Chaos Takes Over the US House of Representatives

254

October 11, 2023

Published in ABC
(Spain) on 5 October 2023
by (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Tom Walker. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.

McCarthy’s fall has paralyzed the institution and opened a window into the Republican Party, exposing a crisis deeper than Donald Trump’s populism.

Kevin McCarthy will go down in history for setting several dubious records during his time in the House of Representatives. First, for the 15 votes he forced the House to take to get elected speaker during a chaotic week last January. Second, for being the first speaker to be removed by his colleagues barely nine months after being elected.

One thing is a consequence of the other. To win election, McCarthy agreed to modify the rules so that any member of the House could advance a motion to vacate the position of House speaker. That, combined with a slim majority – 221 Republicans to 212 Democrats – made it easy for the young radical Matt Gaetz and seven other representatives to join the Democrats and unseat McCarthy. McCarthy’s fall has paralyzed the institution and opened a window into the Republican Party, exposing a crisis deeper than Donald Trump’s populism.

El caos se apodera de la Cámara Baja en EE.UU.
La caída de McCarthy paraliza la institución y abre en canal al Partido Republicano exponiendo una crisis que es más profunda y que no se limita al populismo de Donald Trump

Kevin McCarthy pasará a la historia por varios dudosos récords en su paso por la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos. Primero, por las quince votaciones que forzó en enero de este año para presidir la corporación durante una semana caótica. Y segundo, por ser el primer presidente destituido por sus colegas apenas nueve meses después de ser elegido.

Una cosa es consecuencia de la otra: en enero, para hacerse elegir, McCarthy aceptó modificar el reglamento para que cualquier miembro de la Cámara pudiera poner en agenda la destitución del 'speaker'. Eso, unido a su débil mayoría de 221 republicanos frente a 212 demócratas facilitó que un joven radical, Matt Gaetz, y siete representantes más, se unieran a los demócratas para descabalgarlo. La caída de McCarthy paraliza la institución y abre en canal al Partido Republicano exponiendo una crisis que es más profunda y que no se limita al populismo de Donald Trump.

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