Previously Called Him a "Political Fraudster and Parliamentary Thief"
Strong Criticism Raised
The Basic Income Party has been continuously criticizing Choi Hyukjin, former Blue House Secretary for Social Economy.
On June 8, Yong Hyein, Representative of the Basic Income Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly and urged, "The Democratic Party should convene its Supreme Council and expel former Secretary Choi, who is not only politically irresponsible but is also deceiving the public and party members with false propaganda."
On this day, Yong stated, "With a heavy heart, I confess the conversation from June 4," and claimed, "(Former Secretary Choi said) 'I will be in charge of planning for the Democratic Party's Basic Society initiative in the 22nd National Assembly, and since I promised to run as the Democratic Party's candidate for Mayor of Wonju in the local elections, I cannot join the Basic Income Party.'
She continued, "Former Secretary Choi repeatedly said dozens of times, without leaving any room for doubt, 'There is no option other than staying in the Democratic Party; I will take all the criticism.' While he may be competent, his words are nothing but empty rhetoric to conceal his personal ambitions," she emphasized. Yong also added that there was an exchange in which she told former Secretary Choi that he could first return to the Basic Income Party and, if he wished, be expelled afterward.
After the press conference, she told reporters, "I believe the Democratic Party will honor the agreements made, from a common-sense and reasonable standpoint," and added, "Because there is a time limit regarding the succession of proportional representation seats, I once again request that the process proceed according to due course."
On June 5, Yong also posted on Facebook, "A political fraudster and parliamentary thief who destroys democracy does not deserve to be a representative of the people," while Cho Seungrae, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, responded, "This needs to be discussed."
Previously, during last year's general election, the Basic Income Party, the Social Democratic Party, and other minor parties formed the New Progressive Alliance, an electoral coalition of small parties. Subsequently, the Democratic Party, the Progressive Party, and the New Progressive Alliance created the "Democratic United Alliance," a satellite party of the Democratic Party, to nominate candidates for proportional representation under the semi-mixed-member proportional representation system.
As a result, candidates up to the 14th position in the proportional representation list were elected. After the Democratic United Alliance merged with the Democratic Party and was dissolved, Son Sol, former chief spokesperson of the Progressive Party, and former Secretary Choi, who were 15th and 16th on the list, respectively, became members of the Democratic Party. With the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration, as Wi Seongrak, head of the National Security Office, and Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office?both proportional representatives of the Democratic Party?resigned from their parliamentary seats, former Secretary Choi also succeeded to a parliamentary seat.
After former Secretary Choi expressed his intention to remain with the Democratic Party, the Basic Income Party has been demanding his expulsion before he succeeds to the seat, stating, "He broke his promise to rejoin the party upon election." For both individuals to return to the parties that nominated them as proportional representation candidates, the Democratic Party must expel them. In the case of proportional representation, voluntarily leaving the party results in the loss of one's parliamentary seat.
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