Filibuster Underway as Special Counsel Bill on Distorted Indictment Allegations Reaches Plenary Session

[Anchor]

An unlimited debate, or filibuster, is currently underway at the National Assembly ahead of a vote on the so-called "Special Counsel Bill on Allegations of Distorted Indictment." Let's head over to the National Assembly.

Reporter Kim Jiuk, who is speaking right now?

[Reporter]

Representative Park Hyung-soo of the People Power Party, who took the floor as the first speaker, has been speaking for five hours.

He argued that no matter what name is given to the special counsel bill on allegations of distorted indictment, it is ultimately a "law to save President Lee Jae-myung."

[Park Hyung-soo / Lawmaker, People Power Party: "If the president was truly indicted unfairly, if it was indeed a distorted indictment, he should stand trial. Isn't that the upright and confident thing to do?"]

Noting that cases related to former President Moon Jae-in were additionally included in the final draft of the bill that passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee last night (November 4), the People Power Party also claimed that it is a "special counsel born out of backroom dealings between factions" within the ruling party.

The Democratic Party countered that even though the controversial clause—which could be interpreted as granting the special counsel the power to drop indictments—was completely removed from the final version, the People Power Party continues to repeat the phrase "dropping charges" like a parrot.

[Anchor]

Then how is the bill expected to be processed?

[Reporter]

The special counsel bill was introduced to the plenary session and the filibuster began at 4 p.m. today (November 5).

Under the National Assembly Act, which allows an unlimited debate to be brought to an end after 24 hours with the approval of three-fifths or more of registered lawmakers, the People Power Party's filibuster is expected to continue until around 4 p.m. tomorrow (November 6).

Afterward, the Democratic Party is expected to proceed with a vote on the special counsel bill.

As the Democratic Party holds enough seats to pass the measure on its own, the seventh special counsel bill since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration is poised to pass the plenary session late tomorrow afternoon.

The People Power Party has already announced plans to take its fight outside the legislature.

It plans to hold a condemnation rally at the National Assembly tomorrow, followed by street protests around Gyeongbokgung Station the day after tomorrow (November 7).

The party also decided to hold a supreme council meeting and staged one-person protests in front of the presidential office next week to publicize that the special counsel bill is ultimately legislation tailored for President Lee Jae-myung.

Field Coordination by Seo Jin-ho | Camera by Oh Young-chun and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Jeon Min-gyu
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.