In an unprecedented move in the history of the US Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, was suspended yesterday, Tuesday, a victim of the Republican infighting.

Here’s a rundown of the next steps.

Is there an interim president?

Immediately following the 216-210 vote that suspended McCarthy, Rep. Patrick McHenry took over as interim speaker of the House of Representatives for a very short time – up to three days when the chamber is in session.

The duties of the interim president are not clear. As the regulation of the House of Representatives states, this person “may perform the duties of the president as deemed necessary and appropriate until the election of a president or deputy president.”

Although the Speaker of the House of Representatives generally sets the legislative agenda, it is the House Majority Leader who schedules debate and voting on specific bills.

Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong told reporters that McHenry’s main task will be “to find us a new president.” Anything more, he added, would lead to the initiation of proceedings for his ouster.

Freezing the legislative process?

Until a speaker of the House is elected, it is unlikely that bills to finance the federal government will move forward, while there is a deadline of November 17 to adopt a new interim budget and avoid another paralysis of the federal state.

Republicans have said it will take at least a week to elect a new president.

What are Republicans and Democrats doing?

The 221 Republican and 212 Democratic lawmakers are already deliberating in an effort to decide their next moves, both politically and legislatively.

Each party is expected to try to agree on a candidate for the position of president. The decision is expected to be relatively easy for Democrats, as they all support their House leader Hakeem Jeffries, who was McCarthy’s opponent in January.

Republicans, on the other hand, because of their apparent differences, mainly with a small group of hardline conservatives who want deep cuts in public spending, may have a harder time nominating a candidate.

McHenry may have an advantage now that he has taken over as interim president. McCarthy has said he will not run again.

When will the vote take place?

The leaders of both parties will have to decide when they are ready to start the election process.

In January, the process proved difficult, as McCarthy for days failed to gather a sufficient number of votes to be elected Speaker of the House. A total of 15 votes were needed.

Things are likely to be at least as chaotic for Republicans, unless they appreciate that internal divisiveness is hurting the party ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Who can be a candidate?

Based on the US Constitution, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is not required to be a member of Congress. For this reason the Republicans have mentioned the name of Donald Trump, although he is a candidate for the presidential election and has declared that he is not interested.