Han Byeong-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the People Power Party on June 30 for threatening to boycott the election of standing committee chairs and the confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook. He stated that the People Power Party shows no concern for the public's well-being and urged them to cooperate in electing the committee chairs. He also announced plans for institutional reforms to expedite the processing of livelihood-related legislation.
During a Supreme Council meeting on July 1, Han remarked, "The People Power Party's unreasonable demands have caused the second half of the National Assembly to stall for a month. Customs, not laws, have paralyzed the Assembly, and how abnormal must this situation have seemed to the public?"
He added, "We have met with the People Power Party 17 times, but they only keep repeating their demand for the chair of the Legislative Judiciary Committee." He emphasized, "Through numerous negotiations, I have realized that the People Power Party has no regard for the public's livelihood."
Han also reiterated his call for cooperation from the People Power Party, which declared a boycott in response to the Democratic Party's unilateral procedures for the plenary session, warning that strong measures would be taken if they refuse to cooperate.
He stated, "If the People Power Party feels any sense of responsibility, they should cooperate in electing the seven standing committee chairs now. If they continue to obstruct the operation of the National Assembly, the Democratic Party will mobilize all means necessary."
Furthermore, he pledged to strengthen the criteria for applying and maintaining unlimited debates (filibusters) to prevent livelihood-related bills from being held hostage in political disputes. He also emphasized that the fast track would be improved to allow for quicker legislative reviews.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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