Kwon Seong-dong: "Yoon Impeachment Party Stance to Be Finalized at Tomorrow's Party Meeting"

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Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 13th regarding the 'vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol,' "For now, opposing impeachment is the party line, but we will openly share opinions and make a careful decision."

At his first press briefing since taking office, held at the National Assembly main building on the same day, Floor Leader Kwon said, "We will gather the opinions of 108 lawmakers at tomorrow's (14th) party meeting to make a final decision."

Kwon Seong-dong, the newly appointed floor leader of the People Power Party, is giving his acceptance speech at the 2024 People Power Party floor leader election members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Currently, 'rejection of the impeachment motion' is the party line, but the plan is to hear the opinions of lawmakers at the party meeting held before the impeachment motion is submitted. The People Power Party chose to oppose impeachment as the party line under former floor leader Choo Kyung-ho's leadership during the first impeachment vote on the 7th. However, the party atmosphere is shifting after Representative Han Dong-hoon requested the party to adopt impeachment as the party line the day before, stating that "impeachment is the only way." Seven party members have publicly expressed their support for impeachment, and some lawmakers who have not disclosed their stance said they would vote in the plenary session. Floor Leader Kwon sensed this internal party atmosphere and expressed his intention to decide at the party meeting the next day.

When asked whether the party line would determine attendance at the vote, Floor Leader Kwon said, "Everything will be discussed and decided at the party meeting."

Regarding the question, "Isn't the opposition party line meaningless since the number of dissenting votes has already exceeded eight?" Floor Leader Kwon responded, "I understand many people expect that," adding, "Once the party line is decided, as floor leader, I can only appeal to the lawmakers to faithfully follow the party line. Other than that, I have no way to enforce it."

Floor Leader Kwon also said, "I am not particularly communicating with the Presidential Office. I have not spoken with President Yoon," and added, "Since he is still the incumbent president, if there are matters to discuss between the party and government, we can discuss them, but there are no special issues at the moment, so we are not discussing anything."

As a solution to navigate future government affairs, Floor Leader Kwon proposed forming a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly. He said, "It is as if the functions of the Presidential Office have been suspended," and added, "Now it is time for the National Assembly to step up and resolve the pressing issues through dialogue with the government."

Regarding the national investigation proposed by Speaker Woo Won-shik to uncover the truth about the internal rebellion incident, Floor Leader Kwon expressed opposition, saying, "If the National Assembly conducts a national investigation, it would rather hinder the investigation." He added, "Speaker Woo requested cooperation, but I said a national investigation is unnecessary," and said, "The prosecution, police, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials are conducting intense investigations, so what meaning would a belated national investigation by the National Assembly have?"