The first Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly election has been narrowed down to a two-way race between 6-term elected Chu Mi-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea and 5-term lawmaker Woo Won-shik. While the candidates for Speaker are emphasizing a hardline stance rather than mechanical neutrality, there are also voices saying that the intentions of Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, have been reflected.
On the afternoon of the 12th, Chu Mi-ae and Jo Jeong-sik, candidates for the Speaker of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, discussed unifying their candidacies at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, and shook hands as they left the building. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the afternoon of the 12th, 6-term lawmaker Cho Jung-sik met with elected Chu at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, and agreed to unify their candidacies for the Speaker election. Lawmaker Cho withdrew his candidacy. Elected Chu said, "The two of us agreed that by joining forces, we can make the next National Assembly a reformist assembly and restore the livelihood of the people."
In a statement, lawmaker Cho said, "I deeply agreed that the Democratic Party should lead the 22nd National Assembly as a reformist assembly that realizes the will of the general election," and added, "I decided to withdraw my candidacy to become a catalyst for a reformist assembly that fulfills the will of the general election with the unity of Democratic Party elected members and party members."
Five-term lawmaker Jung Sung-ho, who was considered a leader of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, also withdrew from the Speaker election. In a text message sent to the media that day, lawmaker Jung said, "I am withdrawing my candidacy for the first half Speaker election," and added, "I will work harder for the Democratic Party's victory and regime change."
Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Won-sik is holding a press conference on July 7 at the National Assembly to announce his candidacy for the Speaker of the National Assembly. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Thus, the first half Speaker election of the 22nd National Assembly will be held as a two-way contest between elected Chu and lawmaker Woo. In a statement that day, lawmaker Woo said, "It is truly regrettable to talk about unification as if dividing the position despite the runoff," and added, "I will do my best to make the first half of the 22nd National Assembly a reformist assembly and a 'working livelihood assembly.'"
Meanwhile, there is also analysis that the background of lawmaker Cho and lawmaker Jung’s withdrawal lies in the intentions of Leader Lee. It is interpreted that Leader Lee wants a person who can show a strong stance rather than mechanical neutrality as Speaker. Kim Min-seok, a Democratic Party lawmaker classified as pro-Lee, declared support for elected Chu on Facebook that day, saying, "I believe this is the era of party member sovereignty. The new political grammar that respects party member sovereignty as a natural order and the traditional political grammar that prioritizes seniority among multiple-term lawmakers coincidentally head toward the same solution."
The possibility of Leader Lee’s reappointment as the Democratic Party leader is also increasing. Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said that day, "Reappointment of the leader to create the 22nd reformist National Assembly as the people wish is indispensable," and added, "I hope Leader Lee will make a decision on reappointment as the best choice and the best result the Democratic Party can have, with a spirit of putting the party before oneself."
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