"Speaker of the National Assembly? Neither Left nor Right, but Not Neutral Either"
Choo Mi-ae, elected as a six-term member of the National Assembly representing Hanam Gap, Gyeonggi Province for the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed that the results of the April 10 general election, in which the Democratic Party secured an outright majority, reflect the public sentiment accurately when looking at the proportional representation votes. She stated, "Looking at the proportional representation count, we can accurately diagnose the public sentiment," and added, "Two-thirds have rejected the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."
On the 11th, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show,' Choo said, "The results reflect the voters' desire for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to change," and warned, "If this administration continues its original approach of autocratic dominance, excessive use of the veto power, and targeting opposition party leaders as a national policy stance, it will face increasing difficulties in the latter half." Regarding the Democratic Party becoming the largest party in the National Assembly, she evaluated, "The protagonist of innovation was the public sentiment," and said, "It is the power of innovation that has been consolidated."
Choo Mi-ae, elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea for Hanam Gap, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As of 9 a.m. on the day when the vote count reached about 99%, the People Power Party's satellite party for proportional representation, Future of the People, secured 18 seats with 36.67% of the vote. The opposition bloc's proportional seats totaled 25, with the Democratic United Coalition winning 13 seats (26.69%) and the Innovation Party for Justice securing 12 seats (24.25%). In the constituency elections, the results were ▲Democratic Party 161 seats ▲People Power Party 90 seats ▲New Future 1 seat ▲Reform Party 1 seat ▲Progressive Party 1 seat.
Choo succeeded in winning a sixth term in this general election, placing her as the top candidate for the next Speaker of the National Assembly. If she becomes the Speaker, she will be the first female Speaker in the history of the National Assembly.
Regarding her challenge for the Speaker position, Choo said, "In the last National Assembly, various reform legislations were blocked by the president's veto power, and there was reflection and remorse for not being able to act in a timely manner." She added, "Therefore, from the early stages of the election, there was a consensus that an innovative Speaker was needed." She continued, "The significance of this election is to strongly judge the president and for the legislature to provide checks and balances," and expressed her ambition by saying, "If people expect an unwavering role in such parliamentary innovation tasks, I will not hesitate."
When asked about concerns that her neutrality might be tested if she becomes Speaker, she responded, "The Speaker of the National Assembly is neither left-wing nor right-wing, but that does not mean neutrality either." She explained, "The issue is not whether the Speaker sides with the ruling party, but how to uphold the innovation tasks as a representative body," and added, "In the last National Assembly, various reform legislations were stalled or diluted by the Speaker’s hand under the pretext of finding compromises."
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