Democratic victory in the Senate protects the Biden Administration's room for maneuver for two more years

The president maintains control over the nominees to the Judiciary and receives protection against investigations promised by the Republicans

MADRID, 13 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The majority that has just been renewed by the Democratic Party in the elections for the United States Senate grants President Joe Biden a wide margin of maneuver to govern despite his great chances of defeat in the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives, against to a Republican Party disappointed with the performance of its candidates and far from the "red wave" that they predicted.

The electoral victory, decided practically after the victory of candidate Mike Fetterman in Pennsylvania -- "made the Republican majority practically impossible; it has been our wall," Democratic strategist Mike Mikus told CNN -- was closed this past morning with the triumph of Catherine Cortez Masto in the state of Nevada.

Although it does not seem likely that he will repeat a majority in the House of Representatives, which will pass unless catastrophe at the hands of the Republicans, the results in the local elections reveal the displeasure of the population towards Republican candidates close to former President Trump.

"I heard it from someone in the press: 'All Trump has done is reveal what the Republican Party really is,'" Biden declared in one of his first reactions to the victory, from the ASEAN/EAS summit. in Cambodia. "I think what they have to decide now, as we have in the past, is who they are," he added.

A Democratic Senate would be able to confirm the president's judicial nominees, including hypothetical appointees to the Supreme Court, as well as to local courts with a simple majority.

The Democratic majority in the upper house could also reject the bills introduced by a Republican House of Representatives and would have more leverage to negotiate decisions such as raising the debt ceiling or financing the government, which an all-Republican Congress would have used as a tool. to attack Biden.

In addition, the Senate will be able to act as a "shield" of protection against the avalanche of investigations into the president's son, Hunter, which those responsible for the Republican Party have promised if they win control of the House of Representatives at the end of the elections.

A complete defeat in both chambers would have also been a blow to the legitimacy of the president, who would have been forced to promulgate laws presented by the Democratic Party by decree. "It is crucial to maintain control of the Senate, if only as a bulwark against every bad idea that Republicans come up with," Democratic political analyst Bill Manley told the Vox news portal.

Finally, any senator or senator elected in 2022 will play a crucial role beyond the 2024 elections, since they have a six-year term. For now, however, the Democrats have their sights set on 24 months ahead, in a presidential election accompanied by another acid test in the Senate, where seats in West Virginia, Montana and Ohio will be at stake; states that voted for Trump in the last election.