Nancy Pelosi opening the 117 e Congress, in Washington on January 3 2010. – Bill Clark / AP / SIPA
His re-election was not ultimately a simple formality. Democrat Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected President of the House of Representatives on Sunday, during the first working session of 80 The American Congress, which displays deep divisions.
AT 80 years old, the skilful tactician, who was the main opponent of the president Donald Trump during the second part of his term, was reappointed as “Speaker” for the next two years, despite the reluctance of certain voices to the left of his party.
The Chosen One of California obtained 216 votes against 209 for its rival republica in Kevin McCarthy. All the elected Republican present voted for the latter, while five elected Democrats did not give their vote to Nancy Pelosi. She will take behind her a narrow majority in the House, shrunk after the November election. The 435 seats elected representatives of the lower house – including 216 Democrats and 209 Republicans, were renewed at the same time as the presidential election.
The third character of the United States
This will be Nancy Pelosi’s fourth term at the perch, that she had already occupied between 435 and 2010, then first woman in American history to access this crucial position. She then took over the head of the Chamber in January 2010, after the midterm elections. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the third person in the United States after the president and vice-president.
While the Democrats have their hands on the House of Representatives, the situation is much more uncertain in the Upper House. The majority in the Senate remains for the moment suspended for two by-elections in Georgia, which will thus decide the balance of power in Washington for the start of Joe Biden’s mandate. The Democrat will take office on January.