This drama will still cause problems for the USA
After four days, 15 ballots and chaotic scenes, Kevin McCarthy manages to get enough right-wing hardliners on his side – and becomes speaker of the House of Representatives. But the price for this is high.
Kevin McCarthy succeeds Nancy Pelosi as Chairman of the US House of Representatives: The Republican is relieved after the result in the 15th ballot.
Photo: Keystone
The witching hour had dawned in Washington DC when Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker in the House of Representatives on Saturday night. The time coincided with this American spectacle that will linger and cause problems for America. The finale after midnight was a mixture of mad drama and abysmal embarrassment for the USA, for the most important parliament in the world and above all for the Republicans, that drifted Grand Old Party.
The moon fought the clouds over the Capitol, the House of Representatives became a madhouse. After four days, 15 rounds of voting, chaotic scenes and more or less secret negotiations, McCarthy managed at 12:38 a.m. to collect the 216 votes needed this time and win an absolute majority. He had failed with 14 defeats before, which this institution had last experienced in a similar way before the civil war.
In the end he only won because his last five opponents abstained after negotiations and tumult and another postponement of the vote was suddenly and miraculously withdrawn.