Regarding Candidate Selection
“Opinion Delivered” to the Presidential Office
Democratic Party Demands Second Half Judiciary Committee Chair
"Smooth Negotiation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Not Achieved"
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the 'Local Election Central Election Countermeasures Committee Meeting' held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 23rd regarding the appointment of Jeong Ho-young as Minister of Health and Welfare, "I think the candidate should decide on their own position."
After the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting for the local elections held at the National Assembly that day, Kwon told reporters about Jeong's position issue, "After listening to opinions from senior party members and many lawmakers, I can only say that there were many objections to Jeong being appointed as minister, and that it would be difficult."
When asked if he had conveyed this to the Presidential Office, he replied, "I have conveyed the opinion."
Meanwhile, Kwon also revealed that the formation of the second half of the National Assembly is facing difficulties. At a meeting with reporters, he said, "Because the Democratic Party announced a policy to break the bipartisan agreement and monopolize the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I must say that negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties are not progressing smoothly."
Earlier, at the meeting, Kwon criticized the Democratic Party's demand for the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as "a declaration of war to carry out legislative rampage."
Kwon said, "The Speaker of the National Assembly and the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee must be from different parties to enable checks and balances and cooperation, but the Democratic Party's attempt to monopolize both is ultimately a refusal to cooperate," adding, "The Democratic Party's control of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee led to the passage of harmful laws, increasing the suffering of the people," and criticized, "The Democratic Party should reflect on its past when it used the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee like a highway for legislative rampage."
He also criticized the Democratic Party for belittling the diplomatic achievements of the Korea-U.S. summit, saying, "Announcing a joint statement containing will and vision just 10 days after the president's inauguration is an important diplomatic achievement in itself, yet they disparage it as 'foreign guests only,'" and added, "The Democratic Party was criticized by the entire nation for its submissive diplomacy toward North Korea, but as soon as the new government was launched and achieved results, they try to belittle it."
He then emphasized, "Although relations between the ruling and opposition parties have become strained, I hope at least in diplomacy they adopt an attitude of recognizing each other's achievements," and urged, "Please engage in magnanimous politics."
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