中新网评:美国众议长选举“连续剧”暴露美式民主痼疾******
中新网北京1月9日电(蒋鲤)在15轮投票表决后,美国众议院议长选举这场“连续剧”终于落下帷幕,众议院共和党领袖凯文•麦卡锡最终成功当选第55任美国众议院议长。这是美国国会过去164年来耗时最久的一次议长选举记录,将美国“对抗式民主”的弊端暴露无遗。
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.
港澳政协委员抵沪履职 聚焦经济“复苏”共同发展****** 中新网上海1月10日电(记者 范宇斌)“新的一年新的开始,我第一站就是到内地,到上海参会履职。”上海市政协委员、新龙基投资集团总裁李可庄10日接受中新网记者采访时说,再次从香港回到上海,让他感到有点兴奋。 1月10日,中国人民政治协商会议上海市第十四届委员会第一次会议在上海开幕。香港、澳门与内地8日恢复首阶段免检疫“通关”后,不少在港澳地区工作生活的上海市政协委员在获悉政策调整后,第一时间抵沪赴会。 “今年终于有机会来到上海,与其他政协委员面对面进行履职交流。”上海市政协常委、上海市工商联副主席、澳门联生发展有限公司执行董事马志远告诉中新网记者,新冠肺炎疫情以来,他只能“云履职”。“今年我重点关注‘通关’以后,如何促进沪澳交流,尤其是推进两地金融、科技、旅游、文化等领域的交流合作。” “中国疫情防控进入新阶段,我将和在澳门的政协委员一起发挥联通国际的优势以及各自专业所长,助力沪澳经济社会发展。”马志远表示,今年他将留出更多时间和精力,尽己所能,搭建澳门与内地的交流渠道。 来自香港的李可庄从事金融投资业务,在他2023年的行程计划表上,上海是至关重要的一站。他表示,“三年后再次抵达上海,能够实实在在感受到上海从疫情中恢复的蓬勃朝气,以及上海人的冲劲、拼劲、干劲都没变,大家的精神面貌和心态都很好,这让我对上海发展更有信心了。” 李可庄说,今年他更关注上海未来经济发展的突破点、增长点以及新兴产业发展。“借助这次参会履职的机会,我将开展更多的实地探访、考察调研,了解经济发展和民生领域问题,助力上海经济社会活力进一步释放。” 今年,上海市政协委员中又多了一些“新面孔”,他们怀揣更大的期盼,和“老委员”一道站在新起点,积极建言献策。 上海市政协委员、交通银行(香港)有限公司私人银行中心总经理徐志道特别关注沪港两地金融合作。他告诉中新网记者,香港、上海都是金融中心,两地各有优势,应该发挥出“1+1>2”的效果。“上海是科创中心,香港是创科中心,香港在与国际接轨、科技与政策结合等方面经验或将助力上海发展。” “作为一名‘新委员’,我希望提出有分量、接地气的提案。”徐志道说,“疫情也给了我们一个反思的机会,在经济上如何去融合。沪港合作在恢复‘通关’后,两地银行之间的交流合作将更为紧密,在金融政策、自由基金的互联互通以及银行系统互通上,可以更进一步展开合作,从而让两地居民在自由流动上更便利,也有利于作出适合的投资安排。” 上海市政协委员、商汤科技董事长兼CEO徐立也是一名“新委员”,“首次参加上海市两会,我感受到上海对科技创新的重视,而我更多关注人才、核心技术、创新链上下游协作和协同发展等方面议题。”徐立告诉中新网记者,“当前,内外部环境面临诸多考验,更要积极推动双向交流,一方面把人才送出去,接轨最前沿的科技发展,另一方面要‘筑巢引凤’把人才引进来。只有长期保持人才的双向流动,才能在未来竞争中成为人才高地。” 对此,在沪港两地人才交流、基础科研交流方面,徐立认为,“两地各有所长,香港高校科研资源非常,新兴专业顶尖人才荟萃,而上海既有人才,又有大市场,增进双向流动显得非常重要,要促进沪港两地人才平台交流和人才交流。同时也要产教联动、合作培养更多青年人才。” 带着思考与期盼,来自港澳地区的上海市政协委员们将在履职过程中,建真言、谋良策,为内地与港澳地区的共同发展搭建更多沟通桥梁、凝聚更多发展共识。(完) (文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎) [责编:天天中] 阅读剩余全文() |