In the U.S. Congress, Democrat leader Pelosi faces new divisions

Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful politician in America and the first opponent of Donald Trump, the Democratic leader in Congress, must now work out the talent she has identified as a strategist to overcome the growing internal tensions and have the opportunity to fulfill Joe Biden’s promises. .

Leftists frustrated with ideals were seen as too moderate and centrists reluctant to support certain programs that were considered too costly: almost five months after the new president arrived in the White House, loopholes appeared in the Democrats as talks turned around his big one. Projects.

The recent controversy surrounding the words of Ilhan Omar, an elected member of the House of Representatives, has brought about other sharp divisions.

Nancy Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the House, the third most powerful person in American politics after the president and her vice president, Kamala Harris, must maintain the unity of her group, which has narrowed even further in these already narrow months in January.

While Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has been playing a balancing act with his closest ally in the upper house since January, tensions over the past few weeks have further complicated the work of the 81-year-old politician.

No more “foil”

“We are all more effective when there is foil on the face,” Republican House of Representatives nominee Tom Cole told AFP, referring to the fierce battles between Nancy Pelosi and Republican Donald Trump.

“It’s so hard when you control everything”: both chambers of Congress and the White House, he was vague.

Among progressives, as Joe Biden publicly negotiated with centrists to conclude deals on his iconic bills, dissatisfaction with the fight against the police or climate change grew, from a broader plan of investment for infrastructure to reforms.

However, the November 2022 midterm parliamentary elections are approaching. Traditionally, little legislative progress has been made in an election year and Democrats are at risk of losing their majorities later.

“Everyone sees that the window (action) is closing,” said Michael Ceraso, a Democratic consultant who worked on the Bernie Saunders campaign in 2016.

With the rise of this independent senator and other prominent figures in Congress, such as Alexandria Ocacio-Cartes, the Left feels that the party has been strengthened over the past five years, but “no law has been passed to match. A progressive movement in DNA,” he told AFP.

By plundering seats in traditionally strongholds, moderates believe for their part that they have largely contributed to regaining a majority in the House in 2018.

Nancy Pelosi, who vowed to step down after the 2022 election, wiped out those divisions on Thursday.

“It simply came to our notice then. We are a democratic party, not accepting everything without discussion, attention. Who wants to be at a party like this? She told reporters.

“We share a common ground in our party, for the American families who work there, and there is no doubt that we will eventually pass laws to help working American families.”

After accepting explanations over controversial remarks made by Ilhan Omar targeting Israel and America, the Democrat leader announced Sunday that the matter was closed.

“Its strong point”

Kyle Kondick, a professor of political science at the University of Virginia, said that if Pelosi “could not lose a lot of votes”, she was actually playing “to advantage”: her parliamentary group was “very homogeneous. Ideologically former Democratic majorities in the House”.

And in Capitol Hill, Washington, his team appeared calm on Thursday.

“We all understand that there is not much way for us. In the end, it will work in his favor,” Jerry Connolly, a moderate, told AFP, pushing for deals.

But with a warning to his peers: “Coordination is essential for our success. “

Ohio-elected Democrat Tim Ryan adds, “This is a strong point.”

“This is where she’s mastered, in a strategy of getting enough votes and I can never say she can not do it.” “