Democratic Party's Proposed 'National Stability Consultative Body' Faces Collapse Due to Party Opposition

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The National Stability Consultative Body (Consultative Body), involving the ruling party, opposition parties, and the government, is facing the risk of collapse even before taking its first step. The ruling and opposition parties, which were already at odds over the name of the Consultative Body, show differing views regarding the impeachment of Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-su.

Originally, Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader of the People Power Party and floor leader, and Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, agreed to launch the Consultative Body on the 26th. This was agreed upon after Speaker Woo Won-shik and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung proposed it on the 15th, and Kwon responded positively on the 20th. However, when Acting President Han took a stance that he might exercise veto power over the so-called 'Special Investigation Act on Internal Rebellion' and the 'Special Investigation Act on Kim Geon-hee,' the Democratic Party's attitude changed drastically. Whether Han appoints the three constitutional court justices recommended by the National Assembly could also be a cause for the Consultative Body's collapse.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is meeting with Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The People Power Party is, for now, keeping the possibility of consultation open until today. Park Hyung-soo, senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, said in a meeting with reporters in the morning, "We had planned to hold a working-level consultation on the 24th, but it couldn't happen, so the Speaker's office is adjusting the schedule," adding, "If the Speaker's office suggests a working-level consultation, we are willing to respond." The Democratic Party's position is that "immediate launch is difficult." The Democratic Party floor leader's office is monitoring the progress of the Consultative Body, considering a scenario where, on the premise of impeaching Acting President Han, Choi Sang-mok, the second in line as acting president and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, would participate as the government representative.

Even before agreeing on the launch of the Consultative Body, the two parties engaged in a power struggle over its name. When Acting President Kwon said on the 20th that he would participate in a 'Ruling Party-Opposition Party-Government Consultative Body' limited to livelihood and security issues, Leader Lee expressed reluctance about the name itself on the 24th, asking, "Is there even a ruling and opposition party now?" The Democratic Party argues that, with the president suspended from duty, the distinction between ruling and opposition parties is meaningless, and that the Democratic Party, as the majority party in the National Assembly, should hold the key to national governance.

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