“Reinforcing Responsible Politics” vs “Choosing the Screaming World”
Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party, speaks at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Senior Reporter Minkyu Park
On the 25th, the Democratic Party’s internal opinions were divided over the proposal of the Kim Eun-kyung Innovation Committee to change the method of voting on motions to arrest members of the National Assembly by writing. CEO Lee Jae-myeong put strength into the innovation plan, saying, “It is necessary.” On the other hand, non-Lee Jae-myeong (scream) lawmakers protested that it could be an excuse for ‘printing a watermelon (a slang word meaning a politician with a tendency to the power of the people on the outside and on the inside of the Democratic Party)’. The opinions of pro-Lee Jae-myeong (pro-Myeong) lawmakers were also divided into pros and cons.
Representative Lee met with reporters at the National Assembly the previous day and said, “It is a legislative matter, and it is necessary to switch to a write-in vote early.” In a speech by the representative of the negotiating group in the National Assembly on the 19th of last month, CEO Lee announced that he would give up the privilege of not being arrested, and this is in effect giving strength to the innovation plan.
Previously, at a press conference at the National Assembly on the 21st, Innovation Committee Chairman Kim Eun-kyung proposed that the 21st National Assembly handle the amendment to the National Assembly Act, which changes the method of voting on motions to arrest members of the National Assembly by writing. Chairman Kim said, “Disclosure of voting information can make the responsibility of lawmakers heavy on the handling of the motion for arrest, and it is information that must be disclosed in order to guarantee the people’s right to know.”
The proposal of the Innovation Committee is interpreted as an intention to strengthen the responsible politics of the lawmakers who created the ‘Bulletproof National Assembly’. Since the launch of the representative system, the Democratic Party has rejected one after another the motions for the arrest of four members of the party, including Lee. In this situation, switching to a write-in vote will prevent lawmakers who are conscious of the public opinion from hastily voting against the motion for arrest. Rep. Jeong Seong-ho, the chairperson of the pro-myung group, also said, “For the declaration of waiver of the privilege of non-arrest to have real meaning, the National Assembly Act needs to be amended to change the motion for arrest to a write-in vote.”
On the other hand, members of the screaming system objected that the proposal of the innovation committee could rather strengthen the ‘bulletproof National Assembly’. This is because the list of lawmakers in favor of the motion for arrest can be used as a basis for ‘cutting out watermelons’ by strong supporters of the party. Rep. Lee Won-wook, a non-myeong-gye, said on the social network service (SNS) that day, “When Lee’s non-arrest privilege (arrest motion) comes in, he will know who supported and opposed it.” Rep. Jo Eung-cheon of the screaming group also said on YTN radio that day, “Wouldn’t there be a campaign to lose the election by intensively attacking those who agreed to the motion for arrest while calling them ‘watermelons’?”
Concerns about nominations for next year’s general elections are also underlying the opposition of lawmakers from the non-myeong-gye group. Gangseong party members who support Lee are waiting for a campaign to lose the legislative election. In fact, some of Lee’s supporters speculated and disseminated the list of lawmakers in favor, saying, “We will find out the traitor,” when the motion to arrest Lee was narrowly rejected at the National Assembly in February. Some politicians outside the pro-Myeong line are also claiming a ‘reshuffle of incumbent members’ by submitting a vote to run in the constituency of non-myung-type lawmakers. They demanded that the evaluation of nominations include the evaluation of members of the party with strong support for Lee.
Some pro-Myeong lawmakers are also negative about the conversion of a write-in vote on the motion for arrest. A pro-Myeong-gye lawmaker said, “The Innovation Committee is trying to disarm the lawmakers’ minimum means of defense in a situation where abnormal prosecution powers are being exercised.” It can be interpreted that while non-myung-affiliated lawmakers are concerned about the impact on the general election if they vote in favor of the arrest motion, pro-myung-affiliated lawmakers are concerned about the impact on the general election if they vote against it.
2023-07-25 06:16:00
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