"You can't entrust fish to a cat, whether black or white"
"People Power Party to focus on revitalizing the people's economy"
On the 31st, the People Power Party sharply criticized the 'pragmatism' promoted by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, calling it nothing more than a political flip-flop and a 'gaffe (失言),' urging him to stop his chameleon politics.
On the same day, the People Power Party held an emergency countermeasure committee meeting and conveyed the public sentiment by stating, "Many citizens worry that if Leader Lee becomes president, the entire country might turn into a communist totalitarian state."
They claimed that the opposition has recently been fostering an early presidential election atmosphere as if impeachment had been confirmed, exhibiting dictatorial behavior. Kwon Young-se, chairman of the People Power Party's emergency countermeasure committee, said, "(Leader Lee) even brought up the black cat-white cat theory, but you cannot entrust fish to a cat, whether black or white," adding, "If he uses all sorts of tricks to delay his trial and pressures the judicial authorities and the Constitutional Court to hasten the presidential impeachment, it will only provoke strong public backlash."
Regarding Lee's economic and diplomatic views, they disparaged them as 'chameleon politics.' Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "The Democratic Party treats the ROK-US alliance, the foundation of South Korea's diplomacy, as a mere political accessory," and added, "Nevertheless, the fact that they disparaged the US forces as occupying troops in the past and insisted during Trump's first term that the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Korea must be prepared for cannot be erased."
Concerning Lee's role as the chair at the semiconductor special law policy debate scheduled for the 3rd, they diagnosed it as "a double play to alleviate the anti-market and anti-business image while simultaneously appeasing left-wing forces, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions."
Contrary to the Democratic Party's political moves, the People Power Party declared its focus on national stability and revitalizing the people's economy. To this end, they urged the passage of livelihood-related bills such as the semiconductor special law and the three energy laws, proposed by the ruling party in the February National Assembly, through bipartisan agreement.
Chairman Kwon said, "Many citizens I met during the holidays were pleading to solve the immediate issues of making a living," emphasizing, "It is time for the National Assembly to stop political strife and respond to the voices of the people." He further urged, "We must first get the ruling-opposition-government council back on track and swiftly discuss all matters that help the livelihood economy."
They also voiced opinions on the supplementary budget and pension reform. Kim Sang-hoon, chairman of the People Power Party's Policy Committee, said, "We have taken the position to promote supplementary budgets through ruling-opposition-government consultations when there are factors requiring additional budgets," adding, "At the very least, if they want to bring up the supplementary budget, they must first apologize to the public for the unilateral cuts and forced passage of last year's year-end budget." He also added, "The ruling and opposition parties must immediately form a National Assembly pension special committee to undertake both parametric and structural reforms."
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