\”People are struggling, but the People Power Party’s standing committees aren’t operating\”
\”We’ll take 100% responsibility for the committees, U.S.-style\”
Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, said he would assume full responsibility and ensure the party handles 100% of the work in forming standing committees for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. He left open the possibility of taking all committee chairmanships to turn a legislature bogged down by partisan conflict into a functioning, working parliament.
At the party’s lawmakers’ meeting at the National Assembly on March 22, Jeong said, \”The Middle East crisis has put livelihoods and the economy under severe strain, yet the People Power Party, instead of cooperating, is obstructing state affairs.\” He added, \”Many bills to address people’s economic hardships are pending, but the standing committees chaired by the People Power Party are not operating.\”
He went on to say, \”As the People Power Party prefers, we should adopt the American model,\” stressing, \”In the U.S., the party with even a one-seat advantage takes all the standing committee chairmanships.\”
Jeong said, \”We don’t want to go that far,\” but warned that with an increasingly complex international order, there is a narrow window for swift action — and if that golden time is missed, the damage to citizens will be severe.
He added, \”As the ruling party, if we do not take responsibility and act, it would be a dereliction of duty to the country and the people,\” and reiterated, \”We will take control of all standing committees, U.S.-style.\”
Addressing the People Power Party, he said, \”There is a ‘no work, no pay’ principle: those who don’t work shouldn’t eat,\” and warned, \”If the People Power Party refuses to do the work, they should neither take the spoils nor seek committee chairmanships.\”
Jeong also said, \”To constitute the second-half organization according to principle, we must first elect the National Assembly Speaker,\” adding, \”We cannot postpone the speaker and deputy speaker elections even during local elections, so we will proceed with them.\”
Most Commented