"We Must Decide the Final Line by Secret Ballot"
The Alternatives and Future group, a gathering of first- and second-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, has requested the party leadership to convene a general meeting of lawmakers. They argue that, as People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk continues to pursue the "Yoon Again" line despite internal backlash, the party must hold a secret ballot to decide how to respond and draw a conclusion.
Members of the People Power Party's small-government faction "Alternatives and Future", including Lee Seonggwon, the faction's secretary, are holding a press conference at the National Assembly Press Center on the 19th regarding the first-instance life sentence for former president Yoon Sukyeol. Yonhap News
Lee Seonggwon, People Power Party lawmaker and secretary of Alternatives and Future, met with reporters on the morning of the 24th after the group’s breakfast meeting held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, and said, "We are asking the leadership to convene a general meeting of lawmakers where the collective will of the lawmakers can be gathered." He added, "I hope that through the general meeting we can reach a clear conclusion on whether we can fight the local elections on the Yoon Again line," and said, "Alternatives and Future will also follow that conclusion."
Regarding the background to the request for a general meeting, Lee said, "On the 20th, in his press conference on the first-instance sentencing of former President Yoon Sukyeol, leader Jang announced a position that the media and the public perceive as the Yoon Again line," and explained, "Even though a candid and intense debate among lawmakers was needed on whether we can fight the local elections on the Yoon Again line, yesterday’s general meeting did not become such a forum."
The People Power Party had held a general meeting of lawmakers the previous day and sequentially discussed the party name and party constitution and regulations revision, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk administrative integration, and leader Jang’s press conference. Although the meeting lasted for about three hours, criticism emerged that, because much of the time was devoted to the first two agenda items, there was not enough debate on Jang’s position.
Lee said, "After the first-instance sentencing, Alternatives and Future, through an official statement, formally demanded that leader Jang officially declare a complete break with the Yoon Again faction and take corresponding actions," and added, "However, leader Jang’s press conference directly rejected and denied our demands, and as a result party members and the public are falling into great confusion."
He continued, "There are many questions about what line the People Power Party will take into the local elections," and lamented, "There are even off-site disputes in which constituency party chairpersons are taking completely opposing positions." He then added, "To contain the confusion, whether it is today or tomorrow, we must convene a general meeting of lawmakers as soon as possible, gather the collective will of the lawmakers, and reach a final conclusion."
Lee said, "After intense debate at the general meeting, a vote by the lawmakers is necessary," and proposed, "Let us decide the line once and for all by holding a vote in the form of a secret ballot." He went on to say, "As for the outcome of the general meeting, Alternatives and Future will humbly accept whatever result comes out," and added, "We will work to resolve the confusion and division and contribute to victory in the local elections."
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