Jung Jeom-sik Criticizes Opposition Party's Push to Abolish Prosecutorial Investigative Powers

Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the ruling Democratic Party on July 31 for introducing a bill to abolish prosecutorial investigative powers during a National Assembly session. He questioned whether the Democratic Party's call for a 'working National Assembly' was merely a cover to facilitate the dismissal of President Lee Jae-myung's trial.

During a meeting of the party's floor leadership, Jung accused the ruling party of creating loopholes in the judicial system to help the president evade legal challenges. He expressed concern that a filibuster regarding the abolition of investigative powers was underway in the National Assembly, predicting that it would be forcibly ended in a few hours, leading to the passage of a law that would be a disgrace in constitutional history.

Jung noted that a majority of the public opposes the abolition of investigative powers, stating that the Democratic Party is acting against public sentiment. He also pointed out that during a legislative committee meeting, a provision to ease the dismissal of charges against the president was secretly inserted into the bill.

He condemned the National Assembly for engaging in deceitful tactics akin to a sleight of hand, stating that while the Democratic Party claims to advocate for judicial reform, it has not implemented any effective reforms since the Moon Jae-in administration.

Jung warned that if prosecutorial investigative powers are abolished, ordinary citizens would suffer from inadequate and delayed investigations, while those in power, including the president, would pressure the courts to dismiss charges for various reasons.

He also criticized a proposed amendment to the National Assembly Act that would shorten the review period for fast-tracked bills from 330 days to 90 days, labeling it a 'rubber-stamp law' that would turn the National Assembly into a mere tool for the Democratic Party, enabling quicker and more compliant decision-making.

Jung emphasized that the fast-track system was introduced in 2012 to ensure dialogue and compromise in a polarized political environment, protecting the rights of minority parties. He argued that the Democratic Party is undermining the balance established by the National Assembly Advancement Act, warning that hastily processed legislation could lead to long-term national repercussions and social chaos. He called for the immediate withdrawal of the rubber-stamp law.