So Byeong-cheol, secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Lee Tan-hee, and Rep. Kwon Chil-seung are having a conversation at the National Assembly audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on October 13./News 1
People from the Democratic Party of Korea are talking about ‘200 seats’ as their goal for the general elections in April next year. This is 20 more seats than the 180 seats it occupied during the landslide victory in the last general election. The plan is to build on the momentum of the big win in the Gangseo-gu mayor by-election in Seoul, but criticism has emerged from within the party, saying, “Have you forgotten that you were in power for 20 years and then lost after 5 years?” and “You are so intoxicated by the victory that you say anything.”
Chung Dong-young, a standing advisor to the Democratic Party, appeared on KBC Gwangju Broadcasting on the 1st and said, “If we sweep the metropolitan area, there is no way we can’t win 200 seats,” and added, “We showed in Gangseo that the metropolitan area is also prepared.” Representative Lee Tan-hee, who is leading the discussion on reforming the electoral system in the Democratic Party, also said on MBC radio on the same day, “Our party’s biggest goal is to reduce (the People Power Party) to less than 100 seats as much as possible.” This means that the pan-opposition party, including the Democratic Party, will win more than 200 seats. Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk also wrote on Facebook on the 22nd of last month, “I hope that the number of seats will be 200, including various pan-democratic progressive forces and conservative forces that break away from national power.”
The 200 seats are the ‘absolute seats’ that can not only pass bills but also amend the constitution and impeach the president if they wish. Assuming that 200 seats will be secured, Standing Advisor Jeong said, “The President’s abuse of power is a clear violation of the law, so if it is proven, it will be impeached immediately,” and “It is impossible to move because the shackles are completely fastened.” The presidential veto also becomes meaningless. Under the Constitution, even if the President exercises the right to veto a specific bill, it becomes a law if more than two-thirds (200) of the National Assembly members vote in favor. Rep. Lee said, “President Yoon is just exercising his veto right without asking because he is supported by the People Power Party’s 110 seats.”
In order for the Democratic Party to have 200 seats, it has to sweep the metropolitan area (103 out of 121 seats), Honam (27 out of 28 seats), and Chungcheong (20 out of 28 seats) like in the last general election, including Yeongnam, which is the People Power Party’s stronghold. We need to secure far more seats than we have now in Gangwon, Jeju, and Proportion. Views both inside and outside of the political world are skeptical, saying it is “unlikely to be realized.” However, Rep. Lee Tan-hee said, “An opportunity like a stroke of genius is coming,” and “It is difficult for rational conservative forces to emerge and cooperation with progressive opposition parties is difficult, but a situation is happening in the next general election where that is possible.” This means that it is possible to unite with the pan-opposition parties, such as the Justice Party, as well as the new parties of Yoo Seung-min and Lee Jun-seok, which are mentioned in the ruling party, to run a candidate. In the Democratic Party, the so-called ‘Cho Kuk Proportional Party’ is mentioned and some say, “Wouldn’t it be possible to save a few proportional seats?”
However, there is considerable criticism within the Democratic Party that this plan is a “vain delusion.” A first-term lawmaker in the Seoul area said, “If you look at the results of public opinion polls these days, there are many places where you are close or behind in places where you won last time,” and “I am worried that talking about an empty number of 200 seats will ruin the general election.” Another senior lawmaker said, “Even if we bow our heads and say, ‘Please save the Democratic Party,’ it won’t be enough, and 200 seats is too immature,” and added, “The people won’t vote for a party that isn’t humble.”
2023-11-02 19:16:00
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