India on Thursday welcomed the appointment of an ambassador by the United States, a post vacant for more than two years, after the support given by the United States Senate to Eric Garcetti, a controversial former mayor of Los Angeles.
“
We are happy to work with him
,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters in New Delhi.
Eric Garcetti, a 52-year-old Democrat, won 52 votes from the 100-member Senate on Wednesday, two more than needed for the post.
India is for Washington one of its important strategic partners.
"
The US/India relationship is extremely important and it's a very good thing that we now have an ambassador
," Democratic Senators Leader Chuck Schumer told the Senate.
controversies
Mr. Garcetti had been chosen in 2021 by US President Joe Biden to become US Ambassador to India.
At the time, he was still mayor of America's second-largest city.
But his appointment was hampered by criticism over how he handled sexual harassment accusations against his then chief of staff.
In the United States, the appointment of an ambassador abroad requires Senate approval, which often causes delays.
These were longer than usual for Mr. Garcetti.
According to American media, Mr. Garcetti's family paid lobbyists to plead his case in Washington and he himself launched a charm offensive in Congress.
On Wednesday, several Democrats voted against his nomination but he was supported by seven Republicans.
Mr. Garcetti, once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, served as mayor of Los Angeles twice until 2022, but was unable to run for a third term.
He was criticized for not having acted following the allegations against his collaborator.
In December 2021, he assured during his hearing by the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee that he "
never witnessed the attitude that was alleged, nor saw his attention drawn to it
".