PPP Vows to Filibuster All Bills if Special Counsel Bill on 'Fabricated Indictment' Is Tabled

People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik warned that the party will consider "all options, including a filibuster on every single bill introduced that day, if the special counsel bill is brought to the plenary session." His remarks came after the Democratic Party of Korea adopted a bill for a special counsel probe into alleged "fabricated indictments" as party policy and decided to pass it in a plenary session as early as Thursday, November 5.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly on Tuesday, November 3, Floor Leader Jeong said, "Today, the Democratic Party adopted the special counsel bill to dismiss indictments as party policy at its general meeting of lawmakers, and its intention is clear. It is an attempt to bury the trials of the president and his associates," adding, "Ruling party lawmakers gathered at their general meeting and buried the rule of law in the Republic of Korea."

Regarding the Democratic Party's plan to pass controversial bills, including the Act on Persons of Distinguished Service to the Pro-Democracy Movement, the Act on the Maintenance and Improvement of Urban Areas, the Special Act on the Promotion of Urban Redevelopment, and the Special Act on Yongsan Park, at the plenary session on November 5, Jeong explained, "We will gather opinions and make a decision at our general meeting of lawmakers on ways to block them, including a filibuster."

Addressing the ruling party's push to adopt a resolution urging the expulsion of PPP Lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu, he noted, "Our opposition is clear, and we will decide whether to enter the plenary chamber to oppose it or boycott after assessing the overall situation."

Regarding Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok's virtual apology on Tuesday over allegations of a "tripartite alliance of anti-Lee Jae-myung forces, divisionists, and Shincheonji" raised during the previous party convention, Jeong pointed out, "They arbitrarily swept the allegations under the rug," asking, "How can the Democratic Party determine whether there was a secret alliance when it is not even an investigative agency?"

He continued, raising his voice: "The police and the Major Crimes Investigation Agency must immediately investigate the Democratic Party. Both parties faced the same allegations (of illegal party membership registration of Shincheonji members), but if the Democratic Party covers it up on its own while the PPP is investigated, which citizen would trust investigative agencies?"

Jeong further denounced the party, saying, "Today, the Democratic Party buried both the Shincheonji allegations and the president's trial. The Democratic Party is now an enemy of the rule of law. We will respond strongly through all available means and methods."

On the Democratic Party's decision to gather further opinions regarding a parliamentary investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Jeong commented, "They are testing the waters of public opinion," adding, "I do not believe they have abandoned the parliamentary probe. I suspect they may attempt to table it again at a plenary session after November 5."

Regarding the ruling party unilaterally passing a resolution in the National Assembly House Steering Committee on Tuesday to form a special committee on mega-regional special zones, he explained, "The attempt to bypass the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee—which our party chairs—to go to the National Policy Committee and then even form a special committee clearly shows their intentions. Because there was not a single word of prior consultation, we had no choice but to protest and walk out."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.