Ha Tae-kyung: "Democratic Party May Choose to Abstain from Voting on Arrest Consent Motion"

"Attendance Means Approval"

Following the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the court's submission of the arrest consent bill to the prosecution, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, predicted that the Democratic Party might choose to abstain from the upcoming vote on the arrest consent bill.

On the 19th, Ha said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "If they attend the vote, it will likely pass, but if they abstain, the votes for and against will probably be about even."

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The arrest consent bill for Lee is expected to be put to a vote in the National Assembly on either the 21st or the 25th. Ha anticipates that the Democratic Party will choose to abstain from the vote to pressure the non-Lee faction from casting affirmative votes.

He said, "I think there is a possibility of abstention. That way, they can exert stronger pressure," adding, "If everyone abstains, it will be rejected. Even then, there will be courageous and principled lawmakers who will participate."

He suggested that those participating in the vote will be effectively stigmatized. Ha said, "I think they would prefer a method that marks those who participate," and added, "(If they participate in the vote) it will just be 100% approval. Isn't it a secret ballot?"

However, it is expected that abstention will not be formally adopted as the party's official stance. He said, "They won't formally decide the party line among the lawmakers," and added, "Do as you please, then the pro-Lee faction will all stay out, and that will clearly divide the sides."

Ha predicted that despite this pressure, lawmakers from the non-Lee faction will cast affirmative votes. He said, "From what I've heard from non-Lee faction lawmakers, if they miss this opportunity, there will be no chance for reform within the Democratic Party. Even if Lee is on a hunger strike, (they must do it)," and added, "Among the non-Lee faction, there are lawmakers with strong convictions and others without, but they made a promise to give up immunity from arrest. It is right to keep that promise. The public is watching. So if they don't vote in favor this time, they will regret it for life."

Currently, sympathy is growing within the party due to Lee's prolonged hunger strike. Regarding concerns that this sympathetic atmosphere might influence the non-Lee faction's vote, Ha said, "It can have an influence. So the number of affirmative votes might decrease a bit, but when I met with non-Lee faction lawmakers, they strongly believe this is the last chance and the only opportunity for the Democratic Party to change."

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