Republican Kevin McCarthy was removed as leader of the United States House of Representatives on Tuesday following a motion against him introduced by a member of his own party in retaliation for concessions to Democrats.

The resolution, introduced on Monday by ultra-conservative Matt Gaetz, was approved by 216 votes to 210. This made history, as it is the first time that such a motion has been adopted.

This afternoon’s vote was an unprecedented vote that had not been held in the United States for more than a century.

Avoid a government shutdown

McCarthy unleashed anger in the party’s ultraconservative wing when he approved a bipartisan emergency funding measure on Saturday, backed by the White House, to avert a government shutdown.

Leading the criticism is Congressman Matt Gaetz, a longtime antagonist of McCarthy, who on Monday filed a “motion to relinquish the presidency,” forcing Tuesday’s vote.

The House of Representatives voted 216-210 to impeach Representative Kevin McCarthy, and a handful of his Republican colleagues joined Democrats in impeaching him. Seven members were absent.

McCarthy will be replaced on an interim basis by fellow Republican Patrick McHenry, representing North Carolina’s 10th District.

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz was the one who introduced the impeachment motion that removed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from office. Photo: EFE

Gaetz, who had opposed McCarthy’s nomination as leader from the start, had threatened for months to initiate the process to remove him from office, and that threat only intensified last weekend after McCarthy relied on Democratic votes to to put forward the law that extended government funding in key areas. problems for 45 days and thus prevented a government shutdown.

Although McCarthy announced Tuesday that he was confident he had enough support to continue the leadership, his luck began to turn in the wrong direction when Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told his party’s members to vote to drop him off.

Since last November’s midterm elections, the Conservatives have 221 seats in that chamber and the Democrats 212. The motion had to be approved by a simple majority.

Gaetz is part of the ‘Freedom Caucus’, the wing of the Republican Party most sympathetic to former President Donald Trump (2017-2021). (JO)