FIVE days before its inaugural session, the incoming House of Representatives remains in deadlock. Two Independents are caucusing with the eight Democrats, but another independent member is aligned with the nine Republicans.
Republican Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, left, and Independent Rep. Edmund Villagomez confer before the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation convened on Tuesday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety learned that both blocs are trying to reach out to the other side to obtain the “magic” number of 11.
Independent Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez is the candidate for speaker of the Democratic-led bloc while Rep.-elect Angel A. Demapan and Rep. Ivan A. Blanco are the Republicans interested in the speakership, Variety learned.
If neither bloc attains a majority by Monday, they will have to agree to a pro-tempore leadership while they continue to “reach out” to the other side.
The incoming Senate, for its part, will have five Republicans, one Democrat, two independents who vote with the Republicans and one independent aligned with the NMI Democratic Party.
