Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Control of State Affairs... "Start with Economy" VS "Opposition Should Cooperate"

Lee Jae-myung "Let's form even in economic and livelihood sectors"
People Power Party "We are still the ruling party, please cooperate"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the ruling and opposition parties are engaged in a tense standoff over the proposed formation of a 'National Stability Consultative Body.' The proposal aims for the government and the National Assembly to jointly manage state affairs to resolve the emergency martial law and impeachment crisis, but the issue is who will hold the leadership in the National Assembly. The Democratic Party emphasized the opposition party's legitimacy in state management, having led the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol. On the other hand, the People Power Party rejected participation in the consultative body, accusing the Democratic Party of acting as if it were the ruling party.

On the 16th, at the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee said, "The People Power Party can take the lead in all discussions regarding the National Stability Consultative Body, but I earnestly ask the ruling party to participate as well." He added, "It does not matter what the name, form, or content is. If a consultative body covering the entire state affairs is burdensome, let's at least form one limited to the economy and livelihood sectors."

In political circles, Lee's gesture of offering leadership to the ruling party just one day after proposing the consultative body was seen as an expression of confidence as the next ruling party. It is explained that through the impeachment crisis, he is highlighting his stature not only as the opposition leader but also as a leading presidential candidate for the next election. Emphasizing livelihood and the economy over political strife, he indirectly pressured the ruling party to participate in the consultative body through a generous concession. Previously, the ruling party expressed concerns that if the Democratic Party led the consultative body, major opposition-initiated bills such as the special investigation law on Kim Geon-hee could be passed en masse.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The Democratic Party seems to be calculating that forming a consultative body focused solely on the economic sector could lead to the passage of key contentious bills. As part of livelihood recovery policies, Lee immediately brought up the government's supplementary budget (추경) formulation card. He is also confident that agricultural-related laws, including the Grain Management Act and the four agricultural laws, which have been blocked by the president's veto, can be handled through the consultative body, including budgets for local currency that he has led.

Han Duck-soo, acting president and prime minister who has assumed presidential authority, expressed willingness to actively cooperate in forming the consultative body with the National Assembly. However, he believes coordination between the ruling and opposition parties is necessary. A prime minister's office official said, "The issue of the national consultative body is more about how to reach a conclusion with the ruling party than with the opposition." Acting President Han also regards livelihood stability as the top priority and plans to receive reports on major issues from each ministry at the government office that day.

The key question is whether the People Power Party will accept Lee's proposal. Earlier, on the previous day, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters at the National Assembly that "the People Power Party is still the ruling party," effectively rejecting Lee's proposal for the consultative body. Accepting the consultative body would mean officially recognizing the opposition party's role in state management. The People Power Party plans to take the lead in managing state affairs through high-level party-government meetings or working-level party-government meetings. They are instead urging the opposition party to cooperate.