"No Election for Judiciary Committee Chair"... 58 First-Term United Party Members Meet Speaker to Propose Mediation (Summary)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun, Kim Hye-min, Lim Chun-han] On the 15th, 58 first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's move to forcibly organize the National Assembly alone, urging to "open a National Assembly that works together." They also visited National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok to request that "the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should not be elected."

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 chairpersons, has traditionally been based on the grand principle of bipartisan agreement. If the ruling party, which can process key bills using the fast-track procedure, also takes away 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 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 ruling party first-term lawmakers who advocated for the opposition party 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," emphasizing, "The 151 first-term lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, who constitute 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 make a proper National Assembly. The National Assembly must work with mutual coexistence between 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 checks as soon as possible."

After issuing the statement, they visited Speaker Park to express their protest and propose mediation. Lawmaker Bae Jun-young, coming out of the Speaker's office, told reporters, "I conveyed the sincere wishes of the 58 first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party to Speaker Park," adding, "If the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is elected today, the ruling and opposition parties will cross a river that should not be crossed."

Lawmaker Park Hyeong-su also raised his voice, saying that electing the chairpersons of the Strategy and Finance Committee, the Budget and Accounts Committee, and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee is acceptable, but not the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, adding, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee should be a strong message from the Speaker to reach bipartisan agreement."

Lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye said, "Our consistent position is that the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should not be elected," and added, "If the chairman is elected today, further compromise or mediation between ruling and opposition parties will become difficult, so the first-term lawmakers earnestly requested that the election of the chairman be avoided for the sake of democracy."

Regarding this, Speaker Park reportedly listened without mentioning any specific standing committee. Han Min-su, the National Assembly's chief public relations secretary, said, "The Speaker only listened to the first-term lawmakers' opinions and did not mention any specific standing committee," adding, "The Speaker said it would be good if the ruling and opposition parties agree on the scope of the committees, but if they cannot, he intends to proceed as he promised the public and is currently considering the scope."

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