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.
泰国前副总理披尼:我为什么关注中共二十大?******
(中共二十大·声音)泰国前副总理披尼:我为什么关注中共二十大?
中新社曼谷10月22日电 题:泰国前副总理披尼:我为什么关注中共二十大?
中新社记者 王国安
“中共二十大对中国今后的发展进行了战略谋划,相信未来的中国一定会越来越好。”泰国前副总理、泰中文化促进委员会主席披尼·扎禄颂巴日前在曼谷接受中新社记者专访时如是表示。
披尼说,近几天他一直关注中共二十大的会议进程,了解大会的相关信息。
“作为一个泰国人,我为什么会关注中共二十大?”披尼说,这首先是因为中国是一个有全球影响力的国家。中国已稳居世界第二大经济体,也是全球货物贸易第一大国,不仅拥有世界最大的制造业规模,而且在航天、信息技术、生物技术、人工智能、高铁等诸多领域都已进入国际领先行列。
他说,中国是联合国五大常任理事国之一,也是金砖国家、上海合作组织的重要成员,在国际事务中发挥着越来越重要的作用。
“中国在国际上维护公平正义,与霸权主义和强权政治作斗争,同时,在全球助力发展中国家基础设施建设,为世界进步、繁荣作出积极贡献。”披尼说。
他认为,如今,许多国际事务都离不开中国的参与。
“其次,中共二十大是观察中国、了解中国的重要窗口。”披尼说,二十大提出的目标和任务,谋划的大政方略,将对中国和世界产生重大影响。
在披尼看来,中国共产党善于规划目标并最终实现目标。他说,百年来,中共以超强的智慧和勇气,团结、带领中国人民克服各种艰难险阻,实现了一个又一个目标,让中国发生了翻天覆地的变化。
他特别指出,作为人口大国,中国解决了绝对贫困的问题,全面建成了小康社会,这是非常了不起的成就。
“如今的中国,高速公路、高铁、机场、港口四通八达,基础设施日益完善,人民收入不断提高,尤其是中国社会和谐稳定,在中国生活非常安全,老百姓的幸福指数甚至超过了许多发达国家,这在几十年前是难以想象的。”披尼说。
他认为,中共二十大具有世界意义。国际社会可以从中了解中国未来的发展方向,以及中共将如何进一步增进国民福祉等。
此外,披尼注意到二十大报告重申中国坚持对外开放的基本国策。他表示,关注这次大会的重点之一,是希望泰中两国未来能够进一步加强合作。
他指出,中国是泰国最大的贸易伙伴。近年来,中国在泰投资规模保持泰国吸收外资的前三名,越来越多的中国企业到泰国投资,而泰国的水果等产品也大量出口中国。新冠疫情前,中国赴泰游客人数一年突破1000万人次,占赴泰外国游客的四分之一以上。泰中两国合作前景广阔。
披尼表示,泰中两国的合作基础牢固,两国是亲人一般的关系。作为泰中文化促进委员会主席,他希望两国除了加强经贸等领域合作外,更应重视人文、教育方面的合作,以文化为桥,促民心相通,让两国人民“亲上加亲”。(完)
(文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎)