The People Power Party (PPP) strongly opposed the ruling bloc-led push for constitutional amendment, vowing to "resolutely block the reckless, patchwork constitutional amendment rampage together with the people." Although the constitutional amendment bill was placed on the National Assembly's plenary session agenda that day, PPP lawmakers did not participate in the vote.
PPP lawmakers issued a statement Friday saying, "The government and ruling party are plotting a judicial-destruction insurrection by forcibly pushing bills such as the special prosecutor law for prosecution withdrawal that dismantles the judicial system." They added, "It is an act of betrayal against the people for forces that trample on the rule of law to unilaterally push through constitutional amendments tailored to their own preferences, backed by the power of the majority."
The PPP then presented "five principles" for a "proper constitutional amendment." First, it emphasized that "the amendment should restore the constitutional spirit rather than being a reckless amendment that neutralizes the separation of powers," stressing the need for comprehensive discussions including restructuring of the power system and citizens' basic rights.
Regarding the preamble to the Constitution, the party argued that "it must encompass values running through the constitutional history of liberal democracy in the Republic of Korea, including the Buma Democratic Uprising and the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, as well as the nation's founding, the Korean War, the Saemaul Movement, the February 28 Democratic Movement, the March 15 Uprising, and the June 1987 Democratic Uprising."
The party also stated, "This must be a 'people's constitutional amendment' centered on sovereign citizens, not a 'backroom constitutional amendment' by forces destroying the rule of law." It criticized the move, saying, "Pushing through a unilateral constitutional amendment while attempting a judicial-destruction insurrection is a political maneuver ahead of elections."
The statement continued, "Political schemes to divide public opinion must stop, and 'bipartisan agreement' based on checks and balances must be practiced." It added, "Constitutional amendments that ignored opposition party dissent have, without exception, been recorded in constitutional history as dictatorship and misfortune."
The party also urged, "A constitutional amendment must not become a strategic election tool and should be pursued calmly during a period without elections."
The PPP proposed, "Let the ruling and opposition parties form a special committee on constitutional amendment in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly to discuss a comprehensive amendment covering everything from the preamble to power structure reform." The party added that it would "immediately begin responsible preparation of a constitutional amendment at the party level."
