Ruling Party's Fierce Attack on "Democratic Party's Legislative Rampage"... Opposition to Nursing Act and Dual Special Investigations

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The People Power Party fiercely attacked the opposition-led passage of the Nursing Act bill and the designation of the so-called ‘double special investigations’ as fast-track legislative agenda items, calling it a ‘legislative rampage.’

On the morning of the 28th, Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at a party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, “Yesterday’s (27th) plenary session was a stage for the Democratic Party’s legislative rampage,” adding, “It was a shield alliance between the Democratic Party, trying to cover up judicial risks involving former and current party leaders, and the Justice Party, aiming to pass the Yellow Envelope Act.”

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

At the previous day’s plenary session, the Nursing Act bill was passed with 179 votes in favor and 2 abstentions out of 181 members present. The double special investigations, referring to the Daejang-dong 5 billion Club and suspicions of stock manipulation involving Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, were also designated as fast-track items. The People Power Party, which had opposed both the Nursing Act and the double special investigations, walked out of the plenary session in protest and did not participate in the vote.

Floor leader Yoon emphasized, “The Democratic Party is trampling on parliamentary democracy and the spirit of the National Assembly’s advanced law by using sheer numerical power to arbitrarily change laws and systems,” adding, “We will stand firmly against the Democratic Party’s ongoing legislative rampage. We will also do our utmost to block the special investigation omnipotence that shakes normal rule of law.”

He also expressed concern over the declaration of a general strike by 13 health and medical organizations, including doctors and nursing assistants, in protest of the Nursing Act bill’s passage. Yoon said, “If this continues, a medical crisis and health emergency are inevitable,” and added, “Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, and many other professions all have their respective roles in protecting public health, but it is unfair for a specific profession to emphasize its role and push through separate legislation. There needs to be deeper consideration about what measures will best serve public health in the future.”

Park Dae-chul, chairman of the Policy Committee, also expressed strong regret over the Democratic Party’s unilateral handling of the Nursing Act, saying, “We made persistent mediation efforts until the end, but it is regrettable that these were thwarted by the Democratic Party’s legislative tyranny using numerical power.”

Park further criticized, “They first divided doctors and nurses, and now they have split the entire medical community by law,” adding, “The people will bear the brunt of the consequences of the Democratic Party’s unilateral push.”

Lee Yang-su, senior deputy floor leader, raised his voice in criticism of the double special investigations. He said, “The special investigation is called the 5 billion special investigation in name only; in reality, it is a law to obstruct the investigation of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung,” and added, “The special investigation into Mrs. Kim Geon-hee is another attempt to conduct a special investigation on a matter that the Moon Jae-in administration searched over 30 times but could not indict. This is the opposition’s arbitrary political attack aimed at harassing the president.”

The People Power Party plans to request President Yoon Seok-yeol to exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto) regarding the Nursing Act. They also intend to work on a mediation plan with the opposition even after the veto. After the floor leader’s strategy meeting, Yoon told reporters, “Since there is conflict among medical professions, it would be good if an agreement can be reached.”

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