[Deputy Manager Column] General Election Drama, Another Twist

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] Will it be possible to confirm the ruling party once the counting of the 21st general election is completed after midnight on the 15th? Even after the election ends, a bizarre scene may unfold where it is impossible to definitively say who the largest party in the National Assembly is. Multiple parties might claim, "We are the largest party in the National Assembly."

If a particular party secures a majority of more than 150 seats in the constituencies, such a scenario would be impossible. However, if no party obtains a majority in the constituencies, the situation changes. What if the difference in seats between the first and second largest parties in the constituencies narrows to within 15 seats?

The 21st general election is a competition among political forces with unfamiliar names such as parent parties, satellite parties, illegitimate parties, and sister parties. This complex political combination could lead to self-serving interpretations of the election results.

On the 13th, two days before the 21st National Assembly election, officials are working at the CCTV Integrated Control Center for early voting ballot box storage within the jurisdiction of the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. / Gwacheon - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

For example, if Party A wins 130 constituency seats and secures 5 proportional representation winners who are members dispatched to its satellite party, officially it holds 130 seats, but effectively it has 135 seats. If Party B wins 120 constituency seats and produces 17 proportional representation winners from its satellite party, officially it has 120 seats, but effectively it holds 137 seats.

Party A has won in the constituencies, but when including the satellite party's proportional seats, Party B can claim superiority. Legally, the parent party and the satellite party are distinct parties. However, if Party B claims to be the largest party based on the political assertion that "we are actually one body," what would happen?

In response, Party A might suggest the possibility of merging with another satellite (sister) party, arguing "we have more elected members." If this happens, the opening of the 21st National Assembly could be indefinitely delayed due to a standoff over the distribution of the Speaker and standing committee chair positions.

Conversely, if an unexpected landslide victory occurs for a particular party, the negotiation for the organization of the National Assembly might conclude more smoothly than expected. The defeated side would face aftershocks such as the resignation of its leadership and inevitably weakened political negotiation power.

Regardless of which scenario unfolds, it remains essential to review the overall general election. The chaos triggered by the introduction of the 'semi-proportional representation system' has shaken the representative democracy system?can this be overlooked? Only by examining the root causes of the problem can it be decided who should bear what political responsibility.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.