"Democratic Party Must Show Genuine Commitment to Cooperation," Urges Call
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea on the 24th, saying, "Monopoly of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee by one party only means one-party dominance in the legislature."
At the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Floor Leader Kwon stated, "It is mutual respect between the ruling and opposition parties for cooperation that the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee are held by different parties."
Last year, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party agreed in the organizational agreement between then floor leaders Yoon Ho-jung and Kim Gi-hyeon that "the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the second half will be held by the People Power Party," but recently the Democratic Party changed its position, claiming it would "re-discuss from the beginning."
In response, Floor Leader Kwon said, "It is not the first time that harmful laws causing pain to the people have been pushed through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee by the power of the major party," adding, "The Democratic Party must show sincerity in cooperation. They cooperated in approving Prime Minister Han Deok-soo in front, claiming they were cooperating, but behind the scenes, breaking the agreement on the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to take it for themselves is a typical case of 'double standards' and hypocrisy."
Floor Leader Kwon emphasized, "Monopolizing the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee while claiming to cooperate with the ruling party is deceiving the people," and urged once again, "I call on the Democratic Party to stop politics that are shameful to the people and show sincere steps toward cooperation."
At a meeting with reporters after the floor strategy meeting, Floor Leader Kwon also said, "It is truly frustrating. No matter how much I try to understand why the Democratic Party is breaking and reversing the agreement to give the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the People Power Party, it is a situation that cannot be understood logically," explaining, "This was an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties and was announced to the public, so it is a promise to the people."
Meanwhile, when asked about the timing of the resignation of Minister of Health and Welfare nominee Jeong Ho-young, Floor Leader Kwon responded, "I do not think it was late," adding, "As seen in the hearing process, no illegal or improper acts were revealed."
He continued, "However, since there was much opposition due to the nominee not meeting the public's expectations, we gathered opinions within the party and conveyed to the presidential office that it would be inappropriate to appoint him," and said, "As this process was exposed to the media, the nominee voluntarily resigned."
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