Five-term DP lawmaker Kim Jin-pyo elected new Assembly speaker

Jul 05, 2022, 09:30 am

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Rep. Kim Jin-pyo speaks after being elected as the new National Assembly speaker at a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on July 4, 2022./ Photographed by Lee Byung-hwa

AsiaToday reporter Kim Na-ri

Rep. Kim Jin-pyo of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has been elected as the new National Assembly speaker of the 21st National Assembly on Monday. The election came 35 days after the National Assembly became paralyzed due to conflicts between the two rival parties – the People Power Party and the Democratic Party - over the parliamentary committee formations. The ruling and opposition parties are expected to continue negotiations to form parliamentary committees to normalize the National Assembly.

Rep. Kim won 255 out of 275 votes in a plenary session held at 2 p.m., winning the position to lead the second half of the 21st National Assembly until May 2024. The five-term lawmaker gave up his DP membership and became an independent lawmaker, according to the National Assembly Act.

Rep. Kim is a veteran lawmaker who previously served as a deputy prime minister twice. He is known for his expertise in economic affairs, and is recognized for having a well-rounded relationship with politicians from both the ruling and opposition blocs, raising expectation that he would play a role as a mediator in reconciling the interests between the rival parties.

“I was called a mediator when I was working for the government,” Rep. Kim said in his acceptance speech. “I ask all the parliamentary members to be good at dialogue and compromise. I will become a National Assembly speaker who is proficient in mediation,” he said. “As a National Assembly speaker, I will firmly observe my duty of political neutrality. I will fulfill my role without hesitation if it is to uphold the great democratic principle of the separation of powers.”

The new Assembly speaker called on the parties to speed up negotiations and complete the parliamentary committee formations. “The opening of the National Assembly is a duty, not a right, and it is an order of the people. The leadership of the ruling and opposition parties must accept the people’s orders without delay,” he said.

Kim suggested to form a special committee under the National Assembly aimed at stabilizing people’s livelihoods, and another special committee on confirmation hearings to examine the remaining candidates for public offices. He also stressed to completely fix the 35-year-old constitutional system. “Based on the social consensus, I will do my best to amend the constitution within my term of the 21st National Assembly,” he said.

Meanwhile, two vice speakers, Rep. Kim Young-joo of the DP and Rep. Chung Jin-suk of the ruling PPP, were also elected.

#Kim Jin-pyo #National Assembly speaker