Reform New Party: "President Yoon Will Face National Judgment... 179 Votes in Favor, an Unimaginable Number"

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, said on the 28th regarding the National Assembly plenary session's rejection of the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act,' "President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is desperately trying to avoid the special prosecutor until the end, will face the judgment of the people."

Heo said at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office immediately after the rejection of the special prosecutor law in the afternoon, "I am truly sorry to the parents of the deceased Marine soldier."

He added, "If our politics had just a little more of a human face, if it were a little closer to common sense, if it had just a little more consideration for the hearts of the youth and parents, this would not have happened. I am very sorry," and criticized, "The People Power Party, which calls itself a conservative party but remains cowardly silent in the face of the death of a soldier who went to the Marines to protect the country and died unjustly, is no longer conservative or anything."

Right after the press conference, when asked by reporters about the unexpectedly low 179 votes in favor, he said, "This is an unimaginable number. It was unexpected, and I think this is the kind of situation where the phrase 'beyond belief' applies."

At the last plenary session of the 21st National Assembly that day, the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act was rejected with a secret ballot result of 179 votes in favor, 111 against, and 4 invalid out of 294 members present. Accordingly, the special prosecutor law was finally discarded.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Heo said, "I had hoped for votes in favor from conscientious lawmakers, but I think our expectations were too high," and added, "(The government and ruling party) will face an important judgment of history."

Regarding the re-proposal of the special prosecutor law, he expressed concern, saying, "Since the People Power Party has complaints about the contents of this bill, they might revise that part and submit it again," and "Not only us, but also within the Democratic Party and the Joseon Innovation Party, I think bills will be submitted one after another like mushrooms." He added, "The Reform New Party believes that the problem is not with the content of the bill."

Heo said, "I believe the people will raise the cane, and I think the people will definitely respond from this moment onward," and "I am curious about how they will be hit with the cane and the stick. I think the people will do what the lawmakers cannot do."