Pro-Ukrainian candidate for speakership in US Congress withdraws his candidacy under pressure from Trumpists

Republican Representative Tom Emmer, who was selected on Tuesday 24 October as a candidate for speaker of the House, withdrew hours later under pressure from the party's far-right, the Trumpist wing, which declined to endorse him.

Source: This was reported by sources of a number of American media, in particular CNN and The Washington Post, writes European Pravda

Details: Following several rounds of closed votes by House Republicans, Emmer was able to secure the support of only 117 of them. After that, the faction began to discuss under what conditions his candidacy would be supported by a vote in the House.

Although the Republican Party has a formal majority in the lower house of Congress of 221 seats, the votes of only five Republicans allow it to block any decision. At the same time, several dozen representatives of the far-right wing said that under no circumstances would they support Emmer.

Donald Trump, the most popular politician among Republicans, who directly opposed the new candidate for the speakership, also intervened in the process.

Now, after Emmer withdraws his candidacy, Republicans must again begin the process of electing a candidate.

The US House of Representatives cannot pass new laws, including aid to Ukraine until a new speaker is elected. The US interim federal budget is only due through mid-November, so Congress needs to address this issue to avoid a shutdown.

That is why the person chosen as the speaker of the lower house of Congress matters to Kyiv. Emmer is considered a supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Last week, the Republican members of the US House of Representatives voted by secret ballot to remove the candidacy of far-right Trumpist Jim Jordan, who was running for the post of speaker, because he could not garner enough support, instead losing votes with each new round.

On 3 October, Kevin McCarthy resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives. This happened under pressure from the far-right wing of his Republican Party, where McCarthy was accused of working with Democrats and a "secret deal" to help Ukraine. 

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