Lee Hae-chan "The Organization of the National Assembly Must Not Be Delayed Beyond This Week... Criticism Must Be Endured"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kang Nahum and Jeon Jinyoung] Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 9th regarding the negotiation of the parliamentary committee organization between the ruling and opposition parties, "It absolutely must not go beyond this week."

At the meeting of the National Delegate Conference Preparation Committee held at the National Assembly that day, Lee said, "Yesterday (the 8th) was the deadline for the election of standing committee chairpersons in the National Assembly, but the United Future Party suddenly proposed to revise the number of members in each standing committee, starting to delay the schedule again."

He continued, "I don't understand the reason for delaying the date," and criticized, "It is a delaying tactic whose beneficiary or goal is unclear."

He added, "It is the responsibility of the floor leader if it goes beyond this week," emphasizing, "Party members are demanding it, and the public has given tremendous support, but being dragged along for unjustifiable reasons is a very wrong practice, and our supporters and the public will no longer accept it."

He said, "I am not just saying this casually, but as the party leader and the person responsible for the party, I am worried that if it goes beyond this week, the party itself will be seen by the public as lacking momentum and unable to deliver results even with a majority of seats," adding, "Therefore, the matter must be settled quickly. Even if there are various criticisms, we must endure them."

Lee stated, "The most important thing is not the negotiation over standing committee chairpersons, but that the National Assembly is formed to overcome the national crisis caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and to create countermeasures," and said, "I think the era of continuously quibbling over standing committees is over."

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