Republican Kevin McCarthy has been ousted as Speaker of the House of Representatives after a vote of confidence. Now a budget shutdown is approaching and Ukraine support is in danger.
– This could be a problem in the future, says Lisa Grenfors, foreign commentator for TV4 Nyheterna.
Just before half past two last night Swedish time, Kevin McCarthy announced his political future. It is the first time in the country’s history that a Speaker of the House of Representatives has been voted out. Ahead of the vote, several Republicans expressed their support for McCarthy and warned of chaos in Congress if party members impeached the speaker.
– I do not regret that I stood up and chose government power over abuse. It was my responsibility and my job. I don’t regret our negotiations and I don’t regret my efforts to build consensus and find solutions, Kevin McCarthy said after the vote.
Eight hardline Republicans on the right wing chastised McCarthy for working with Democrats over the weekend to avoid a federal shutdown. There is much that is unclear on the American political scene right now. It is uncertain how long it may take to choose a new speaker and there is also no given candidate.
– These are politicians who want to shake up the establishment and who don’t like compromises, says Lisa Grenfors, foreign commentator for TV4 Nyheterna.
Divided Congress
The divided Congress has also not been able to agree on a state budget for the country. Recently it was decided on a short-term solution, to let the costs run for 45 days to give more time for negotiations. For the time being, Republican Patrick McHenry of North Carolina will serve as Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives.
– He has very limited powers and now a new chairman must be found. The Speaker’s position is a very important position in the United States. It is the one that is after the President and the Vice President in the power relations and is also the one that leads the entire work of Congress. Now it’s about finding a compromise candidate that everyone can agree on and no one knows who it might be, says Lisa Grenfors, TV4 Nyheterna’s foreign affairs commentator.
Risk of withdrawn Ukraine aid
Those behind the impeachment of McCarthy consist of a phalanx advocating a tight city budget and the withdrawal of Ukraine aid. The eventual successor will probably be under even more pressure to avoid further support for Ukraine, according to an analysis by Goldman Sachs, TT reports.
At the same time, Joe Biden appeals for calm and assures his allies in NATO that support for Ukraine is firm despite the political chaos. The decision to oust Kevin McCarthy shows a rift within Congress and reflects a polarized country, says Lisa Grenfors.
– The USA is a very divided country and it is very difficult to find compromises.