A simple "sorry" from the People Power Party is not enough
Sincerity means not fielding a presidential candidate
Han Duck-soo nominates new constitutional court justices
Concerns raised over possible party dissolution trial for rebellion
Reform New Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok dismissed the possibility of unification with the People Power Party's presidential candidate.
In a phone interview with YTN Radio on the 9th, Lee said, "Unless the People Power Party sincerely apologizes by saying they will not field a presidential candidate in this election, discussions about unification are meaningless."
As soon as Lee declared his presidential candidacy, various speculations about the possibility of unification poured in. Lee previously served as the leader of the People Power Party. However, after President Yoon Seok-yeol was elected, he left the party and founded the Reform New Party. This was due to hardships such as being referred to the People Power Party Central Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual bribery.
Lee said, "The People Power Party falsely brought up sexual bribery allegations just to bury a young politician," adding, "It is unacceptable for them to just brush it off now with a simple 'sorry' for the sake of future young generation politics."
Regarding Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo's nomination of constitutional court justices, Lee pointed out, "There is a very fearful point for the People Power Party," calling it "something like a party dissolution trial."
Lee explained, "If there is a regime change and the Minister of Justice files for a party dissolution trial, similar to impeachment, if six constitutional court justices approve, the party will be dissolved," adding, "There was a precedent with the former United Progressive Party, where lawmaker Lee Seok-ki was involved in a conspiracy for rebellion, and this coup-like martial law situation can be seen as even more serious."
Acting President Han nominated Lee Wan-gyu, head of the Legislation Office, and Ham Sang-hoon, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, as successors to Moon Hyung-bae, acting chief justice of the Constitutional Court, and Lee Mi-sun, constitutional court justice, whose terms end on the 18th. Lee Wan-gyu is a judicial training institute classmate of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, and Ham Sang-hoon is known for sentencing former Governor Kim Kyung-soo to prison, which has sparked controversy.
Lee said, "Isn't the president the number one member of the People Power Party?" adding, "There were even people who opposed impeachment and called martial law a 'martial order,' so if a party dissolution trial is filed coldly in this regard, the People Power Party cannot help but be intimidated."
However, he predicted that the likelihood of an actual party dissolution trial being carried out is low. He said, "If a large party with 108 seats is suddenly wiped out, it would be a huge political burden," adding, "Because all the constituency and proportional representation lawmakers would lose their seats."
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