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.
一线城市新房价格止跌 政策助力楼市或企稳******
证券时报记者 张达
1月15日,国家统计局发布2022年12月70个大中城市房价数据。数据显示,房价环比下降城市增加,其中,二手房价环比下降城市达到63个。从新房价格来看,一线城市在连跌3个月后出现止跌现象。
业内人士认为,一线城市率先出现止跌企稳态势,显示去年四季度以来在供需两端积极的政策产生一定效果。预计2023年需求端政策力度有望加码,热点城市交易量或在二季度开始企稳并慢慢回升,并在下半年带动都市圈周围城市转好。
一线城市新房价格止跌
国家统计局的数据显示,2022年12月,70个大中城市中房价下降城市有所增加,其中,新房价格环比下降城市有55个,比上月增加4个;二手房价格环比下降城市有63个,比上月增加1个。
分城市来看,一线城市新房和二手房价格环比一平一降,二三线城市环比下降。其中,一线城市新房价格环比由上月下降0.2%转为持平;二手房价格环比下降0.5%,降幅比上月扩大0.1个百分点。二线城市新房价格环比下降0.3%,降幅比上月扩大0.1个百分点;二手房价格环比下降0.4%,降幅与上月相同。三线城市新房价格环比下降0.3%,降幅与上月相同;二手房价格环比下降0.4%,降幅比上月收窄0.1个百分点。
上海易居房地产研究院研究总监严跃进认为,根据简单算术平均计算,2022年12月全国70个城市新房价格指数环比跌幅为0.2%,同比跌幅为2.3%。当前房价指数跌幅总体上没有扩大,说明去年四季度持续性的“三支箭”政策,减少了房企恐慌性降价的心理。最明显的变化是,一线城市连跌3个月后,当前已经有止跌现象。预计新房价格指数的积极变化后续也会逐渐传导到二手房市场中。
广东省城规院住房政策研究中心首席研究员李宇嘉也认为,一线城市新房价格基本止跌,显示去年四季度以来供需两端积极的政策产生一定效果。比如,供给端加快“三支箭”等资金投放、推进保交楼,改善房企资产负债表,推动收并购;需求端积极降低按揭利率,鼓励住房购置和改善等,政策叠加部分缓解了风险预期,购房需求释放也有所稳定。反映在房价上,一线城市率先出现止跌企稳态势。
不过,李宇嘉同时指出,2022年12月房价下跌城市增加,市场仍较为疲弱。
中原地产首席分析师张大伟则认为,二手房价格表现更值得关注,2022年12月二手房价环比下降城市有63个,说明当前市场全面低迷。
政策助力
年内楼市或企稳
今年以来,中央和地方楼市支持政策密集出台。
1月5日,央行、银保监会宣布对首套房贷利率政策实行动态调整,即新房价格环比和同比连续3个月均下降的城市,可阶段性维持、下调或取消当地首套房贷利率下限。住建部部长倪虹在接受媒体专访时也表示,对购买第一套住房的,要大力支持,首付比例、首套利率该降的,都要降下来;对于购买第二套住房的要合理支持,以旧换新、以小换大、生育多子女家庭都要给予政策支持。他还表示今年要因城施策、精准施策,提振市场信心。
与此同时,各地稳楼市步伐加快,新疆乌鲁木齐、安徽六安、河南荥阳等多地发布了刺激住房消费需求的政策举措,包括下调首套房贷利率下限、暂停限购政策、放宽首套房认定标准、降低首套房首付比例、换购住房个税减免、支持团购住房、发购房补贴、提高住房公积金贷款额度等。河南更是明确表示,要取消和调整妨碍消费需求释放的限制性政策。
李宇嘉认为,稳房价是稳预期、稳需求、纾困供给端的关键。近期央行下调首套房贷利率下限,目的也是为了稳房价,为稳楼市交易、开发创造条件。预计热点城市交易量或在二季度开始企稳并慢慢回升,并在下半年带动都市圈周围城市好转。
对于今年的政策预期,上海易居房地产研究院执行院长丁祖昱认为,2023年将继续因城施策用足用好政策工具箱,地方需求端政策力度有望加码,包括市场下行压力较大的远郊区域局部放松限购,定向优化二孩、三孩家庭以及各类人才购房资格等。重点市场倘若出现走弱迹象,不排除政策加码的可能性,以便给市场“保温”。
(文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎)