The Democratic Party Holds a Caucus and Concludes 'Kwon Seong-dong Acting Chief System'...Adopts Resolution

Kwon: "According to Party Rules Interpretation, Acting Party Leader System"
Term is 6 Months but "Political Situation Hard to Predict"
Likely to Gain Support for Assembly Organization Against Opposition

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on July 11, 2022. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Hyunji Kwon] On the 11th, the People Power Party held a party caucus meeting and decided to operate the party for the time being with Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader, serving as the acting party leader. Following the suspension of party membership rights for six months imposed on Representative Lee Jun-seok by the party's Central Ethics Committee, proposals to form an emergency committee or hold a temporary party convention were reportedly in the minority during the meeting.

Kwon Seong-dong, acting party leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the caucus meeting, "It was concluded to proceed with the acting party leader system according to the interpretation of the party's constitution and regulations." The People Power Party made this decision and adopted a resolution after holding separate meetings for first-term, second-term, and senior members before the final caucus meeting.

Regarding the duration of the acting period, Floor Leader Kwon said, "Since the Ethics Committee decided to suspend (Lee's) party membership rights for six months, the basic period is six months, but it is difficult to predict as the political situation may change," and refrained from elaborating further.

When asked if the decision was based on the assumption that Representative Lee would return after six months, he only replied, "I just say that the acting system was decided according to the Ethics Committee's decision."

As Floor Leader Kwon transitions to the acting party leader system, discussions between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the organization of the National Assembly are expected to gain momentum. Kwon criticized, "The Democratic Party should not blame our party for the failure of the National Assembly organization negotiations," adding, "Delaying and procrastinating the organization by setting conditions on the 'Special Committee on Criminal Procedure Reform' is not the attitude of a major opposition party."

He continued, "If I were not serious, would I have proposed holding a plenary session before the standing committees are formed to conduct the negotiation group leaders' speeches and government questioning?" He added, "I only hope my proposal will be accepted to show a National Assembly that cares for people's livelihoods and discusses concerns about state affairs."

The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties are scheduled to hold talks at 11 a.m. on the 12th, presided over by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

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