Democratic Party's Sole Opening of the Assembly Met with Strong Condemnation from Senior Ruling Party Members as "Anti-Parliamentary Outrage, Resolute Opposition"

Sung Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the current issue review meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Senior members of the People Power Party strongly condemned the Democratic Party of Korea's plan to convene an extraordinary session of the National Assembly on July 1 to forcibly elect the Speaker of the National Assembly.

At a senior members' meeting on the 30th, it was agreed to hold a party meeting on the morning of the 1st to discuss countermeasures against the Democratic Party's 'unilateral plenary session convening.' Park Dae-chul, a three-term lawmaker, pointed out, "This is an unprecedented event in 53 years of constitutional history," adding, "It is the opposition's refusal to accept the presidential election results after being judged twice by voting, and it will be a coup to build a fortress for themselves."

Lawmaker Jung Woo-taek said, "It has been revealed that the National Assembly Act was ignored during the process of unilaterally electing the Speaker, and this cannot be called anything other than a parliamentary outrage," and urged, "If Kim Jin-pyo, the nominated Speaker, wishes to become the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, he should clearly state his position on this issue and declare that the National Assembly should not be operated in this manner."

Lawmaker Sung Il-jong said, "The Speaker of the National Assembly is the Speaker of the people, not the Speaker of a political party," and added, "Violating the law in this regard would create a shameful history that cannot be allowed." Lawmaker Lee Chae-ik also said, "The Speaker's group is the last bastion of sacred democracy," and strongly urged, "Do not create a shameful record in constitutional history." Lawmaker Lee Myung-soo said, "If the autocratic legislative dictatorship continues without any change as if it were like talking to a wall, it would be an irreversible historical mistake."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party decided to postpone the plenary session date for electing the Speaker from the 1st to the 4th of next month by three days.