Minju's 'Party Charter Article 80 Amendment' Unanimously Passed by Party Affairs Committee... "A Reasonable Compromise" Praised by Members

Final Decision by Central Committee After Emergency Committee and Party Affairs Committee

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junyi Park] The Democratic Party's amendment to Article 80 of the party constitution, which suspends party duties upon indictment in cases related to corruption, passed the party affairs committee on the 19th. The amendment is scheduled for final discussion at the Central Committee on the 24th.

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a briefing after the party affairs committee meeting on the 19th, "All amendment articles, including Article 80, passed without any objections from the committee members."

The Preparatory Committee for the Party Convention held a meeting on the 16th and raised the suspension condition in Article 80, Paragraph 1, from "upon indictment" to "when convicted of imprisonment or higher in a lower court." However, on the following day, the Emergency Response Committee decided to maintain the clause as is and approved a compromise to change the authority to cancel or suspend disciplinary actions in Paragraph 3, in cases recognized as political oppression or unfair reasons, from the "Central Party Ethics Tribunal" to the "Party Affairs Committee."

Regarding this, spokesperson Shin explained, "Today, there were opinions that the clause preserves our party's determination to improve and eradicate corruption, and that the provision allowing the Party Affairs Committee to make different decisions in cases of political oppression or politically unfair reasons is a 'reasonable compromise.'"

It was reported that Woo Sang-ho, chairman of the Emergency Response Committee, explained the discussion process during the party affairs committee meeting. Spokesperson Shin said, "Since July, the Preparatory Committee for the Party Convention has been aware of and discussing the amendment to Article 80. During this time, an online platform for party member petitions was opened, and there were demands from party members for amendments. Due to public and media attention, there was a misunderstanding that this was a 'Lee Jae-myung Shield Law.' Many lawmakers expressed concerns at the Emergency Response Committee and the caucus meeting that the intent of the innovation plan during former party leader Moon Jae-in's tenure was being undermined." She also emphasized that the compromise was created after much deliberation within the party.

When asked about a petition on the party member petition board approaching 50,000 signatures to delete Article 80 of the party constitution, she replied, "There was no discussion about this at today's party affairs committee meeting. The petition system is judged by the Emergency Response Committee, and if the system's requirements are met, the party will prepare responses in various ways as needed."