與 "Gonggwanwi Launch by 90 Days Before General Election"... Established After Innovation Committee Dissolution?

Resolution at the People Power Party Supreme Council Meeting on the 20th
Frequent Launches of the January Public Official Committee Ahead of the April General Election
Park Jeongha: "Realistic Timing of Formation"

On the 20th, the People Power Party held an executive meeting and passed a party constitution and regulations amendment to delay the deadline for launching the Nomination Management Committee from 120 days before the general election to 90 days before the general election. According to the existing party constitution, the Nomination Management Committee should be formed by the 12th of next month before next year’s general election, but the clause was revised based on past cases where the committee was actually formed around early January. However, some interpret that the Innovation Committee’s agenda is influencing this decision.

Initially, the leadership emphasized the early launch of the Nomination Management Committee. It was interpreted as an intention for the leadership to take the initiative ahead of next year’s general election by activating the committee early. However, with this amendment, there is a prospect that the launch of the Nomination Management Committee could be delayed until after the end of next month. According to the new party constitution and regulations, the committee only needs to be launched before January 11 next year. Inside and outside the party, there are concerns that since the Innovation Committee’s official activity period ends on December 24, the leadership might form the Nomination Management Committee late in early next year, rendering the Innovation Committee’s proposals ineffective.

Park Jeong-ha, Member of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, Chief Spokesperson Park Jeong-ha said to reporters after the executive meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, "It is a realization of the timing for forming the Nomination Management Committee." Park explained, "There is no change in the existing stance that the committee will be formed promptly once the regular National Assembly session ends on December 9 and the impeachment and veto disputes stabilize. According to the current trend, the leadership thinks the committee will be formed around mid-December."

He added, "Some of the Innovation Committee’s proposals have a gap between ideals and reality," and "The leadership and the party respect the intent of the innovation proposals and are currently working on creating a plan that reflects reality as much as possible."

At the executive meeting that day, a new party regulation was also passed stating that "if the chairman of the Party Members’ Council Operating Committee receives a disciplinary action of suspension of party membership or higher, the position is immediately considered vacant." This was formalized after controversy arose over whether former leader Lee Jun-seok and lawmaker Tae Young-ho, who had their suspensions canceled, could return as party district chiefs. The regulation clarifies that if a party district chief receives a disciplinary action above a certain level, the district will immediately be considered in crisis.

Additionally, an amendment was passed to prepare for cases where unverified individuals might be included in the People’s Nomination Jury during the general election, stating that "the operation of the jury can be altered by the resolution of the Nomination Management Committee and approval of the executive committee." The party constitution and regulations amendments passed at the executive meeting will be finally approved at the online Standing National Committee meeting on the 23rd.