US House leader John Boehner stuns Congress, announces resignation

The leader of the US House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, stunned Republicans on Friday, saying he would resign at the end of October, stepping aside from one of the most powerful jobs in Washington in the face of hardline conservative opposition that threatens an institutional crisis.

Boehner, second in line to succeed the president and into his 13th two-year term announced announced his decision in a closed-door session of the Republican caucus. It came one day after a high point of Boehner's congressional career, a historic speech by Pope Francis to Congress at Boehner's request.

A constant focus of conservatives' complaints, Boehner was facing the threat of a floor vote on whether he could stay on as speaker, a formal challenge that hasn't happened in over 100 years. That was being pushed by tea partyers convinced Boehner wasn't fighting hard enough to strip women healtyh care provider Planned Parenthood of government funds, even though doing so risked a government shutdown next week.

Although it's not certain who will succeed Boehner, the most obvious candidate is the No. 2 House Republican, Kevin McCarthy, a genial Californian who was first elected to Congress in 2006. McCarthy did not immediately announce any plans to run for speaker but would be expected to. Regardless, Boehner's departure ensures a major leadership race in which tea party conservatives would be expected to field a candidate.

The turmoil in Congress is playing out against an already roiling race for the Republican presidential nomination in which the candidates at the top of opinion polls are all Washington outsiders. Many of the Republicans candidates have criticised Boehner and his Senate counterpart, Majority leader Mitch McConnell, who've seen their approval ratings sag even among Republicans.

"The first job of any speaker is to protect this institution that we all love," Boehner said in a statement not long after announcing his resignation to his colleagues. "It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the speakership and my seat in Congress on October 30."

"Over the last five years, our majority has advanced conservative reforms that will help our children and their children," Boehner said. "I am proud of what we have accomplished Boehner "just does not want to become the issue," said Rep. John Mica, a Republican, "Some people have tried to make him the issue both in Congress and outside," Mica said. Some conservatives welcomed the announcement.