Opposition: "The President and First Lady Collaborate to Mock the People"
Ruling Party: "They Divide Public Opinion at Every Chance, Disband the Democratic Party"
Right after the Chuseok holiday, the ruling and opposition parties clashed again in the National Assembly. As the Democratic Party and other opposition parties pushed for the forced passage of three bills, including the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act,' the People Power Party held a rally condemning it as a 'legislative outrage' and responded in kind. The Democratic Party and other opposition parties emphasized the necessity of passing the special prosecutor law concerning Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, citing terms such as 'mocking the people' and 'state manipulation.' The People Power Party raised their voices mentioning 'dissolution of the party,' but did not engage in the anticipated filibuster.
On the afternoon of the 19th, as the members of the People Power Party condemned the opposition party's attempt to forcibly pass the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' and others, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with other lawmakers, are entering the National Assembly plenary session hall. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the afternoon of the 19th, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated at a party meeting held before the plenary session of the National Assembly, "Shortly, we plan to pass the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act,' the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act,' and the 'Local Love Gift Certificate Act,'" asserting that these are "laws to restore broken fairness and common sense and to revive people's livelihoods." He continued, "The president and his wife are jointly mocking and deceiving the people in a bizarre manner that continues unabated," and "with the reckless run of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration leading Korea to ruin, the Democratic Party must stay alert to minimize damage," he said.
Furthermore, he raised his voice saying, "People Power Party members must also come to their senses," adding, "Ignoring the lives of the people while only watching the declining Yongsan is a great sin in history." This was a call for the People Power Party to also participate in passing the three bills scheduled for that day. The Democratic Party emphasized the need to appoint a special prosecutor, mentioning suspicions that Kim Geon-hee was involved in election interference.
The People Power Party continued their condemnation rally until Democratic Party members entered the plenary session hall. Initially, the People Power Party considered blocking the vote by engaging in unlimited debate (filibuster), but they limited their response to the rally and opposed the bills through debate each time they were processed. People Power Party members gathered in front of the plenary session hall in the Rotunda Hall before the vote, repeatedly shouting slogans such as "Dividing public opinion at every opportunity, Democratic Party should be dissolved." Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized, "The major opposition party is once again solely focused on political strife right after the Chuseok holiday," and said, "They are blatantly refusing the people's mandate to cooperate for the people's livelihood."
He added, "Ignoring the plenary session schedule agreed upon by both parties for the 26th, today's meeting, which the Democratic Party unilaterally decided to hold, is nothing more than a Democratic Party party meeting that has hijacked the plenary session hall." He also criticized the Local Love Gift Certificate Act, saying, "(Regarding the Local Love Gift Certificate Act) the local currency cash handout law is Lee Jae-myung-style populism. We cannot tolerate cash handouts that burden our children with debt." Additionally, he pointed out, "Both the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act and the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act are bills that have exhausted their lifespan after the president exercised the right to request reconsideration and the National Assembly voted on them, yet the major opposition party is pushing for their unilateral passage."
Democratic Party members entered the plenary session hall without paying attention to the People Power Party's condemnation rally. The Democratic Party announced that even if the president exercises the right to request reconsideration (veto) later, they will make every effort to pass the bills again. Yoon Jong-gun, floor spokesperson, stated, "If the president exercises the veto before the 24th, we plan to push for reconsideration at the plenary session on the 26th, and if it passes the 24th, we plan to reconsider in early October."
Democratic Party members entered the plenary session hall holding hand placards with the phrase "Condemn Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate selection." This targeted the suspicions of Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate selection that surfaced around the Lunar New Year holiday. In the plenary session hall, there was a confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties ahead of the vote on the two special prosecutor bills. Jo Bae-sook, a People Power Party member, said, "I think the reality where special prosecutors and impeachments, which should be exceptional, are rampant is not a normal parliamentary scene," to which the Democratic Party responded with, "Are you still a former judge after saying that?" Seo Young-kyo, a Democratic Party member, emphasized, "(Kim Geon-hee) why is she interfering even in candidate selection and manipulating state affairs?" and "We shout that we are ashamed to live as the president's spouse."
After the confrontation, with People Power Party members leaving, the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act was passed with 167 opposition members voting in favor. The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act was passed with 170 votes in favor, as Ahn Cheol-soo was the only People Power Party member to attend the vote and voted in favor. The Local Love Gift Certificate Act passed despite three Reform New Party members all voting against it, and Democratic Party members left the plenary session hall with smiling faces.
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