Pelosi’s legacy after two decades as a Democratic ‘speaker’

First modification: 11/18/2022 – 10:24

At the age of 82, Nancy Pelosi announced to retire as leader of the Democratic party in the House of Representatives. In January, she will stop holding the presidency of the institution, the third position in the political hierarchy of the United States.

“I will not seek re-election to the Democratic leadership in the next legislature,” said the 82-year-old political leader in a speech in the chamber, because she wants to make way for “a new generation.”

For Jennifer Piscopo, a professor of Political Science at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Pelosi marked a milestone in politics. “She was the first woman to hold this position and in the last two years she has managed to push through very important laws for the Joe Biden government and the Democratic Party,” she says. Her passage has left the mark of “a very strong California woman leadership and greater legislative achievements both in the time of Obama and in Health, as well as in that of Biden, in Infrastructure, the forgiveness of student debt or the reduction of inflation”, emphasizes Piscopo.

“During the Trump era there were many threats to the democracy of the United States because of his populist style and how through his leadership he encouraged political violence, which was demonstrated very clearly with the invasion of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Trump supporters sought out Pelosi in that episode. She made it clear that she was going to be intimidated. She made the institutional position very clear, as well as the commitment of the Democratic Party to democracy and the security of the electoral process, ”she adds.

These threats materialized in October when her husband was attacked at his home. In reality, her target was Nancy Pelosi, whom she accused of lying and whom she intended to “break her kneecaps.” Pelosi also announced her resignation the day after the election results that gave the Republicans a majority in the House.

“It is also true that she made the decision to leave office a few months ago, perhaps more than a year ago. It was an open secret in the halls of Washington and California. In this legislative period, even without a majority in the House of Representatives, she has a fairly strong position, since the Republicans have a very narrow advantage. By leaving office, Pelosi leaves room for new leaders to emerge in the Democratic Party, who are perhaps younger.

According to projections, the Republicans won at least 218 of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, a very fair majority, but enough to have blocking power on Biden’s policy until 2024.