Cheon Jun-ho, chief deputy floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, said Wednesday the party will consider revising the National Assembly Act to become a "working parliament," accusing the opposition People Power Party of holding livelihood bills hostage.
"The People Power Party has held even livelihood bills hostage and continued political strife since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration," Cheon said.
Speaking at a floor leadership meeting at the National Assembly that day, Cheon said, "The Democratic Party is taking the first step toward normalizing the National Assembly at today's plenary session." He added, "Restructuring committees will be the first task, and we will push other tasks for a working parliament as well."
Cheon raised the prospect of revising the National Assembly Act, saying, "We need countermeasures against the People Power Party's habitual hostage-taking." He explained, "First, a bill has been proposed for the normal functioning of standing committees," describing it as "content that prevents standing committee chairs from delaying the holding of meetings or the review of bills without justifiable cause." He stressed, "Obstructing state affairs by occupying a seat without even conducting meetings must disappear."
He also pledged to push for measures to strengthen the effectiveness of the fast-track system and normalize the filibuster. "The current review period for fast-track agenda items is up to 300 days, which, contrary to its name, is not swift," Cheon said. "It is longer than the average review period for bills passed in the 21st National Assembly." He added, "To ensure the effectiveness of the system, it is necessary to shorten the review period."
He also pointed out, "Until now, the People Power Party has carried out a livelihood hostage drama by launching full-scale filibusters even against livelihood bills," adding, "And yet they themselves did not even attend the plenary chamber."
He then said, "We will revise the law so that minimal responsibility is required when launching or maintaining a filibuster," and urged, "The Democratic Party will devise ways for the National Assembly to work, and the People Power Party should stop its arrogant hostage drama and cooperate in creating a working parliament."
