Yongho Lee: "It's the season to drink poison for nomination rights... Who would support the arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung?"

Assemblyman Yeo's SBS Radio Interview
"Secret Ballot is to Protect Conscience and Conviction"

Lee Yong-ho, a member of the People Power Party, commented on Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, agreeing to the party Innovation Committee's proposal to change the 'arrest consent motion to a roll-call vote.' He said, "There is a general election in April next year, and if this is about nomination rights now, it is truly a season where one would even drink poison," adding, "When the arrest consent motion comes, there will not be a single person who says, 'I will take responsibility in politics, so I support the motion.'"

On the 26th, Lee appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "In our country, the party leader disproportionately wields all the power. Ultimately, it is about nomination rights," expressing his view.

If the arrest consent motion is changed to a roll-call vote, it would be difficult for members to vote according to their conscience on the party leader's arrest consent motion, who holds significant influence over nominations ahead of the general election.

Interview_Lawmaker Lee Yong-ho of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

He explained, "The reason why the arrest consent motion is originally conducted by secret ballot is because the Constitution states that members of the National Assembly perform their duties according to their conscience, and the National Assembly Act similarly allows them to act based on their conscience and beliefs, independent of the party."

He continued, "However, claiming that roll-call voting is responsible politics is completely misleading the public and deceiving oneself," criticizing, "It is impossible and absurd."

Regarding the background of Lee Jae-myung agreeing to the Innovation Committee's 'roll-call vote change proposal,' he analyzed, "It shows how desperate they are." Lee said, "At the same time, by casting a roll-call vote, the message is to oppose the arrest consent motion when it comes," adding, "Our party has already given up the privilege of non-arrest, and although the Democratic Party added the premise of a 'legitimate warrant request,' they have also given up the privilege of non-arrest, so in fact, there is nothing to vote on."