Republican Kevin McCarthy failed at the seventh attempt to be elected chairman of the House of Representatives. This resulted from the result of the oral vote on Thursday, which still had to be formally confirmed by the head of the session in the parliamentary chamber. The 57-year-old had again made major concessions to his party opponents before the renewed attempt – but they continued to refuse to follow him.
McCarthy had already failed to get the required number of votes in previous ballots. This time, too, the situation did not improve for him one bit. Again, the Republicans nominated an opposing candidate – again the Republican representative Byron Donalds. He received 19 votes. Republican Matt Gaetz voted in the oral vote for ex-President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, several Republicans refused to support their party colleague McCarthy and voted for other candidates in the election for the presidency. 20 Republicans rallied behind opposition candidate Byron Donalds in Wednesday’s ballot. Also on Thursday an opponent of McCarthy nominated Donalds again. Until the chairman’s personal details have been clarified, nothing happens in the House of Representatives: not even the new MPs can be sworn in.
