Senin, 09 Januari 2023

Brazil Congress: Lula vows to punish supporters of Bolsonaro after riot - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to punish supporters of the country's ex-leader, Jair Bolsonaro, after they stormed Congress.

Supporters of the ousted far-right leader also stormed the Supreme Court and surrounded the presidential palace.

But police regained control of the buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday evening after hours of clashes.

Arriving in the city, Lula toured the Supreme Court building to see the damage for himself.

Brasilia's Civil Police said that 300 people have been arrested.

The city's governor, Ibaneis Rocha, has been removed from his post for 90 days by the Supreme Court. Justice Alexandre de Moraes accused him of failing to prevent the riot and of being "painfully silent" in the face of the attack. Mr Rocha has apologised for Sunday's events.

Pro-democracy rallies are being called by leftist leaders and groups across Brazil.

The dramatic scenes - which saw thousands of protesters clad in yellow Brazil football shirts and flags overrun police and ransack the heart of the Brazilian state - come just a week after Lula's inauguration.

The veteran left-wing leader was forced to declare emergency powers before dispatching the national guard into the capital to restore order.

He also ordered the closure of the centre of the capital - including the main avenue where governmental buildings are - for 24 hours.

Satellite image showing the location of the Brazilian Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace.

Justice Minister Flavio Dino said some 40 buses which had been used to transport protesters to the capital had been seized and he called the invasion an "absurd attempt to impose [the protesters'] will by force".

Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly refused to accept that he lost October's election and last week left the country instead of taking part in inaugural ceremonies, which would have seen him hand over the iconic presidential sash.

The 67-year-old - who is believed to be in Florida - condemned the attack and denied responsibility for encouraging the rioters in a post on Twitter some six hours after violence broke out.

Speaking before he arrived in Brasilia, Lula said there was "no precedent in the history of our country" for the scenes in Brasilia and called the violence the "acts of vandals and fascists".

And he took aim at security forces whom he accused of "incompetence, bad faith or malice" for failing to stop demonstrators accessing Congress.

"You will see in the images that they [police officers] are guiding people on the walk to Praca dos Tres Powers," he said. "We are going to find out who the financiers of these vandals who went to Brasilia are and they will all pay with the force of law."

Video shared by the Brazilian outlet O Globo showed some officers laughing and taking photos together as demonstrators occupied the congressional campus in the background.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Some protesters smashed windows, while others reached the Senate chamber, where they jumped on to seats and used benches as slides.

Videos on social media show protesters pulling a police officer from his horse and attacking him outside the building.

Footage broadcast by national media show police detaining dozens of protesters in their yellow jerseys outside the presidential palace.

Other suspects - whose hands were bound behind their backs - are also seen being led out of the building.

Protesters had been gathering since the morning on the lawns in front of the parliament and up and down the kilometre of the Esplanada avenue, which is lined with government ministries and national monuments.

Despite the actions of the protesters, in the hours before the chaos, security had appeared tight, with the roads closed for about a block around the parliament area and armed police pairs guarding every entrance into the area.

The BBC had seen about 50 police officers around on Sunday morning local time and cars were turned away at entry points, while those entering on foot were frisked by police checking bags.

Vandals inside a room in the presidential palace
Reuters

Demonstrators were quick to defend their actions when approached by reporters.

Lima, a 27-year-old production engineer, said: "We need to re-establish order after this fraudulent election."

"I'm here for history, for my daughters," she told AFP news agency.

Others in the capital expressed outrage at the violence and said the attack marked a sad day for the country.

"I voted for Bolsanaro but I don't agree with what they're doing," Daniel Lacerda, 21, told the BBC. "If you don't agree with the president you should just say it and move on, you shouldn't go hold protests and commit all the violence like they're doing."

And many are drawing comparisons with the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro supporters vandalising the interior of the presidential palace
Reuters

Bolsonaro supporters created camps in cities across Brazil, some of them outside the military barracks. That is because his most ardent supporters want the military to intervene and make good elections that they say were stolen.

It looked like their movement had been curbed by Lula's inauguration - the camps in Brasilia had been dismantled and there was no disruption on the day he was sworn in.

But Sunday's scenes show that those predictions were premature.

According to Katy Watson, the BBC's South America correspondent, some protesters aren't just angry that Jair Bolsonaro lost the election - they want President Lula to return to prison. He spent 18 months in jail after being found guilty of corruption in 2017 and his convictions were later annulled, initially he had been sentenced to more than nine years.

Bolsonaro supporters storm the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, 08 January 2023.
EPA

Leaders from Latin America have condemned the violence:

  • Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Brazil had his country's "full support in the face of this cowardly and vile attack on democracy".
  • Colombian President Gustavo Petro said "fascism [had] decided to stage a coup".
  • Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico expressed "full support for President Lula's administration, elected by popular will".

US President Joe Biden tweeted: "I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil's democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined."

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on social media that "the violent attacks on democratic institutions are an attack on democracy that cannot be tolerated", while French President Emmanuel Macron said the "will of the Brazilian people and the democratic institutions must be respected". Both have pledged their support to Lula.

"I condemn any attempt to undermine the peaceful transfer of power and the democratic will of the people of Brazil," said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "President Lula and his government has the United Kingdom's full support, and I look forward to building on our countries' close ties in the years ahead."

A police officer inspects damage at the Supreme Court
Reuters

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWxhdGluLWFtZXJpY2EtNjQyMDQ4NjDSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1sYXRpbi1hbWVyaWNhLTY0MjA0ODYwLmFtcA?oc=5

2023-01-09 07:54:54Z
1728797049

Minggu, 08 Januari 2023

Brazil protests: Lula vows to punish Congress invaders - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to punish supporters of the country's ex-leader, Jair Bolsonaro, after they stormed Congress.

Supporters of the ousted far-right leader also stormed the Supreme Court and surrounded the presidential palace.

But police regained control of the buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday evening after hours of clashes.

Justice Minister Flavio Dino told local media that some 200 people had already been arrested.

The dramatic scenes - which saw thousands of protesters clad in yellow Brazil football shirts and flags overrun police and ransack the heart of the Brazilian state - come just a week after Lula's inauguration.

The veteran left-wing leader was forced to declare emergency powers before dispatching the national guard into the capital to restore order.

He has also ordered the closure of the centre of the capital - including the main avenue where governmental buildings are - for 24 hours.

Satellite image showing the location of the Brazilian Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace.

Mr Dino said some 40 busses which had been used to transport protesters to the capital had been seized and he called the invasion an "absurd attempt to impose [the protesters'] will by force".

Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly refused to accept that he lost October's election and last week left the country instead of taking part in inaugural ceremonies, which would have seen him hand over the iconic presidential sash.

The 67-year-old - who is believed to be in Florida - condemned the attack and denied responsibility for encouraging the rioters in a post on Twitter some six hours after violence broke out.

Mr da Silva - better known as Lula - said there was "no precedent in the history of our country" for the scenes seen in Brasilia and called the violence the "acts of vandals and fascists".

And he took aim at security forces whom he accused of "incompetence, bad faith or malice" in the failure to stop demonstrators accessing Congress.

"You will see in the images that they [police officers] are guiding people on the walk to Praca dos Tres Powers," he said. "We are going to find out who are the financiers of these vandals who went to Brasilia and they will all pay with the force of law."

Video shared by the Brazilian outlet O Globo showed some officers laughing and taking photos together as demonstrators occupied the congressional campus in the background.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

US President Joe Biden tweeted: "I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil's democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined."

Some protesters smashed windows, while others reached the Senate chamber, where they jumped on to seats and used benches as slides.

Videos on social media show protesters pulling a policeman from his horse and attacking him outside the building.

Footage broadcast by national media show police detaining dozens of protesters in their yellow jerseys outside the presidential palace.

Other suspects - whose hands were bound behind their backs - are also seen being led out of the building.

Protesters had been gathering since morning on the lawns in front of the parliament and up and down the kilometre of the Esplanada avenue, which is lined with government ministries and national monuments.

Police arrest demonstrators outside the Congress building
Reuters

Security had appeared tight, with the roads closed for about a block around the parliament area and armed police pairs guarding every entrance into the area.

The BBC had seen about 50 police officers around on Sunday morning local time and cars were turned away at entry points, while those entering on foot were frisked by police checking bags.

Demonstrators were quick to defend their actions when approached by reporters.

Lima, a 27-year-old production engineer, said: "We need to re-establish order after this fraudulent election."

"I'm here for history, for my daughters," she told AFP news agency.

But others in the capital expressed outrage at the violence and said the attack marked a sad day for the country.

"I voted for Bolsanaro but I don't agree with what they're doing," Daniel Lacerda, 21, told the BBC. "If you don't agree with the president you should just say it and move on, you shouldn't go hold protests and commit all the violence like they're doing."

And many are drawing comparisons with the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro supporters created camps in cities across Brazil, some of them outside the military barracks. That is because his most ardent supporters want the military to intervene and make good elections that they say were stolen.

It looked like their movement had been curbed by Lula's inauguration - the camps in Brasilia had been dismantled and there was no disruption on the day he was sworn in.

But Sunday's scenes show that those predictions were premature.

Bolsonaro supporters storm the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, 08 January 2023.
EPA

Leaders from Latin America have condemned the violence:

  • Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Brazil had his country's "full support in the face of this cowardly and vile attack on democracy".
  • Colombian President Gustavo Petro said "fascism [had] decided to stage a coup".
  • Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico expressed "full support for President Lula's administration, elected by popular will".

And French President Emmanuel Macron said the "will of the Brazilian people and the democratic institutions must be respected" and pledged the "unfailing support of France" to Lula.

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWxhdGluLWFtZXJpY2EtNjQyMDQ4NjDSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1sYXRpbi1hbWVyaWNhLTY0MjA0ODYwLmFtcA?oc=5

2023-01-09 00:38:47Z
1728797049

Lula vows to punish Brazilian Congress invaders - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says perpetrators will be found and punished after supporters of Brazilian far-right ex-President Jair Bolsonaro stormed Congress.

The dramatic scenes come a week after the left-wing veteran's inauguration.

Supporters of Mr Bolsonaro - who refuses to accept that he lost the election - also stormed the Supreme Court and surrounded the presidential palace.

Police used tear gas but failed to repel the demonstrators.

Mr da Silva - better known as Lula - said there was "no precedent in the history of our country" for the scenes seen in the capital, Brasilia, on Sunday.

He called the violence the "acts of vandals and fascists".

Protesters have smashed windows, while others reached the Senate chamber, where they jumped on to seats and used benches as slides.

It is unclear if they are still in the building.

Footage on social media shows protesters pulling a policeman from his horse and attacking him outside the building.

Lula
Reuters

Lima, a 27-year-old production engineer, said: "We need to re-establish order after this fraudulent election.

"I'm here for history, for my daughters," she told the AFP news agency.

Many are drawing comparisons with the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro.

Mr Bolsonaro's supporters are calling for military intervention and the resignation of Lula, who defeated his far-right rival in October's election.

Many of them created camps in cities across Brazil, some of them outside the military barracks. That's because his most ardent supporters want the military to intervene and make good elections that they say were stolen.

It looked like their movement had been curbed by Lula's inauguration - the camps in Brasilia had been dismantled and there was no disruption on the day he was sworn in.

But Sunday's scenes show that those predictions were premature.

Justice and Public Security Minister Flavio Dino called the invasion "an absurd attempt to impose [the protesters'] will by force".

"It will not prevail," he wrote on Twitter.

Bolsonaro supporters storm the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, 08 January 2023.
EPA

Leaders from Latin America have condemned the violence.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Brazil has its "full support in the face of this cowardly and vile attack on democracy".

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said "fascism has decided to stage a coup", while Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico expresses "full support for President Lula's administration, elected by popular will".

Lula is currently on an official trip in São Paulo state.

In his inauguration speech, he vowed to rebuild a country in "terrible ruins".

He decried the policies of his predecessor, who went to the US to avoid the handover ceremony.

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWxhdGluLWFtZXJpY2EtNjQyMDQ4NjDSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1sYXRpbi1hbWVyaWNhLTY0MjA0ODYwLmFtcA?oc=5

2023-01-08 21:22:43Z
1728797049

China reopens borders to tourists after three years of Covid closure - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

China has reopened its borders to international visitors for the first time since it imposed travel restrictions in March 2020.

Incoming travellers will no longer need to quarantine - marking a significant change in the country's Covid policy as it battles a surge in cases.

They will still require proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of travelling.

The move has been welcomed by many eager to reunite with family.

In Hong Kong, 400,000 people are expected to travel into mainland China in the coming weeks with long queues for flights into cities including Beijing and Xiamen.

On Sunday, double-decker coaches packed with travellers arrived at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to catch buses to the Guangdong province - among them were college students returning home.

One man told the BBC he hadn't seen his extended family in five years and could not hold back his excitement, having just bought a ticket back to China.

A woman told news agency Reuters she had not seen her parents in years - despite one of them suffering from colon cancer - and said she was "so, so happy".

A woman stands next to a sign that says 'mainland residents' and directs passengers
JEROME FAVRE/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The country's reopening comes at the start of "chun yun", the first period of Lunar New Year travel. Before the pandemic, it was the largest annual worldwide migration of people returning home to spend time with family.

Two billion trips are expected to be made this Lunar New Year, double the number that travelled last year.

Li Hua, who travelled from the UK to China - where her family lives - for the festival said it had been "too long" since she had returned, "I'm so happy to be back, and breathe Chinese air. So happy, so happy".

Mark Clayton returned home to Zhuhai, in Guandong, with his wife and baby after visiting Hong Kong. He told the BBC his trip home had been "nearly as smooth as it used to be pre-Covid".

"We didn't even show them the PCR, we simply scanned a code and put in a very quick customs declaration... And then straight through," he said.

But there is concern from some that opening the borders will result in more transmission of Covid-19.

Some local bus drivers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge told the BBC they are worried they might get the virus from incoming travellers, and want their companies to provide them with more protection.

Over the past three years China had one of the world's strictest Covid health policies that saw numerous lockdowns, frequent testing requirements and had a significant impact on the nation's economy.

The government recently walked back that policy after mass protests across the country, triggered by a fire in a high-rise block in the Xinjiang region that killed 10 people. Many Chinese believed the long-running Covid restrictions contributed to the deaths, but authorities denied this.

Since China abandoned the key elements of its Covid zero policy there have been reports of hospitals and crematoriums being overwhelmed, but the country has stopped publishing its case numbers and reported only two deaths on Saturday.

The anticipated surge in cases and travel out of China has prompted many countries - including the UK - to impose requirements for a negative COVID-19 test on people arriving from China, drawing the ire of the Chinese government.

line

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWFzaWEtY2hpbmEtNjQyMDE3NzbSAThodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hc2lhLWNoaW5hLTY0MjAxNzc2LmFtcA?oc=5

2023-01-08 14:42:18Z
1725283027

China reopens borders to tourists after three years of Covid closure - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

China has reopened its borders to international visitors for the first time since it imposed travel restrictions in March 2020.

Incoming travellers will no longer need to quarantine - marking a significant change in the country's Covid policy as it battles a surge in cases.

They will still require proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of travelling.

The move has been welcomed by many eager to reunite with family.

In Hong Kong, 400,000 people are expected to travel into mainland China in the coming weeks with long queues for flights into cities including Beijing and Xiamen.

On Sunday, double decker coaches packed with travellers arrived at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to catch buses to the Guangdong province - among them were college students returning home.

One man told the BBC he hadn't seen his extended family in five years and couldn't hold back his excitement having just bought a ticket back to China.

A woman told news agency Reuters she had not seen her parents in years - despite one of them suffering from colon cancer - and said she was "so, so happy".

A woman stands next to a sign that says 'mainland residents' and directs passengers
JEROME FAVRE/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The country's reopening comes at the start of "chun yun", the first period of Lunar New Year travel. Before the pandemic it was the largest annual worldwide migration of people returning home to spend time with family.

Two billion trips are expected to be made this Lunar New Year, double the number that travelled last year.

Li Hua, who travelled from the UK to China - where her family lives - for the festival said it had been "too long" since she had returned, "I'm so happy to be back, and breathe Chinese air. So happy, so happy".

But there is concern from some that opening the borders will result in more transmission of Covid-19.

Some local bus drivers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge told the BBC they are worried they might get the virus from incoming travellers, and want their companies to provide them with more protection.

Over the past three years China had one of the world's strictest Covid health policies that saw numerous lockdowns, frequent testing requirements and had a significant impact on the nation's economy.

The government recently walked back that policy after mass protests across the country, triggered by a fire in a high-rise block in the Xinjiang region that killed 10 people. Many Chinese believed the long-running Covid restrictions contributed to the deaths, but authorities denied this.

Since China abandoned the key elements of its Covid zero policy there have been reports of hospitals and crematoriums being overwhelmed, but the country has stopped publishing its case numbers and reported only two deaths on Saturday.

The anticipated surge in cases and travel out of China has prompted many countries - including the UK - to impose requirements for a negative COVID-19 test on people arriving from China, drawing the ire of the Chinese government.

line

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWFzaWEtY2hpbmEtNjQyMDE3NzbSAThodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hc2lhLWNoaW5hLTY0MjAxNzc2LmFtcA?oc=5

2023-01-08 10:42:54Z
1725283027

Sabtu, 07 Januari 2023

Iran hangs two more protesters - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Two men have been hanged in Iran for allegedly killing a member of the military during nationwide protests.

Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini were found guilty of "corruption on earth" over their alleged involvement in the death of a paramilitary officer.

Human rights groups have denounced what they described as a "sham" trial.

The family of 22-year-old Mr Karami say they were not permitted to meet him before he was killed.

Prosecutors claimed paramilitary officer Ruhollah Ajamian was stripped naked and killed by a group of mourners paying their respects to a recently-killed protester.

Protests against Iran's clerical establishment erupted in September following the death in custody of a woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab, or headscarf, "improperly".

At least 516 protesters have been killed so far, including 70 children, and 19,262 others arrested, according to the foreign-based Human Rights Activists' News Agency (HRANA). It has also reported the deaths of 68 security personnel.

Many of those who have been detained after protests have reportedly been subjected to enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, torture and other ill-treatment.

Iranian officials describe the protests as "riots" and have accused foreign powers of fuelling the unrest.

The men were first sentenced to death in December 2022 but they appealed against their sentencesa after they claimed they were tortured into making false confessions.

Lawyers representing Mr Hosseini said he was beaten and blindfolded while in prison.

"He was tasered and beaten on the soles of his feet with a metal rod," Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani said.

Iran's Supreme Court upheld the sentence on 3 January.

Mohammad Mahdi Karami
1500tasvir

Mohammad Mahdi Karami's family pleaded with authorities to spare his life

Prior to his death, Mr Karami's lawyer said he was on a hunger strike as he had been refused the right to choose his own lawyer for the legal proceedings. Instead he relied on state-appointed attorneys.

His parents pleaded with the judiciary to spare his life. "I beg you please, I ask you... to remove the death penalty from my son's case," his father said.

The journalist who interviewed Mr Karami's parents was later arrested by police and remains in custody, according to the Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

CHRI Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi said the men were "lynched" and had no prospect of a fair trial.

"The Islamic Republic is using executions and lethal force against street protesters to instil terror in the hearts of the population to crush the Iranian people's hopes and calls for change."

He said countries worldwide should impose harsher repercussions on Iran, including the withdrawal of their ambassadors.

Amnesty International described the trial as a "fast-tracked unfair group trial" and said Iranian authorities were seeking the death penalty for at least 26 others.

Three other men have been sentenced to death in the same case, while another 11 received prison sentences.

The latest hangings bring the number of people executed in Iran since December to four.

In December, 23-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard was hanged publicly from a crane for allegedly killing two members of the security forces with a knife and wounding four others and another 23-year-old, Mohsen Shekari, was killed for allegedly blocking a street and wounding a member of Iran's Basij force with a knife.

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLW1pZGRsZS1lYXN0LTY0MTk2NjM10gEA?oc=5

2023-01-07 13:41:01Z
1717288804

Kevin McCarthy finally wins US Speaker vote after tensions boil over in Congress - Sky News

Republican Kevin McCarthy has been elected as the new US Speaker after winning the 15th vote as tensions boiled over in Congress.

Mr McCarthy's party had taken control of the House – the US lower chamber – following the midterm elections in the autumn, with a slim 222-212 majority.

Usually, election of the Speaker follows seamlessly, as a formality, with the leader of the largest party a shoo-in for the job.

However, recent splits in the Republican Partymeant that did not happen until the 15th round of voting.

In the 14th ballot, Mr McCarthy received 216 votes - one shy of the number needed for a victory - as a small faction of right-wing hardliners held out.

He finally won, on the 15th ballot, on a margin of 216-211.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., smiles after winning the 15th vote in the House chamber as the House enters the fifth day trying to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Image: Rep. Kevin McCarthy smiles after winning US Speaker vote

He was elected with the votes of fewer than half the House members only because five in his own party withheld their votes – not backing Mr McCarthy as leader, but also not voting for another contender.

More on Republican Party

"My father always told me, it's not how you start, it's how you finish," he told cheering fellow Republicans.

US President Joe Biden congratulated him on his success and said he is "prepared to work with Republicans" when he can.

However, the Republican party are now likely to turn the fight on the President and the Democrats, with Mr McCarthy promising subpoenas and investigations.

"Now the hard work begins," Mr McCarthy said.

'Stay civil'

After four days of ballots, stretching into a 14th round, a tense exchange ensued, with Mr McCarthy seen walking to the back of the chamber to confront Rep. Matt Gaetz, who did not vote for him.

Mr Gaetz was one of the six remaining Republican holdouts, and voted "present" in the 14th and 15th round.

This essentially meant he registered that he was in the House for the vote, but did not back anyone as the next Speaker.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

'An utterly extraordinary few hours'

A hostile back and forth took place after Mr McCarthy approached him, while a number of Republican lawmakers began to crowd them.

Rep. Mike Rogers, who did back Mr McCarthy in the vote, appeared to lunge in the direction of where Mr Gaetz was sitting, but was held back by other members.

"Stay civil," someone was heard shouting.

Read more: Confrontation, anger and Donald Trump - an extraordinary night in US politics

Rep. Richard Hudson - another Mr McCarthy supporter - was also seen grabbing Mr Rogers around the mouth, but it was unclear what the argument was about.

Meanwhile, in another incident, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was seen waving a mobile phone around while on a phone call to a person saved as 'DT', implied to be Donald Trump.

Sharing the image on her Twitter account, the GOP member from Georgia wrote: "It was the perfect phone call."

Despite many of the rebel Republicans being supporters of Mr Trump, the former president had repeatedly backed Mr McCarthy for Speaker.

McCarthy's extensive concessions

A handful of far-right Republicans, from the conservative Freedom caucus, had felt Mr McCarthy was not conservative enough for the job, despite him agreeing to many of the detractors' demands.

One of the most difficult requests that Mr McCarthy has agreed to is the reinstatement of a longstanding House rule that would allow any single member to call a vote to oust him from office.

Members of the House of Representatives get physical with each other as Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) pushes back Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) away from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and members of the House Freedom Caucus including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) after Gaetz voted "present" rather than voting for McCarthy in a late night 14th round of voting for a new House Speaker on the fourth day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2023. REUTERS
Image: Members of the House of Representatives get physical with each other as Rep. Andy Harris pushes back Rep. Mike Rogers

That will sharply cut the power he will hold when trying to pass legislation on critical issues including funding the government, addressing the nation's looming debt ceiling and other crises that may arise.

The Speaker is one of the most powerful positions in US politics, and this week's failed votes marked the highest number of ballots for the speakership since 1859, two years before the start of the American Civil War.

Sessions to decide on the person for the job had rumbled on for hours in the chamber this week – one even topping eight hours.

What does the US Speaker do?

The Speaker of the House is one of the most powerful positions in US politics.

They oversee the daily business and set the running order in the House of Representatives.

Using their position, an effective Speaker can make or break a US President's agenda, or, if from the same party as the President, effectively hinder opposition to their policies.

The Speaker is taken from the party with the largest majority in the House and so depending on their allegiances can be a help or a hindrance to the US President.

Previously the role was held by Democrat Nancy Pelosi. But after losing the House to the Republicans in the recent midterm elections, the position will now switch hands.

Since winning control of the House, Republicans have vowed to make voting investigations into US President Joe Biden and his family's business dealings as a top priority.

In December, a White House statement accused House Republicans of planning to go after Biden "with politically motivated attacks chock full of long-debunked conspiracy theories".

Adblock test (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2tldmluLW1jY2FydGh5LXdpbnMtMTV0aC11cy1zcGVha2VyLXZvdGUtYWZ0ZXItdGVuc2UtZXhjaGFuZ2UtaW4tY29uZ3Jlc3MtMTI3ODE0OTfSAXFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9hbXAva2V2aW4tbWNjYXJ0aHktd2lucy0xNXRoLXVzLXNwZWFrZXItdm90ZS1hZnRlci10ZW5zZS1leGNoYW5nZS1pbi1jb25ncmVzcy0xMjc4MTQ5Nw?oc=5

2023-01-07 09:48:44Z
1718904167