Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said the People Power Party's demand for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship amounts to "a declaration of a strike against the people's livelihood in the second half of the National Assembly," stressing that "the only principle and standard for organizing the assembly is people's livelihood and performance," in connection with negotiations over the committee structure for the latter half of the 22nd National Assembly.
Han made the remarks Sunday at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "In the June 3 local elections, we confirmed the sovereign people's stern command to set aside irresponsible political strife and work hard to revive the people's livelihood."
He criticized the People Power Party's demand for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship based on public sentiment from the local elections as "a self-serving interpretation."
"Have they already forgotten that over the past year, since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, they obstructed state affairs at every turn and used standing committees as tools for political strife?" Han said sharply. "The People Power Party, which filed a filibuster against people's livelihood bills and unilaterally halted the special committee on U.S. affairs, has pushed its work to the back burner."
He then urged, "To make a working National Assembly, the Democratic Party must take the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the committee structure must be finalized by the 18th."
Han also stressed that a plenary session would be held this week to process a state investigation plan on the "ballot shortage incident" and to immediately launch a special committee for the state investigation. Defining the incident as "an infringement of the people's right to political participation and a disaster that can never be tolerated," he said, "We will clearly identify problems across the entire election administration, including gaps in overall administration, and will firmly hold the National Election Commission accountable."
Meanwhile, marking the 26th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration, Han honored the late former President Kim Dae-jung's efforts toward peaceful reunification and strengthened solidarity between the party and the presidential office. "President Lee Jae-myung, who has embarked on a tour of Europe, delivered a message of peace and solidarity in his meeting with the Pope," he said. "The Democratic Party will fully support the Lee Jae-myung administration so that its consistent efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula can shine."
