The leader of the US House of Representatives, Republican Kevin McCarthy, was removed from office on Tuesday, with Democrats joining the far right in the vote that dictated his departure.
The 216-210 vote, forced by a faction formed by the more right-wing of the Republican Party, puts the House of Representatives (House of Representatives) and its Republican leadership in an unprecedented position. Of the 216 votes, eight were Republicans: Andy Biggs, Ken Buck, Tim Burchett, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Nancy Mays and Matt Rosendale.
Congressman Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a motion to remove the House leader, bringing together eight conservative Republican critics and 208 Democrats (there were four who did not vote). The 210 votes against the proposal were all Republican.
The Associated Press reported that the next steps are uncertain, but there is no clear successor to lead the Republican majority in the House.
Only two other House leaders have undergone such a proposal in the past century, both of whom were unsuccessful: Republicans Joseph Cannon in 1910 and John Boehner in 2015.
The budget agreement with Democrats condemned McCarthy’s departure
McCarthy was in a fragile position from the beginning of his term, as he was elected after 15 attempts. However, after McCarthy reached an agreement with the Democratic Party to temporarily approve the budget and avoid a shutdown of much of the state.A group of Congress members from the most extreme wing of Republicans called for a vote to remove him.
The far right also accuses McCarthy of concluding a “secret deal” with President Joe Biden over potential aid to Ukraine.
The right wing of the Republican Party strongly opposes releasing additional funds to Kiev, believing that these funds should be used to combat the migration crisis at the US-Mexico border.
GOP infighting prompted former President Donald Trump to respond: “Why do Republicans spend their time arguing with each other, why aren’t they fighting the far-left Democrats who are destroying our country?” he asked on his social network Truth. social.
And remember, McCarthy recently opened an investigation against President Joe Biden.
The role of the alternate president
For the time being, work will stop until a new president is chosen. Until that happens, Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry will take office. The main role of the interim president is to oversee the election of a new leader.
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