PPP calls DP to give judiciary committee chairman post after landslide victory

Jun 03, 2022, 09:30 am

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People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok (center) speaks during a party leadership meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 2, 2022./ Photographed by Lee Byung-hwa

AsiaToday reporter Kim Na-ri

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) urged the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) to stop monopolizing legislation and to engage in “political cooperation”, putting pressure on the DP after a landslide victory in Wednesday’s local elections.

In particular, the PPP wants to get back the post of the judiciary committee chairman as agreed in the standing committee redistribution negotiations back in July last year. The ruling party is trying to restore legislative power after winning its local power.

“Political cooperation is a strict command of the people,” PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong said at a party leadership meeting on Thursday. “In order for the ruling and opposition parties to cooperate, the chairperson post of the Judiciary committee must be returned to the People Power Party as the DP promised a year ago,” Kweon said.

In addition, the PPP decided to establish an early “innovation committee” in preparation for the general election set to be held two years later. The move is aimed at giving the new administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol solid boost to purse key policies while changing the current structure of the National Assembly where the opposition is a majority in preparation of the upcoming general elections in 2024.

After the party leadership meeting, PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok told reporters that the party decided to set up an innovation committee, as the local election results disclosed the party’s vulnerable points despite its victory. He called the victory “a very gratifying yet intimidating” result, vowing that the ruling party will work for the people with a humble attitude.

The PPP won 12 out of 17 key races for big city mayors and provincial governors except three of the Honam region, Jeju, and Gyeonggi Province. Despite its resounding victory, the party expressed its will to keep low and push for party reform. Some political observers say that Lee, who has one year left in office, is leading the party reform issue and try to solidify his dominance within the party.

#PPP #landslide victory #local election #innovation committee