New Congress of the United States assumes power on the eve of the decisive week | World

More feminine and diverse than ever, the Democratic-dominated House of Representatives met again for the inauguration of its members, all under a strengthened health protocol.

Then the presidency would be appointed. The position will be filled by the skilled strategist Nancy Pelosi, 80, despite the reluctance of some voices on the party’s left.

In the Senate, the story is different, since the definition is subject to two elections that will take place this Tuesday (5) in the state of Georgia (south). Democrats need to win both seats, somewhat difficult, to regain control of the upper house.

And just a thousand kilometers to the south, the electoral battle gained new momentum.

Proof of the stakes is that both President Donald Trump and President-elect Biden will visit the state on Monday. Vice Presidents Mike Pence (current) and Kamala Harris (future) will do the same.

“The future of the country is at stake here in Georgia, on our ballots,” Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, who hopes to keep her job in front of black pastor Raphael Warnock, told Fox News.

“It is a choice between our freedoms … and socialism,” he added, echoing the Republicans’ argument in this race: the specter of a left-wing power.

“We are on the brink of a historic victory after four years of gross incompetence, racism, hatred and prejudice,” Democrat Jon Ossoff, 33, told CNN, hoping to win the Republican seat from David Perdue, 71.

Trump also dedicated several tweets to Georgia on Sunday. Nothing to support his party’s candidates, but to denounce a massive “fraud” that he said would have deprived him of his victory in this traditionally Republican state.

Something that, according to several analysts, could serve Democrats: convinced of the existence of fraud, Republican voters may be tempted to stay at home.

Two months after the election, Trump still refuses to admit defeat.

Despite the resounding failure of his prosecution attempts and the lack of hard evidence, he managed to cast doubt in the minds of most of his supporters, who plan to meet in Washington on Wednesday.

The demonstrations, including a “march for Trump”, will coincide with a session of Congress designed to formally record Biden’s victory, confirmed with 306 MPs to 232.

This action by Congress is a constitutional obligation and generally a mere formality, but this year promises to be explosive.

Although some Republican heavyweights like Mitch McConnell finally admitted Biden’s triumph, the outgoing president still has the unwavering support of dozens of lawmakers in both houses, who have already announced that they will voice their objections and make allegations of voter fraud on Capitol. Hill. .

His intervention has no possibility of making the session unviable, the votes are not enough for that, but they can hinder or postpone.

“It’s more of a political ploy than an effective remedy,” said his colleague Lindsey Graham, a loyal Trump ally.

Its relevance will depend a lot on what happens in Georgia.

Republican Senators David Perdue (71) and Kelly Loeffler (50) are favorites to keep their seats.

But his Democratic opponents, Ossoff and Warnock, are betting on the momentum created by Biden’s victory in November.

“The battle is tough, but a Democratic victory is possible,” said Stacey Abrams, a rising star of the Georgia-born Democratic Party, where he worked hard to promote black voters’ access to the vote.

The black electorate, who must play a decisive role, will be encouraged this Sunday afternoon by Kamala Harris, who will become the first woman and the first person from a minority to become vice president on January 20.

Under the constitution, he will have the power to vote in the Senate if Democrats win in Georgia and divide the upper house into 50 seats on each side.

If they fail, Biden will have to convince the more centrist Republican senators on every bill or nomination he sends to Congress, which would somehow limit his room for maneuver.

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