Steve Scalise, who has left the race, estimates that the Republicans still have work to do to fix internal divisions. Twenty or so Republicans had opposed Scalise’s election as speaker.
The crisis in the US House of Representatives deepened further on Thursday when Republican Steve Scalise announced that he was withdrawing from the race for Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Republican Party had chosen Scalise as its candidate a day earlier in a close vote.
News channel CNN’s according to the House Republicans had tried to resolve the tense situation on Thursday. The Republican representatives had resolved the deadlock, among other things, in a meeting that lasted more than two hours, after which Scalise had met his opponents in his own office. Republicans agreed to hold another meeting Thursday night.
According to CNN, however, the number of Scalise’s opponents grew even more on Thursday. In total, about 20 Republicans are said to have publicly opposed the House Majority Leader’s selection as Speaker.
“This House of Representatives needs a Speaker”
Getting elected requires the support of the majority in the House of Representatives, and according to the news channel, Scalise could only afford to lose four votes.
According to CNN, several Republicans described Thursday’s meeting as a venting session and did not feel it was very productive. Many said it didn’t seem like anyone could get the necessary 217 votes.
Scalise, who represents Louisiana, told reporters about leaving the race for speaker on Thursday evening local time. Scalise estimates that House Republicans still have work to do to bridge the divide that divides the party.
– Some people still have their own agendas, and I made it very clear that everyone needs to put their agendas aside and focus on what this country needs. This country is counting on us to come together, Scalise said, according to CNN.
He underlined that the House of Representatives must be allowed to continue its activities.
– This House of Representatives needs a Speaker, he emphasized.
Disputes within the Republican Party led last week to the Republican House Speaker by Kevin McCarthy to be ousted from his position in a close vote. It was the first time in US history that a president has been forced to resign.
Scalise was named the Republican presidential nominee on Wednesday after narrowly defeating his opponent, the far-right favorite from Ohio. by Jim Jordan.
Source: AFP