The People Power Party (PPP) has decided to end its filibuster against the national referendum law amendment bill.
PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok announced at a press conference at the National Assembly on January 1 that the party would immediately halt the filibuster—a form of legitimate unlimited debate used to obstruct legislative proceedings—to break the deadlock over the Democratic Party's refusal to convene the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) integration bill.
Song also urged the committee to convene for the processing of the special bill on TK administrative integration.
"On December 24, Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Choo Mi-ae unilaterally stalled the TK integration bill, citing opposition from the Daegu City Council," Song said. "However, on December 27, the Daegu City Council issued a statement expressing strong support for TK administrative integration."
Song added that on December 26, PPP lawmakers from the TK region reached a consensus and reported to the party's general assembly, deciding to demand swift passage of the TK administrative integration bill.
"The Democratic Party of Korea no longer has any justification to reject or delay the TK integration bill," he emphasized.
However, Song distanced himself from the special bill on Chungnam-Daejeon administrative integration. "Both regional heads clearly expressed opposition, and both city and provincial councils passed resolutions against the merger, as I recall," he said. "Therefore, I do not believe this is a matter for discussion at present."