Republicans gain control of the lower house of the United States Congress

The opposition Republican Party has achieved an estimated majority in the US House of Representatives for the legislature starting in January, securing 218 seats in the still inconclusive count of the midterm elections.

The Republican advance leaves a divided Congress with one body for the opposition and another for the Democrats.

The CNN chain and projections of other media cited by the AFP agency reported that the Republicans won control of the House of Representatives, a step they had been very close to for days.

Anyway, the Republican majority in the lower house will fall short of party expectations ahead of Tuesday’s election last week. And in the Senate, in fact, he failed to break the pro-government majority.

The Republican opposition needed a net gain of just five seats to wrest the 435-seat House of Representatives from the Democrats.

Republicans had hoped to have a much larger majority to complicate President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda and launch investigations into government management, but a minimal numerical lead like what appears to be the ultimate one would complicate the plans.

President Joe Biden congratulated the Republican opposition for winning control of the House of Representatives.

“The American people want us to do things for them,” Biden said. after several outlets projected a narrow Republican victory in the lower house in last week’s election.

“I will work with anyone – Republican or Democrat – who is willing to work with me to get results” for the people, the Democratic president said in a statement.

The party has already announced this he will promote Kevin McCarthy, current Republican leader, to head of the bodyafter beating the option of Andy Biggs, defended by the more far-right faction of the party.

Sources close to the Republicans quoted by CNN said the vote ended with 188 votes in favor of McCarthy and 31 against, well above the simple majority needed to nominate a new candidate for the presidency of the House of Representatives.

The real test for McCarthy will be getting a majority of votes for the presidency in January, which means he could yield to some positions of disgruntled Republicans. If he rolls the numbers, McCarthy will succeed Democrat Nancy Pelosi.

The election took place against a backdrop of high inflation and discontent over sharp increases in the price of food and fuel, which Republican candidates have focused on.

However, Biden not only missed the big punitive vote that was expected, he actually carried it through best midterm elections of an American president in 20 years.

Source: AP and AFP agencies