United Future Party Opts for Opposition Debates Instead of Filibuster: "We Will Win Public Support" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, Lee Jieun and Lim Chunhan] The United Future Party has decided to conduct opposition debates and free speeches in an effort to counter the ruling party's unilateral legislative drive. The party agreed not to stage a filibuster, considering the practicality and lack of time. With the party moving forward with opposition debates, attention is focused on whether a "second Yoon Heesook" will emerge, following Representative Yoon Heesook, who drew public attention with her five-minute speech at the National Assembly on the 30th.

Choi Hyungdoo, the United Future Party's floor spokesperson, met with reporters during a party meeting at the National Assembly that morning and stated, "We will hold opposition debates in each standing committee, and then designate speakers to deliver opposition speeches for each bill in the plenary session."

During the party meeting, the United Future Party discussed how to block the passage of real estate and Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) related bills led by the ruling party. Given the number of seats held by the ruling coalition, it is realistically difficult to stop the bills, so the party intends to use strategies to highlight the unfairness of the bills' passage or delay the vote as much as possible. On the 3rd, United Future Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee also raised procedural issues, such as the composition of subcommittees, to challenge the legitimacy of the bills' passage, but the ruling party pressed ahead and passed the bills unilaterally.

For the opposition debates, Representative Yoo Sangbeom was mentioned for the CIO follow-up bills in the Steering Committee, while Representatives Chu Kyungho and Ryu Seonggeol were named for tax-related bills in the Strategy and Finance Committee. In the Public Administration and Security Committee, Representative Park Sooyoung will address local tax issues, and Representatives Kim Heeguk and Song Seokjun will handle real estate-related bills in the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. For the five-minute free speeches, Representatives Jeon Juhye and Lee Myungsoo will take the lead. Spokesperson Choi added, "We want as many as possible to participate, but if the ruling party and the Speaker of the National Assembly limit the number, we are not sure if everyone will be able to speak."

Even if the ruling party pushes ahead with the vote, the plan is to focus on appealing to the public. Spokesperson Choi said, "There are clear statistics on housing price increases during the nine years of the Lee Myungbak and Park Geunhye administrations, but many people ignore them and keep blaming previous governments. As a result, the public may think it's just about the past, but we will explain the truth, present alternatives, and win public support."

Yoon Heesook, a member of the Future United Party who has been attracting attention with a 5-minute speech on the Housing Lease Protection Act, is attending an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th, greeting fellow lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo doso7@

The party has decided not to conduct a filibuster. Spokesperson Choi said, "The time for a filibuster is too short. Even if we start at 2 p.m., we only have 10 hours until midnight. With just over 10 hours, not even five of our party's lawmakers would be able to speak, so we are leaning toward not doing it."

For problematic bills, the party will boycott the vote, but it will participate in votes on bills that have been agreed upon, such as the National Sports Promotion Act amendment, also known as the "Choi Sookhyun Act." Spokesperson Choi said, "Depending on the situation, we may choose not to participate in the vote. For issues that our party is concerned about or outraged by, we will make sure our opposition is properly communicated in the National Assembly. However, for the Sports Promotion Act, which was submitted by bipartisan agreement, we will participate in the vote."

When asked about the criteria for free debate, he replied, "It is a serious procedural violation to exclude bills submitted by the United Future Party or the People's Party and to schedule the bills unilaterally just to meet a deadline, as Representative Yoon pointed out. These bills increase the tax burden on the public and are important for housing welfare and stability."

Representative Yoon, who became a hot topic with her "five-minute speech," was originally included in the Strategy and Finance Committee's opposition debate but was later removed. Spokesperson Choi said, "Initially, three people (Chu Kyungho, Ryu Seonggeol, and Yoon Heesook) were to speak on the committee bills, but we narrowed it down to Representatives Chu and Ryu. The bills in the committee are all interconnected, so there was concern that the debate would become lengthy and repetitive."

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