The newly elected speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, reportedly won over the final votes required to secure the post by promising conservative House Republicans that he will help pass a bill to limit future financial and military aid to Ukraine, which is fighting a war against Russia.
McCarthy, a California Republican, made the Ukraine compromise to win over obstinate lawmakers who had opposed his election as speaker, Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper reported on Saturday.
McCarthy was elected the House on Saturday after Republicans won back control of the House in November’s midterm elections.
It took five days and 15 rounds of voting for McCarthy to win the job, despite his party having a majority in the House.
Republican Representative Matt Gaetz led a group of about 20 representatives in opposing McCarthy’s election, at one point nominating former President Donald Trump for the job.
After McCarthy failed to win enough support from fellow Republicans in the first three rounds of voting on Tuesday, Gaetz said, “Today the House didn’t organize. Biggest loser: [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky. Biggest winner: US Taxpayers.”
Gaetz had opposed previous aid requests for Ukraine, including a $45-billion package approved last month, saying, “Hemorrhaging billions in taxpayer dollars for Ukraine while our country is in crisis is the definition of America last.”
Source: AFP and RT
