'Fateful Vote Involving 5 National Assembly Members'... Justice Party Begins Total Vote on 'Recommendation for Proportional Representation Members' Resignation'

Party Member General Vote Until the 4th of Next Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Justice Party will conduct a total membership vote recommending the resignation of all proportional representation members by the 4th of next month. Although this vote is not a binding recall vote but rather a recommendation, it carries significant political implications as it concerns the positions of 5 out of the 6 Justice Party members of the National Assembly, making political repercussions inevitable.

The Justice Party will begin the total membership vote starting with online voting on the 31st. Online voting will continue until 6 p.m. on the 3rd of next month, and on the 4th, voting will be conducted via ARS mobile voting. If online voting and ARS are difficult, postal voting is also possible. However, on-site voting will not be held due to COVID-19. The voting results are expected to be announced after the vote on the 4th of next month.

This total vote requires that 20% of eligible voters participate, and a majority of valid votes must agree. If the number of valid votes is insufficient or a majority is not achieved, the recommendation will be rejected.

The proponents of the recommendation for the resignation of all proportional representation members argue that it will serve as a catalyst for a new re-founding of the party, citing declining approval ratings and membership. On the other hand, the opposition criticizes the total vote as a loophole, stating that disciplinary procedures such as member recall, which require removal from party positions, should be followed instead. They also express skepticism about whether the actual resignation of proportional representatives and the succession of lower-ranked proportional representatives to National Assembly members constitutes genuine reform.

In fact, a member recall requires initiation by 10% of party members, a 50% turnout, and a majority approval, whereas the total vote can be initiated by 5% of party members, with a 20% turnout and majority approval.

A Justice Party official said, "The party is currently undergoing a reform process, but evaluations of the Emergency Response Committee are being obscured, which is regrettable," adding, "Efforts are needed to seek a direction where the party can find an exit after the total vote."