Jo Kyung-tae: "Democratic Party Has No Grounds to Dispute President's Veto"

"Surpassing the Worst of the 22nd National Assembly"
Criticism That Politics Has Disappeared

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the Democratic Party of Korea electing chairpersons for 11 standing committees at the plenary session on the 10th, the People Power Party has expressed opposition, claiming that the ruling party forced the vote unilaterally. Rep. Cho Kyung-tae of the People Power Party criticized, saying, "Politics has disappeared."

On the 11th, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Rep. Cho explained the boycott of the previous day's plenary session, stating, "It was a situation where we could not enter the plenary session," and added, "The People Power Party felt a great sense of frustration over the Democratic Party's tyranny." He also said, "I thought the 21st National Assembly was the worst, but the 22nd National Assembly surpasses even that."

He also harshly criticized Speaker Woo Won-shik, saying he is unqualified. Rep. Cho said, "To perform the role of Speaker, the ruling party should be involved to uphold the spirit of consensus, but Speaker Woo gives no such impression at all."

Rep. Cho raised his voice, saying that the 22nd National Assembly has not followed the established customs of the National Assembly. According to the customs, if the Speaker is from the Democratic Party, the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should go to the People Power Party. He said, "The chairmanship of the Steering Committee has always been held by the ruling or majority party, regardless of whether it was a minority or majority party."

Rep. Cho said that if the Democratic Party enacts laws through majority tyranny, the government will have no choice but to exercise veto power. He stated, "If the Democratic Party's position of emphasizing 'according to the law' is reflected in the unilateral vote on chairpersons of 11 standing committees, then the president will also exercise veto power 'according to the law.'" He added, "If this continues, the number of vetoes will inevitably increase, and the damage will ultimately fall on the people." He emphasized, "From now on, the Democratic Party will have no grounds to dispute the president's exercise of veto power, and the responsibility for the damage must be borne entirely by the Democratic Party, which is showing majority tyranny."

Meanwhile, regarding the delayed discussion on the vice speakership of the National Assembly, Rep. Cho said, "It does not seem appropriate to discuss the vice speakership under these circumstances," and "only when the National Assembly returns to normal can the vice speakership be discussed."