58 First-Term Members of the United Future Party: "The Ruling Party Is Overreaching to Control the Prosecutors Through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee... The National Assembly Should Work Together"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Fifty-eight first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party criticized the ruling Democratic Party's move to forcibly organize the National Assembly alone on the 15th, urging to "open a National Assembly that works together."

After their meeting on the same day, the first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party issued a statement saying, "The ruling party's reckless move regarding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee can only be interpreted as an intention to completely control the courts and prosecution," urging accordingly.

The first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party raised their voices, saying, "The organization of the National Assembly, including the appointment of standing committee chairs, has traditionally been based on the grand principle of bipartisan agreement. If the ruling party, which can process key bills using the fast-track device, takes away even the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which serves as a balancing and checking mechanism of the National Assembly, the National Assembly will inevitably degenerate into a compliant legislative body that simply follows the Blue House's will."

They added, "Due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, the domestic and international economic conditions are extremely difficult. The review and processing of the third supplementary budget requested by President Moon Jae-in must also be expedited," urging, "Let us respect the principles and traditions of the National Assembly and promptly open a National Assembly where both ruling and opposition parties work together."

Targeting the ruling party's first-term lawmakers who advocated for the opposition to give up the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, they said, "First-term lawmakers should show the conviction, frankness, and courage befitting their status," and "The 151 first-term lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, who make up the majority of the 21st National Assembly, have the responsibility to show the public a freshness completely different from the survival-of-the-fittest 20th National Assembly."

They continued, "Politics based on numbers alone cannot create a proper National Assembly. The National Assembly must work with mutual coexistence between the ruling and opposition parties," and said, "The first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party want to work in the National Assembly as workers fulfilling the duties of balance and check as soon as possible."

After issuing the statement, they visited National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok to express their protest and proposed mediation.

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