Ongoing clashes between ruling and opposition parties in parliamentary meetings, standing committees, and public hearings… Escalating conflict in the struggle between the strong and the weak
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, “On the 16th, ruling and opposition parties clashed on all fronts in the National Assembly as the escalating confrontational phase continued, to the point where the opening ceremony for the 22nd National Assembly could not be held. The National Assembly held meetings for 7 standing committees and 1 special committee, and also hosted a meeting between ruling party and opposition party leaders. However, rifts were heard in almost all areas of contact between the ruling and opposition parties.”
Legislation Committee to proceed to the 2nd round of ‘Impeachment Hearing’ witness selection… Another single-handed decision by the opposition party
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, “Immediately after the session, the Legislation Committee passed a bill nominated by the ruling party. It had only been 22 days since the opposition party’s return to the National Assembly, concluding the confrontation that had been brewing over the composition of the committee. However, tension arose from the introductory remarks of the newly appointed committee member, Yoo Sang-beom. The meeting was convened for the upcoming 26th, mainly for the purpose of selecting additional witnesses for the ‘impeachment petition hearing’ scheduled on that day.”
“Earlier, the Democratic Party unilaterally processed the ‘Impeachment Petition against President Yoon Suk-yeol’ petition filed in the National Assembly on the 19th and the 26th through a hearing. Witnesses such as President Yoon’s wife and mother-in-law, Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik, former Marine 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, and Pastor Choi Jae-young have already been selected as witnesses.”
“In addition, the Democratic Party demanded that the witness list be expanded to include three presidential aides – Chief Secretary for Civil Affairs Jeong Jin-seok, National Security Advisor Hong Chul-ho, Director of the President’s Secretariat Kang Ui-gu; and three others – Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, Acting Head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Song Chang-jin, and Head of Presidential Records Management at the Ministry of Public Administration and Security Lee Dong-hyuk.”
“Witness Yoo, during his remarks as a committee member, argued, ‘Petitions related to amendments to laws can be reviewed by the Legislation Committee, but the Committee does not have the authority to review impeachment bills. The only case that the Legislation Committee can review is when a motion for referral to the National Assembly Legislation Committee is resolved by a majority of lawmakers at the plenary session.’ He emphasized that the petition for the President’s impeachment is not valid, and consequently, a hearing should not be held. Other ruling party lawmakers, such as Song Suk-jun, Kwak Gyu-taek, and Joo Jin-woo, also argued against the appropriateness of the hearing.”
“However, Chairman Jung Chung-rae, a member of the Democratic Party, countered each statement made by ruling party members, saying, ‘We are not conducting a presidential impeachment trial right now, but a review of the petition. We referred the case to the Legislation Committee based on the National Assembly Legal Affairs Office’s assessment. If you do not recognize this, you should not participate in the discussion and should leave.’ Subsequently, he forcefully concluded the debate, conducted a vote, and ruling party members left before the vote.”
**Continued below…**