2024-05-01 08:24:35
The Democratic Party of Korea, which denounced the Itaewon Disaster Special Act, is preparing to pass the Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act on the 2nd. It is interpreted as a strategy that takes President Yoon Seok-yeol’s veto into consideration. The political world believes that even if President Yoon exercises his veto, it is not a bad card.
Lee Yang-soo, senior vice floor leader of the People’s Power Party, and Park Joo-min, senior vice floor leader of the Democratic Party, agreed to hold a plenary session on the afternoon of the 1st on the 2nd and pass bills on which there is no disagreement, including the amendment to the Itaewon Disaster Special Act.
The remaining issue is the Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act. The People Power Party is maintaining its opposition to the bill, saying that an investigation by investigative agencies is already in progress.
The agenda of the plenary session is processed with the attendance of a majority of the registered members (currently 297 members) and the approval of a majority of the members present. If only the agenda is submitted, it can only be passed with the number of seats from the Democratic Party.
The variable is whether President Yoon has the right to veto. According to National Assembly law, the president must exercise his veto within 15 days. Considering administrative procedures and National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo’s schedule, if it passes the plenary session on the 2nd, it can be put up for a re-vote in the 4th week of May at the latest. Chairman Kim, who has the authority to convene the plenary session, is leaving on a tour of North and South America from the 4th to the 18th. If it goes beyond the 4th week, the 22nd National Assembly will open (May 30) and it will be physically impossible to pass.
Chief Park explained in a YouTube broadcast that day, “In order to handle it clearly during the 21st term, two plenary sessions must be held, and the second session must be held at an interval that exceeds the presidential reconsideration request period.”
First of all, due to the People Power Party’s crushing defeat in the general election, there is a possibility that President Yoon will accept it without exercising his veto. President Yoon, who lost 192 seats to the pan-opposition party in this general election, is trying to shake off the image of lack of communication. The leadership meeting proposed to Representative Lee Jae-myeong is also part of this.
Even if President Yoon exercises his veto, it is not the worst-case scenario for the Democratic Party. In order for the Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act to be passed again in the plenary session, a majority of the registered lawmakers must attend and more than two-thirds of the lawmakers present must agree.
Assuming that all lawmakers attend the plenary session, at least 198 votes must be secured. The opposition party agrees on the Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act. There are 155 votes from the Democratic Party, 7 independent votes from the Democratic Party, 6 votes from the Green Justice Party, 5 votes from the New Future Party, 4 votes from the New Reform Party, and 1 vote each from the Fatherland Innovation Party and New Future Party.
Accordingly, the People Power Party can pass the Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act if only 19 people vote in favor. Although it depends on the leadership of the next floor leader, there is a tendency even before the election for the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) group to reject Lee Cheol-gyu, so there is the possibility of some defecting votes.
Moreover, as the 21st National Assembly is coming to an end, there is a possibility that the threshold for re-passing itself will be lowered due to fewer lawmakers in attendance. This is because we cannot rule out the possibility that the number of lawmakers in attendance will decrease due to unsuccessful candidates.
At the same time, the Democratic Party may use President Yoon’s veto as a means of putting pressure on the 22nd National Assembly.
Accordingly, negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties are expected to face difficulties. As the People’s Power Party clearly states its policy of ‘subjecting only agenda items agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties,’ there is a possibility that the vote on the Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act itself may be postponed.
Chief Lee said, “We believe that it will be difficult to hold a plenary session smoothly if there are differences of opinion or a law that has not been agreed upon is raised tomorrow, and if the arguments continue.” On the other hand, Chief Park said, “We will work to persuade the People Power Party and the Chairman,” and added, “It’s not like we don’t have time until the plenary session tomorrow.”
(Seoul = News 1)
2024-05-01 08:24:35