Democratic Party Begins Unilateral Election of Chairpersons... Ruling Party Calls Opposition's Rejection of Criminal Procedure Special Committee Compromise 'Legislative Rampage'

Park Hong-geun "No Choice If No Progressive Proposal Presented by Morning"
Kwon Seong-dong "Unilateral Plenary Session and Election of Unilateral Chairmanship Are Clear Illegal Acts"

[Asia Economy Reporters O Ju-yeon, Park Jun-i, Kwon Hyun-ji] The Democratic Party of Korea announced that if they fail to reach a final agreement with the People Power Party by the morning of the 4th regarding the second half of the National Assembly's leadership formation negotiations, they will convene a plenary session in the afternoon and elect the parliamentary leadership unilaterally as previously announced. The People Power Party strongly criticized this as a "declaration of war to recklessly push legislation with an absolute majority of seats." Although the tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition parties is expected to continue until the day of the plenary session, the possibility of a final agreement remains open, drawing attention to whether a deal can be reached just before the session.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the Emergency Measures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, indicated at the emergency committee meeting that morning, "If the ruling party does not present a progressive proposal by this morning, the Democratic Party, which has repeatedly made concessions, will have no choice," suggesting the forced unilateral election of the parliamentary leadership.

Park said, "To handle livelihood legislation and hold confirmation hearings for cabinet members, the minimum procedure of electing the parliamentary speaker must be completed at today's plenary session," adding, "The Democratic Party will focus solely on the people's livelihood and definitely start a working National Assembly for the people's livelihood."

Regarding the formation of the Special Committee on Judicial Reform (Saegeu Special Committee), which was presented as a condition for the leadership formation negotiations, he explained, "The Democratic Party made a big concession by yielding the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a key issue in the negotiations, but what we got in return was the People Power Party's irresponsible stalling. The Saegeu Special Committee would be approved if the People Power Party simply submits its list, and we even expressed additional willingness to concede by accepting the People Power Party's proposal to add a clause that the committee's agenda be decided by bipartisan agreement. However, the People Power Party kicked the table by insisting on appointing the committee chair themselves and having equal numbers from both parties."

However, he also expressed willingness to keep the door open for negotiations until just before the afternoon plenary session, suggesting a possibility of last-minute agreement.

Woo Sang-ho, the emergency committee chairman, said at the meeting, "We can no longer fall for the People Power Party's delay tactics," and added, "We will do our best to negotiate until this morning." He urged, "Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the ruling party, must bring a proper negotiation proposal by this morning," and "We hope to see a floor leader worthy of the ruling party."

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is giving a speech at an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The People Power Party strongly opposed the Democratic Party's unilateral convening of the plenary session and election of the parliamentary leadership, emphasizing its illegality.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Kwon said, "It is also inappropriate for the Democratic Party to unilaterally set a deadline and pressure the minority party, but our People Power Party has participated in negotiations with maximum concessions in a desperate effort to normalize the National Assembly," and criticized, "The Democratic Party set the implementation of the so-called 'complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority' (Geomsu Wanbak) agreement, which is unrelated to the leadership formation negotiations, as a precondition. This is something our party can never accept."

Regarding the formation of the Saegeu Special Committee, he said, "We proposed a compromise plan to have a 5:5 ratio between the ruling and opposition parties and for the chairmanship to be held by the People Power Party, but the Democratic Party ultimately rejected it," blaming the breakdown of negotiations on the Democratic Party.

Floor Leader Kwon pointed out, "The Democratic Party's forced unilateral election of the parliamentary leadership is a declaration of war to recklessly push legislation with an absolute majority of seats, and legislative recklessness is a shortcut to self-destruction," adding, "If the Democratic Party fulfills its promise to alternate the parliamentary speaker and the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee between the first and second largest parties and distribute standing committee chairs in an 11 to 7 ratio, the People Power Party is ready to cooperate in electing the parliamentary leadership at any time."