Republicans worked behind the scenes on Thursday to finally appoint a speaker of the US House of Representatives and end the paralysis caused by the rebellion of several elected officials on the party’s right wing, AFP reported.

Republican Kevin McCarthy, the favorite to replace Nancy Pelosi, has contacted two dozen pro-Trump elected officials who are blocking him, offering them significant concessions.

But in vain.

What are the consequences?

The group, however, refused to join until the end of the eighth ballot, a scenario not seen in the past 100 years.

This impasse has very specific consequences: without the Speaker of the House of Representatives, elected officials cannot be sworn in and therefore cannot pass any bills.

“I hope today that Republicans will stop bickering, kicking each other, so we can work for the American people,” Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.

Conservative hardliners, these elected Republicans fundamentally distrust McCarthy and are using the slim majority of Republicans in November’s midterm elections to set their terms.

According to several US media outlets, the Republican, who cannot be elected without their support, specifically granted one of their requests to facilitate the removal of the “speaker”.

But opposition to his candidacy seems to have crystallized.

“We are determined to make major changes to this underperforming institution,” North Carolina’s rambunctious politician Dan Bishop said from the room.

Less serious problems than in 1856

A majority of 218 votes is required to elect the speaker of the House of Representatives, the third most important figure in American politics after the president and vice president. Kevin McCarthy’s vote was currently limited to 201 votes.

California’s elected representative has no worthy challenger. As a possible alternative, only the name of the leader of the group, Steve Scalise, is circulating, but his chances do not seem serious.

The House will continue to vote until the Speaker of Parliament is elected. It should have been a matter of hours, but it could take weeks: in 1856, the elected members of Congress reached agreement after only two months and 133 rounds.

“There is no doubt that the issues that divide us today are far less serious than they were in 1856,” said John James, urging his colleagues to urgently support Kevin McCarthy.

Democratic President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the situation uncomfortable, assuring that “the rest of the world” is closely watching the disaster in Congress.