Special Counsel Bill on Distorted Indictments Introduced to Plenary Session; People Power Party Launches Filibuster

[Anchor]

A filibuster, or unlimited debate, is currently underway at the National Assembly regarding the special counsel bill on allegations of distorted indictments introduced by the Democratic Party. The bill is expected to pass late this afternoon, November 6.

Kim Bo-mi reports.

[Reporter]

When the ruling coalition introduced the so-called "special counsel bill on distorted indictments" to the National Assembly plenary session at 4 p.m. yesterday, the People Power Party immediately filed for a filibuster.

The filibuster continued past midnight and remains underway this morning.

[Park Hyeong-soo / People Power Party Lawmaker: "They strongly argue that this is not a dismissal-of-indictment bill just because the provision allowing for the dismissal of indictments was removed. Is that truly the case?"]

[Lee Gun-tae / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "This special counsel bill on distorted indictments is therefore another step in prosecutorial reform and the restoration of democracy."]

In the final bill submitted to the plenary session, provisions granting the special prosecutor the authority to decide whether to maintain prosecution or to demand the transfer of cases currently being prosecuted were removed.

The Democratic Party emphasized that the bill is not aimed at interfering with ongoing trials, but rather at investigating whether illegal acts—such as coercing statements and distorting evidence—took place during the investigation, adding that the authority to drop charges was also removed so as not to obscure the bill's intent of uncovering the truth.

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "Holding those responsible for abusing investigative authority is a matter of restoring the public's trust in state power and preventing such actions from ever recurring."]

However, the People Power Party strongly criticized the legislation, arguing that it is a special counsel measure designed for President Lee Jae-myung to directly appoint a special prosecutor to ultimately nullify the related trials.

[Jeong Jeom-sig / People Power Party Floor Leader: "This special counsel bill is the worst attempt at abuse of power, mobilizing the National Assembly's legislative authority just to erase the trials of a single person, the president."]

Because a filibuster can be brought to an end with the approval of at least three-fifths of all sitting lawmakers once 24 hours have passed since its start, the special counsel bill is expected to pass around 4 p.m. today led by the ruling coalition.

The People Power Party announced that even if the bill clears the National Assembly, it will continue its struggle outside parliament, holding a massive rally near Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul tomorrow and convening an on-site general meeting of its lawmakers in front of the Blue House next week.

Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Jang Hyeon-gi
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.