The Republican Michael Johnsonthe new president of the House of Representativesis an ally of donald trump who inherits many of the problems that tormented previous leaders of the party, tested their firmness in managing the chamber and ended up expelling them from office.
By resuming its sessions in the next few hours, the chamber will have to make up for the time lost during the weeks of chaos that followed the fall of Kevin McCarthy. But the goodwill toward Johnson masks the political fault lines that will test his ability to lead the majority bloc in confronting the serious problems that lie ahead.
Congress must approve funds for the government before November 17, otherwise there is a risk of shutting down the federal government. President Joe Biden has asked for an additional $105 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Israel and Ukraine. And Republicans eagerly hope to resume the investigation with a view to impeaching Biden over his son’s business dealings.
“This has been an exhausting process.“Johnson said Wednesday as he took the presidential stand. “The challenge ahead is enormous, but now is the time to act and I will not let you down.”
Johnson, 51, had the support of all Republicans eager to leave the chaotic weeks behind and get down to the business of governing. He was quickly sworn into the position, which is second in line to the presidency.
A low-ranking member of the Republican bloc’s leadership team, Johnson was the fourth candidate for the position in an almost absurd cycle of internal disputes since the partisan factions fought to prevail after the fall of McCarthy.
Although he is not the party favorite, Johnson, an even-tempered and deeply religious man, has few enemies and has a powerful backer: Trump.
“He is a tremendous leader,” Trump said Wednesday in court where the case for alleged commercial fraud against the former president and favorite to win the Republican nomination in the next elections is being heard. “It’s going to make us all proud.”
Congratulating the new House speaker by phone, Biden said “it’s time for all of us to act responsibly” to provide government funding and aid to Ukraine and Israel.
““We must act quickly”Biden said in a statement.
In the House, the far right had refused to accept a more traditional president, while moderate conservatives did not want a hardliner. But the affable Johnson, who has only 10 years on the bench, attracted lawmakers with his evangelical faith, his conservative roots and his support of Trump after the failure of more experienced leaders.
Source: AP
Source: Gestion
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