资料图:美国众议院共和党领袖麦卡锡。中新社记者 沙晗汀摄
由于两党对立加剧、党派内斗、利益分配不均等因素,众议长选举陷入一场拉锯战。在此次众议长竞选中,美国民主党议员继续抱团,多轮投票中,一票不投麦卡锡,共和党右翼“强硬派”领头的约20人小团体也拒绝投票麦卡锡。
麦卡锡的当选之路一波三折,除了本人的“政治投机派”角色在国会不受欢迎外,与共和党内部政治分歧关系密切。
一方面,共和党党内反对者认为,麦卡锡对民主党态度过于软弱,无力对抗民主党控制的参议院和拜登政府,另一方面,因为共和党的多数优势微弱,党内一些影响力较小的派系的政治力量则被放大,有利于他们巩固自己的选票。
此外,党内反对者也认为,自己的选票没有换取更多利益,希望以此作为筹码换取麦卡锡更大的让步,比如让他们获得众议院重要委员会中的职务。
作为仅次于美国总统、副总统的政坛三号人物,众议院议长通常由众议院多数党领袖担任,选举几乎没有悬念。然而,麦卡锡此次为当选,不得不做出多个关键让步,其中可能包括恢复一项罢黜议长动议机制,使得众议长的权力被削弱,难以掌控众议院。
美国有线电视新闻网CNN称,麦卡锡在这场不合时宜的政治勒索中作出让步,这种绥靖政策只会让极端主义势力更加强大。
这场引发全世界围观的尴尬选举暴露出美国政治存在严重的对立和分化。在权力博弈思维的裹挟下,党派利益凌驾于国家和人民利益之上,美国两党相互拆台,陷入“为反对而反对”的无脑对垒。而即便是一党内,也会因为利益分配问题产生不同的小派系,相互对抗,选票变成了谋利益的工具。
从国会山骚乱到打破记历史记录的15轮众议长选举,“对抗式民主”让美国政治陷入瓶颈,长期对抗势必会让政客们丧失客观公正的判断能力,其政治阶层是否有能力治理国家也会引发质疑。
两党之争和党派内斗进一步放大了美国政治体制弊病,美国所谓的“民主”形象,让全世界大跌眼镜。鼓吹以选民利益为先的美式选举,变成了政客们利益置换的游戏,进一步彰显出美国“民主政治”日渐失能,不断极化的党争已使美国政治制度陷入死循环。
House speaker election reveals deep-rooted problems in U.S. democracy
(ECNS) -- The Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 15 ballots. As the most grueling House speaker election in the past 164 years, the election has highlighted the defects of the country’s "confrontational democracy".
The election once reached a stalemate due to intense partisan strife, inner-party struggle among the Republicans, uneven distribution of interests, and more. Democratic Party members forged a close alliance, refusing to vote for McCarthy, while about 20 Republicans also declined to cast ballots for the GOP leader.
Except for his unpopular role as a "political speculator" in Congress, McCarthy’s hard-won election can be attributed to turmoil within the Republican Party.
On the one hand, opponents in the Republican Party believe that the GOP leader's attitude toward the Democrats is too weak to confront the Senate controlled by Democrats and the Biden administration.
On the other hand, the political power of some less influential factions in the Republican Party has been amplified due to the Party’s weak majority advantage in the House of Representatives, which is conducive to consolidating their ticket warehouses.
Meanwhile, these opponents believe that their votes failed to win them more benefits, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip for McCarthy's further concessions, such as getting them positions in important House Committees.
As the third political figure after the President and Vice President of the U.S., the speaker, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
But McCarthy has made many concessions in order to bring the ultra conservatives along, involving what’s known as the “motion to vacate,” a mechanism by which members can force a vote to depose the speaker. The reported concessions will empower individual members at the expense of McCarthy’s sway as speaker.
CNN thought the concessions he made during this unseemly political shakedown would only make the extremist faction more powerful.
This embarrassing election, which has drawn global attention, exposed the serious opposition and polarization in American politics. Both Democrats and Republicans put their interests before that of the country and its people, attacking and opposing each other irrationally.
Besides, different factions arise within a single party and confront each other because of the distribution of interests. Votes have become a tool to win more benefits.
From Capitol riots to the House Speaker election with record-breaking ballots, "confrontational democracy" has become a bottleneck of American politics. Long-term confrontation will surely impede politicians to think objectively and fairly while their capacity of governing the country will also raise doubts among the public.
Both parties’ struggle and infighting among the Republicans have further amplified the defects of the American political system, with its "democratic" image shocking the world.
The U.S.-style election, which advocates putting voters' interests first, has become a game of interest exchange among politicians. In addition, it further demonstrates the malfunction of American "democratic politics" and the constantly polarized party struggle that has trapped the American political system into an infinite cycle.
中国驻外使领馆向海外同胞发放“春节包”******
综合消息:暖暖中国年 浓浓祖国情——中国驻外使领馆向海外同胞发放“春节包”
新华社北京1月18日电 综合新华社驻外记者报道:在农历兔年春节前夕,中国驻外使领馆向当地侨胞、留学人员、汉语教师和中企员工等发放“春节包”,为大家送去祖国的关心关爱和新春祝福。这份来自祖国的牵挂和祝福,让海外游子倍感温暖。
中国驻巴基斯坦大使馆近日举行向华侨华人、留学生发放“春节包”仪式。此次发放的“春节包”包含春联、兔玩偶、台历、坚果礼包等。农融大使表示,希望广大侨胞和留学生为中巴拓展全方位合作、推动构建更加紧密的中巴命运共同体做出更大贡献。
中国驻尼泊尔大使馆发放的“春节包”内除尼泊尔本地食品外,还有使馆从国内采购的春联、福字和中国食品。陈松大使在发放仪式上表示,党中央始终牵挂着广大海外侨胞的冷暖安危。自2021年以来,使馆每年春节都向同胞们发放“春节包”,体现了党和国家对海外同胞的关心关爱,见证了过去三年在尼同胞团结抗疫的不平凡历程。
中国驻孟加拉国大使馆12日举行“春节包”发放仪式。姚文大使表示,希望旅孟同胞为促进中孟各领域交流合作添砖加瓦。驻孟使馆将继续坚持外交为民的服务宗旨,帮助旅孟同胞办实事、解难事,积极维护大家的合法权益。
中国驻韩国大使邢海明在“春节包”发放仪式上说,过去三年来,中国驻韩国大使馆每年组织发放“健康包”“春节包”。小小“春节包”东西虽不多,但承载着党和国家的关爱,也饱含使馆的祝福,希望大家度过一个安全健康、团圆喜庆的中国年。
中国驻斐济大使馆临时代办王旭光在“春节包”发放仪式上向全体旅斐华侨华人拜早年,期待旅斐侨胞们能够继续发挥融通中外的桥梁纽带作用,为促进中斐两国人民友谊与各领域交流合作作出新的贡献。
贴上红窗花、挂起红灯笼,在中国驻伊朗大使馆举办的“温暖迎春”新春联谊会上,大使常华向华侨华人及留学生代表发放了“新春暖心包”。常华说,期待广大在伊同胞一如既往爱国爱乡、情系桑梓。同时,希望大家积极融入当地社会发展,充分发挥联通中外优势,在深化中伊双方务实合作、扩大人文交流等方面多做贡献。
中国驻新西兰大使馆15日在首都惠灵顿举办新春慰侨观影会暨“春节暖心包”发放仪式。王小龙大使向在新侨胞和留学生代表送上新春祝福并表示,小小的暖心包是在新春佳节之际,为身在海外的大家带来祖国和家乡人民的一份牵挂、一份问候、一份祝福。
中国驻喀麦隆大使馆公参陈亚欧在“暖心包”发放活动上向在喀侨胞致以节日问候,感谢侨胞为中喀两国友好合作关系继续发挥桥梁纽带作用。
中国驻博茨瓦纳大使馆发放的“春节包”中除了春联、福字、贺卡、口罩、消毒湿巾等礼物,还有《中国领事保护和协助指南》《中国公民赴博茨瓦纳旅居旅游领保安全提醒100条》等实用小册子。王雪峰大使在和侨胞代表交流时表示,希望在博同胞大力弘扬中非友好合作精神,为增进中博友谊作出新的更大贡献。
中国驻古巴大使馆11日启动“温暖迎春”系列活动。马辉大使当天走访哈瓦那华人街,向50余名华侨华人送去 “温暖迎春”慰问包。侨胞们收到大米、面粉、牛奶、食用油等慰问品后表示,他们感受到来自祖国的温暖问候,希望中古两国友谊长青。
中国驻比利时大使馆发放的“新春暖心包”装有地方特色纪念品和国内特色食品。曹忠明大使表示,礼虽轻,但情甚重。“新春暖心包”传递的是祖国对海外学子的关心关爱,是密切使馆和留学人员联系的重要纽带,也是使馆践行外交为民理念的具体表现。
中国驻波黑大使馆日前举行“温暖迎春”慰侨团拜活动,并发放“春节包”。季平大使感谢在波同胞为两国关系发展所发挥的积极作用,强调党和政府时刻惦记着海外同胞的健康与平安。
中国驻西班牙大使馆日前向中国留学生发放“春节包”,为在西求学的游子们送去祖国的关怀和温暖。给留学生准备的“春节包”中除了口罩、洗手液等防疫物资外,还有许多中国零食——这些来自家乡的味道将陪伴留学生们度过一个欢乐而充实的节日。
中国驻纽约总领馆近日也启动了为领区内侨胞和留学生发放“春节包”的工作。总领馆专门为美东侨胞制作了独具中国特色的帆布包,寓意一帆风顺。黄屏总领事表示,“外交为民永不停步,祖国关怀永远在线”。党和政府时刻牵挂着每一位海外同胞的安危冷暖,祖国永远是最坚强的后盾,总领馆永远是同胞们的家。
收到“春节包”的侨胞们表示,感受到了祖国大家庭的温暖,非常感谢祖国对侨胞的关心和惦记。新的一年里,海外侨胞将不负祖国期望,为全面推进中华民族伟大复兴和促进中国与各国友好贡献力量。海外留学人员也表示,将立志做新时代的好青年,力争学有所成,早日归国为全面建设社会主义现代化国家添砖加瓦。
(文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎)