"Time of a New Generation" Pelosi, Speaker of the US House, Steps Down from Leadership After 20 Years

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "The time has come for a new generation." Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who has led the Democratic Party for 20 years, is stepping down.

Speaker Pelosi stated in a House speech on the 17th (local time), "Now we must boldly move forward into the future," and announced that she will not run for party leadership in the next Congress convening in January. This signals a generational change in the Democratic Party leadership. Following Pelosi's resignation announcement, the House Democrats plan to hold leadership elections on the 30th.

Pelosi's decision to step down is interpreted as a consequence of the November 8 midterm election defeat. Around this election, political circles in the U.S. closely watched Pelosi's position. She had remained silent about her future due to the ongoing vote count but officially declared her resignation after the Republicans secured the majority in the House the previous day. Factors influencing this decision include the need for generational change within the party due to her advanced age and the recent assault incident involving her husband, Paul Pelosi, just before the midterms.

Pelosi has led the House Democrats since January 2003. From January 2003 to January 2007, she served as the House Minority Leader for the Democrats, and from January 2007 to January 2011, when the Democrats held the majority, she served as the first female Speaker of the House in U.S. history. The Speaker of the House ranks third in the presidential line of succession, following the President and Vice President. After the Democrats lost the majority in the House, Pelosi served as Minority Leader from January 2011 to January 2019, and since regaining the majority in January 2008, she has served as Speaker of the House until now.

With the Democrats losing the House majority to the Republicans in this midterm election, the next Speaker of the House is likely to be Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Minority Leader and candidate for Speaker.

Following the confirmation of the Republican majority in the House the previous day, Pelosi issued a statement saying, "In the next Congress, House Democrats will have a strong lever against the weak Republican majority."

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