Democratic Party Executive Committee Holds Meeting to Approve Amendments to Party Rules
Some Opinions Raised but Ultimately Processed Without Vote
The Democratic Party of Korea passed a party constitution amendment allowing the party affairs committee to adjust the 'one-year resignation deadline' for the party leader who intends to run in the presidential election, and abolishing the regulation that suspends the duties of party officials indicted on charges of corruption. The Democratic Party also finalized a plan to reflect party members' votes in the elections for the Speaker of the National Assembly and the floor leader.
On the same day, the Democratic Party held a party affairs committee meeting at the National Assembly and approved the amendments to the party constitution and regulations. Lee Hae-sik, the senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated, "There were opinions expressed by party affairs committee members regarding the amendments to the party constitution and regulations, and after discussions, the original proposal was approved."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
The controversial clause requires the party leader to resign when running for president. The Democratic Party's Supreme Council and others amended this clause to allow the resignation deadline to be set differently by the party affairs committee resolution, considering the schedule of local elections. Some party affairs committee members reportedly expressed opinions such as 'there is a need to reconsider' regarding the amendments to the party constitution and regulations. According to the spokesperson and others, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung proposed, "How about removing this clause and then amending it?" but after opposition from the Supreme Council members, the original proposal passed through the Supreme Council as is.
There were also revision suggestions regarding the abolition of Article 80 of the party constitution, which suspends the duties of party officials indicted on charges of corruption or misconduct, but it was ultimately approved. The clause stating that the party will not field candidates in by-elections caused by the Democratic Party's fault also faced opposition but was approved as originally proposed without a vote.
The clause strengthening party members' rights, which allows party members with voting rights to vote online or via ARS in the internal elections for the Speaker of the National Assembly and the floor leader, reflecting 20% of the results, was also passed as originally proposed.
The revised amendment also stipulates that when electing city and provincial party committee chairs, the ratio of delegates to party members' votes will be set to less than 20:1, similar to the election of the party leader and Supreme Council members. Additionally, the name of the National Delegates Convention will be changed to the National Party Members Convention.
The Democratic Party plans to hold a central committee meeting on the 17th to proceed with the party constitution amendment.
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