As negotiations for the composition of the National Assembly continue to face challenges, the Democratic Party has announced its intention to finalize all appointments by June 30. On June 29, both parties held meetings to discuss internal opinions on the assembly's composition, leading to sharp exchanges and ongoing difficulties in negotiations.
During the afternoon meetings, Han Byeong-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the People Power Party for repeatedly demanding the chairmanship of the Legislative Judiciary Committee without engaging in constructive negotiations. He accused the opposition of using national interests and public welfare as bargaining chips, effectively tying the government's hands.
Han emphasized the urgency of addressing public welfare amid escalating crises in the Middle East, urging party members to remain on standby for swift action on assembly formation. Lee Joo-hee, the party's spokesperson, also stated that the Democratic Party is committed to ensuring the National Assembly operates normally after June 30, reinforcing the need for normalization.
Conversely, the People Power Party reiterated its refusal to concede the chairmanship of the Legislative Judiciary Committee, a key point of contention. Jeong Jeom-sik, the party's leader, criticized the Democratic Party for demanding a list of committee members without offering any proposals or negotiation terms, labeling them as an arrogant ruling party that does not recognize the opposition as a partner in governance.
After the meeting, Choi Eun-seok, the party's chief spokesperson, noted that both sides remain at an impasse regarding the committee's chairmanship. He mentioned that the People Power Party has requested another meeting on June 30, indicating that while further negotiations between the party leaders may occur, the majority opinion among their members is to not concede the committee chair.
Earlier that day, during a meeting of the Democratic Party's highest decision-making body, Han had warned that further delays in assembly formation were unacceptable and indicated plans to proceed unilaterally with committee appointments. He stated, "We have waited, but the People Power Party has not submitted their list of committee members. We will complete the assembly formation this month and deliver results for the public's welfare. All Democratic Party lawmakers will remain on standby to ensure there are no delays in the process."
Following the meetings, the party leaders met at the National Assembly but failed to reach an agreement due to the ongoing dispute over the committee chairmanship. Both Han and Jeong confirmed to reporters that neither party is willing to compromise on the issue, resulting in a breakdown of negotiations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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