With "Presidential Veto if the Grain Management Act is Enforced"... February Extraordinary Session a 'Road Full of Thorns'

People Power Party's All-Out Offensive to Shield Lee Jae-myung
Leadership Calls Him a "Corrupt Politician's Ugly Sophistry"
Lee Jae-myung Arrest Motion, February Extraordinary Session's Flashpoint

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The February extraordinary session of the National Assembly, starting from the 2nd of next month, is expected to be a thorny path. This is because the ruling and opposition parties are anticipated to continue their extreme confrontation over the prosecution's investigation of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. As the prosecution is reportedly set to request an arrest warrant for Lee, clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over the processing of the parliamentary consent for Lee's arrest are expected to intensify.

On the 30th, Chung Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said at the party's emergency meeting held at the National Assembly, "The Democratic Party is preparing to submit an impeachment motion against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and introduce a special prosecutor for First Lady Kim Keon-hee during the February session," adding, "The public is well aware of why the Democratic Party, which wasted the January session by holding a shielded parliament for Lee Jae-myung, is opening the February session again." This claim suggests that although the Democratic Party convened the January extraordinary session, no livelihood bills were passed, implying that the session was held to neutralize the prosecution's investigation of Lee through a 'shielded parliament.'

Jung Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also said, "There are 60 bills pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that could be passed if processed by this morning, but the Democratic Party is refusing," and counterattacked, "Where did the voices demanding the January extraordinary session go? We hope they will unconditionally convene the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and cooperate in passing more than 60 livelihood bills."

On the same day, the People Power Party launched a relentless offensive over the prosecution's investigation process of Lee on the 28th. Floor leader Joo criticized media reports that Lee effectively exercised his right to remain silent during the prosecution's investigation, saying, "(Lee) is a lawyer himself, so why can't he explain what he feels is unfair or what the prosecution is fabricating?" and added, "Lee is acting in a way that drags one million Democratic Party members into a pit just to save himself."

Policy Committee Chairman Sung Il-jong said, "Even if Lee Jae-myung continues his political attacks calling it 'political prosecution' and 'elimination of political rivals,' crimes cannot be covered up," and scolded, "Do the people need to listen more to the ugly sophistry of a corrupt politician who is not even newsworthy?" He added, "Lee Jae-myung is not a prisoner of conscience," and urged, "Please stop pretending to be a persecuted democratic fighter with a clumsy cosplay."

The differences between the ruling and opposition parties over key bills remain. The National Assembly held the last plenary session of the January extraordinary session on this day to vote on whether to refer the amendment to the Grain Management Act. The ruling party plans to counter with a 'presidential veto' if the Democratic Party pushes through the bill alone. The Grain Management Act mandates government rice purchases if the surplus production exceeds 3% of rice demand or if the rice price during the harvest season falls by more than 5% compared to the previous year. On the 28th of last month, the Democratic Party unilaterally approved the direct referral of the bill in the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee while the ruling party had left the meeting.

Today: Last Plenary Session of January Extraordinary Session... Vote on Referral of Grain Management Act Amendment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the National Assembly Act, if there is a request for direct referral and no agreement between the ruling and opposition parties within 30 days, an anonymous vote on whether to refer the bill is held at the first plenary session thereafter. Since the Democratic Party holds a majority in the National Assembly, the bill is likely to be referred, and if subsequently introduced, it can be forcibly passed with the majority. In this regard, floor leader Joo said at the meeting, "The Grain Management Act appears to protect farmers on the surface, but in reality, it is a clearly flawed law that destroys agriculture and plunges farmers into hardship," adding, "If this law passes as is, we will have no choice but to recommend the president exercise the veto power."

In addition, the People Power Party raised criticism over the Democratic Party's proposal to prepare a supplementary budget of 30 trillion won and to secure funds by introducing a windfall tax on banks and oil companies. Emergency Response Committee Chairman Chung criticized, "The Democratic Party has brought up the windfall tax to recover profits from oil companies and revived the 30 trillion won supplementary budget populism," and said, "The worldview of plundering companies cannot overcome the economic crisis."