WASHINGTON, Jan 4 US President Joe Biden joked that if the strife among the Republicans over the election of the speaker of the House of Representatives continues, then the most unexpected candidate will take the post.
During a speech in Kentucky, the American leader said that his fellow party member, educator and former Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman, was absent from the event. He was recently elected to the new House of Representatives for the first time.
«He's dealing with attempts to nominate a new speaker of the House of Representatives. I wish him much luck. He could be the first rookie ever elected Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the US president sneered. to choose their main candidate for this post, Kevin McCarthy. He failed to lead the House, despite the support of former US President Donald Trump.
The Republicans, who narrowly won the House majority, promised the Biden administration numerous investigations into the border crisis and accusations that the president was allegedly involved in the international business of his family members. The lower house of Congress has not yet begun its work. Before the election of the speaker, congressmen cannot take the oath and start legislation. In fact, the beginning of the work of the Republican majority chamber is hindered by members of the same party who disagree with McCarthy's candidacy, which the media called «an influential conservative group.»
It's only 14 times in history that congressmen have failed to elect a speaker in one round, something that hasn't happened since 1923. Elections will continue until one of the contenders reaches the required 218 votes, and legislators have the right to add new candidates to the ballots at any time. There are 222 Republicans and 212 Democrats in the House of Representatives following the results of the November elections.