The People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday moved to check Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do, who won reelection to his post, warning that "parliamentary dictatorship must not be tolerated." The opposition party appears to have entered a power struggle after the Democratic Party signaled the possibility of monopolizing committee chairmanships in the latter-half parliamentary reorganization.
PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog, meeting with reporters after a general assembly of party lawmakers on the same day, offered only a brief "congratulations" on Han's reelection. Asked whether he expected negotiations on parliamentary reorganization to go smoothly, Song responded only with a sigh. Regarding the ruling party's plan to pursue a so-called "fabricated indictment special prosecutor" probe after the local elections, he remarked sarcastically, "Isn't that their original playbook?"
Deputy floor leader Yoo Sang-bum also criticized the possibility of the ruling party monopolizing committee chairmanships, saying, "Allocating committee chairmanships according to the number of seats is the formula adopted by former President Kim Dae-jung, whom the ruling party regards as their mentor, for the sake of parliamentary democracy." He added, "Monopolizing them would amount to declaring majority-party dictatorship to the world."
Chief spokesperson Kwak Kyu-taek said in a commentary, "We congratulate him on his reelection," while adding, "The path the Democratic Party is currently walking is not one of responsibility toward the people's livelihoods as a dominant ruling party, but one of shielding specific individuals. We urge them to show responsible politics that respects the boundaries of democracy."
