The American Senate will vote as early as Wednesday on the latest initiative brought by the Democrats to restrict President Donald Trump’s military powers. Party leaders promised on Tuesday to submit such resolutions as long as the conflict with Iran continues.
“Forty-five days into this war, Congress finds itself sidelined as our Republican colleagues refuse to take a strong stand against this conflict and completely avoid it out of fear of Trump,” said Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic minority leader, in a parliamentary address on Tuesday.
Donald Trump indicated on Tuesday that talks to end hostilities could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, after the collapse of weekend negotiations led Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports. The lack of agreement in these discussions raises doubts about the sustainability of a two-week ceasefire, which is set to end in seven days.
In recent months, Congress Democrats have tried repeatedly, without success, to adopt resolutions on war powers to compel Donald Trump to cease all military action and to obtain legislators’ approval before launching operations, both in Venezuela and Iran.
Democrats are trying to link their executive regulation efforts to the issue of purchasing power. Disruptions in oil and natural gas deliveries have caused a spike in gasoline prices in the United States, as well as in agricultural products such as fertilizers, adding to a long list of high consumption prices.
Few issues affect American voters as deeply as inflation. This recent price surge is concerning Republican circles, who are worried about the prospects of their party less than seven months before the November elections, which will determine control of Congress.
Chuck Schumer clarified that ten other war powers resolutions had been submitted and that Democrats intend to submit them each week as long as the conflict in Iran, which began on February 28, continues.
Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, have blocked all resolutions presented to date, and there is no indication of a change in their position.
Republican legislators claim to support Donald Trump’s decisions and do not expect the war to drag on. “The military effort has been extraordinarily successful,” said John Thune, the Senate Republican leader, at a press conference.
“I believe the administration has a clear goal, a precise plan, and if they manage to execute it, the question of whether Congress should authorize prolonged conflict will not arise,” added Mr. Thune.
While the American Constitution states that Congress, not the president, has the power to declare war, this restriction does not apply to short-term operations or if the country faces an imminent threat.
The White House argues that Donald Trump’s actions are legal and fall under his prerogatives as commander-in-chief to protect the United States through limited military operations.
The exact time of the vote was not announced on Tuesday night, but Senate advisors indicated that the next resolution – sponsored by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, a former veteran – is expected to be considered as early as Wednesday.
In the House of Representatives, advisors anticipate a vote on a similar resolution regarding war powers in Iran as early as Thursday.
