Republican Kevin McCarthy has been elected the new president of the United States after winning the fifteenth ballot after chaotic scenes in Congress.
McCarthy’s party won control of the House of Representatives – the United States House of Representatives – after the midterm elections in the fall with a narrow majority of 222 votes to 212.
Usually, the Speaker of the House is elected softly, as a formality, and the leader of the largest party is best placed to hold the position.
However, recent divisions in Republican Party In other words, it only happened on the fifteenth ballot.
On the 14th ballot, McCarthy had 216 votes – one shy of the number needed to win – while a small far-right faction resisted.
He eventually won by a margin of 216-211.
He was elected with less than half the vote in the House of Representatives only because five members of his party abstained – not endorsing Mr McCarthy as leader, but also not voting for another challenger .
US President Joe Biden congratulated him on his success and said he was “ready to work with Republicans” whenever he could.
“keep civilization”
A tense exchange ensued after the fourteenth round, with McCarthy seen walking to the back of the room to confront Rep. Matt Gaetz, who hadn’t voted for him.
Mr Gates was one of six remaining Republicans who defaulted by voting “present” in the 14th and 15th rounds.
Essentially, this means that he recorded that he was in the House to vote, but did not endorse anyone who would be the next Speaker of the House.
After McCarthy approached him, a hostile exchange ensued as many Republican lawmakers began to rally behind them.
Rep. Mike Rogers, who had supported McCarthy in the vote, appeared to rush to where Gaetz was seated, but was stopped by other members.
One of them was heard shouting “preserve civilization”.
Representative Richard Hudson – another supporter of Mr McCarthy – was also seen holding Rogers around his mouth, but it was unclear what the controversy was about.
Use Chrome for an easily accessible video player
McCarthy’s concessions are extended
Several far-right Republicans felt that McCarthy was not conservative enough to take office, although he agreed to many of his critics’ demands.
One of the toughest demands McCarthy accepted was the reinstatement of a longstanding House rule that would allow any member to call a vote to remove them from office.
This would severely limit the power he would retain to try to pass laws on key issues, including government funding, resolution of the country’s impending debt ceiling and other crises that may arise.
House members get physical and Rep. Andy Harris pushes Rep. Mike Rogers
Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most powerful positions in American politics, and this week’s failed vote marked the most votes for a president since 1859.
Sessions to select the right person for the job lasted hours in the room this week, with one session exceeding eight hours.
