, with a vote ratio of 113-99.

Realizing he was far from the 217 votes needed in a joint bipartisan vote to win the powerful gavel in the House, Scalise decided to withdraw in the hope that someone else would be able to unite the Republican Party more.

The US Congress has been in chaos and paralysis since October 3rd after Kevin McCarthy was ousted as Speaker of the House, leaving a power vacuum and questions about who is capable of taking on the position at a time when many challenges are arising both at home and abroad.

From left to right: Mr. Steve Scalise, Mr. Kevin McCarthy and Mr. Jim Jordan. Photo: CNN

In Washington, the threat of another government shutdown looms if no spending deal is passed by lawmakers on Capitol Hill next month.

Outside the United States, Israel and Ukraine are locked in conflict. And now more than ever, the White House needs congressional approval for any new financial or military aid to allies.

Mr. Scalise's unexpected decision to withdraw has brought the race to find the owner of the "hot seat" in the US House of Representatives back to the starting line.

“I just shared with my colleagues that I am withdrawing my name from consideration for speaker of the House,” Scalise said on October 11. “If you look at where our conference is, you see there is still work to be done. Our conference needs to move toward unity. It is clear that it has not yet been achieved. There are still some people who have their own agenda.”

After Scalise withdrew, Jordan’s supporters immediately began to endorse him as the next candidate, and Jordan is expected to continue running. But the Ohio congressman could face opposition from more moderate members of the Republican Party.

Mr McCarthy also did not rule out returning to the position of Speaker of the House, saying he would “let the conference decide” whether to reinstate him in the post he was stripped of last week .

Minh Duc (According to Business Insider, NY Times)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/cuoc-dua-gianh-chuc-chu-tich-ha-vien-my-co-dien-bien-bat-ngo-a630862.html