"Factional Politics Deepen in Japan"…Jeong Jin-seok's Sharp Critique on the Controversy over the Large Multi-member Constituency System

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, who is visiting Brazil as the head of the special envoy delegation celebrating the inauguration of President Luis In?cio Lula da Silva, pointed out problems such as "intensification of factional politics within the party" regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's proposal for the 'large multi-member district system.'

Jeong posted on social media (SNS) in the early morning of the 5th, stating, "We deeply feel the drawbacks of the electoral district system, but we do not fully understand the problems of the large multi-member district system," expressing his views.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "Japan started with a single-member district system, moved to a large multi-member district system, and then returned to the single-member district system around 1993," adding, "While implementing the large multi-member district system, which elects 2 to 5 members, factional politics within parties intensified as they competed for nomination rights. To prevent this drawback, returning to the single-member district system is evaluated to have alleviated factional politics within parties."

Unlike the single-member district system, where one seat is allocated per electoral district, the large multi-member district system elects 2 to 5 members from a large electoral district. While there is hope that political diversity could be revitalized, concerns have also been raised that it may disadvantage political newcomers and could lead to the dominance of large parties.

It appears that Chairman Jeong also pointed out this aspect. Furthermore, he emphasized that the abolition of the existing 'semi-proportional representation system' and administrative district reorganization must precede the introduction of the large multi-member district system. Chairman Jeong stated, "The semi-proportional representation electoral law, which was introduced to involve the Justice Party in legislation to weaken the prosecution, is still in effect. The work to restore this electoral law unconditionally to its original state must come first," and added, "If electoral districts are to be expanded to elect multiple members of the National Assembly, administrative district reorganization must be discussed together."

In particular, Chairman Jeong pointed out that the current three-tier administrative structure cannot be maintained while implementing the large multi-member district system amid the full-scale extinction of local areas. He said, "Reducing to a two-tier administrative structure is the right direction," and added, "For example, abolishing provinces and grouping several metropolitan cities together should be considered together."