▲ Floor Leader Han Byung-do of the Democratic Party of Korea and Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig of the People Power Party head to the National Assembly Speaker's office on November 5 for a meeting presided over by Speaker Cho Jeong-sik to discuss agenda items for the plenary session.
The handling of the so-called special counsel bill on fabricated indictments has entered the final countdown.
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik announced that he would table the bill after negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties broke down ahead of the plenary session this afternoon (November 5).
In response, the People Power Party plans to use all available methods, including a filibuster (lawful obstruction of legislative proceedings through unlimited debate), to fight and block the bill.
As the People Power Party also hinted at launching outside-parliament protests, the regular legislative and budget session of the National Assembly is rapidly turning into a head-on, hard-line confrontation between the rival parties from its outset.
Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig met at the National Assembly today under the mediation of Speaker Cho Jeong-sik to discuss the plenary session's agenda items, but failed to reach an agreement.
Along with the special counsel bill on fabricated indictments, the Democratic Party demanded the introduction of the so-called "Three Housing Supply Activation Acts"—comprising the Act on the Improvement of Urban Areas and Residential Environments, the Special Act on the Promotion of Urban Renewal, and the Special Act on Yongsan Park—as well as a resolution on mega special economic zones and a bill honoring persons of distinguished service to democracy.
The People Power Party defined the special counsel bill on fabricated indictments as an "unconstitutional parliamentary coup" and announced that if the bill is tabled, it will launch filibusters against all introduced bills, including the special counsel bill.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Floor Leader Han said, "The special counsel bill on fabricated indictments must be passed this time," adding, "We have completely removed the contentious withdrawal of indictments and thoroughly reviewed and eliminated all provisions related to indictments. Now the opposition party has no more justification to oppose it."
In his opening remarks at the party's general meeting of lawmakers following the talks, Floor Leader Jeong criticized, "The special counsel bill to withdraw indictments is the worst unconstitutional parliamentary coup and special counsel coup in constitutional history," adding, "Concluding that these cases were fabricated indictments and attempting to distort historical truth through the power of a special prosecutor is truly an outrageous attempt to distort and manipulate history."
Prior to this, about ten senior lawmakers of the People Power Party gathered at Floor Leader Jeong's office after the party's Supreme Council meeting to discuss response measures, and then paid a protest visit to Speaker Cho's office.
Speaker Cho subsequently announced that the special counsel bill on fabricated indictments would be tabled at the plenary session at 3 p.m. today.
Accordingly, the Democratic Party is expected to pass the bills in stages by forcibly terminating the People Power Party's filibuster.
In addition to the filibuster, the People Power Party is reportedly considering all possible response measures, including boycotting legislative proceedings for all bills discussed and tabled during the regular parliamentary session, as well as staging outside-parliament protests.
Floor Leader Jeong said at the lawmakers' meeting that day, "We must fight against this unconstitutional parliamentary coup within the framework of the law by any means necessary," adding, "We must fight against the dictatorial power of that ruthless criminal group together with outraged citizens, not only in the National Assembly, but also on the streets, at work sites, and in local communities."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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