The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosiannounced Thursday that he will not seek re-election to continue his Democratic leadershipending a historic run as the first and only woman to preside over the United States House of Representatives.

After almost 20 years at the helm of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives, he will step aside to make room for a “new generation”. At the same time, he leaves the office of speaker of the lower house which he held in 2019 and which he already held between 2007 and 2009. It is the third position in the American political hierarchy, after the president and the vice president.

“I will not seek re-election for the Democratic leadership in the next Congress. For me, yes The time has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I respect so much, and I am grateful that there are so many people who are ready and willing to take on this incredible responsibility,” the 82-year-old leader said.

However, he clarified that will remain in Congress as a representative of San Francisco, a position he held for 35 years.

The announcement comes a day after it was confirmed that Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives with a narrow majority in last week’s midterm elections, having already won 218 of 435 seats.

As for the Senate, Democrats retain power with half of the 100 seats and the run-off vote of the vice president, Kamala Harris, so from January the leadership of Congress will be divided between the two parties.

On November 7, Pelosi anticipated that the attack suffered by her husband at the end of October at his home in San Francisco, where a man entered looking for her, would have conditioned the decision on her future.

“A Fierce Defender of Democracy”: Praise for Biden and Obama

President Joe Biden, who encouraged Pelosi to stay on as Democratic leader, praised her after the announcement, describing her as a “fierce defender of democracy” and assuring that Americans have a relationship with her.deep debt of gratitude for your service, patriotism and dignity“.

“History will mark her as the most important speaker of the House of Representatives in history: she is the first, the last and always for the people,” wrote the president on his official Twitter account.

Later, he released a statement noting that Pelosi’s response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a crowd of Donald Trump supporters demonstrated that the veteran politician is a “staunch defender of democracy“.

Compliments also came from former President Barack Obama, who called Pelosi “one of the most successful lawmakers in American history” because “she broke down barriers, opened doors for others, and worked every day to serve the people”. And he closed: “NOr I might be more grateful for your friendship and leadership.“.

With information from Telam.