When Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People’s Power, held the first unrestricted discussion (filibuster) before the so-called ‘check-out’ bill that separates the prosecution’s investigative and prosecution powers at the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th, the seats of the opposition and opposition members of the plenary session are vacant. [사진=연합뉴스]
The ruling and opposition parties clashed in the filibuster of the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th to pass the so-called ‘examination and complete deprivation of the prosecution’s investigation authority’. The Democratic Party of Korea insisted on passing the bill, saying that the powers of the prosecution, which hold investigative and prosecuting powers, should be dispersed, and the people’s power made it clear that the Democratic Party’s argument was ‘neutralizing the prosecution’.
National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok presented a bill to amend the Prosecutor’s Office Act to separate the prosecution’s investigative and prosecuting powers at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the afternoon of the same day. The People’s Power immediately applied for a filibuster, and four lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties quarreled for a total of 6 hours and 48 minutes.
The first runner, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People’s Power, discussed for two hours and three minutes, followed by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jong-min spoke for one hour and fifteen minutes. People’s Strength Rep. Kim Woong delivered the longest speech for two hours and 51 minutes, and Democratic Party lawmaker Min-Seok Ahn made a speech for the last 37 minutes.
The People’s Power argued that the Democratic Party’s enforcement of the inspection was to prevent investigations into various corruptions that had been built up while in power.
Representative Kwon said, “What did you do wrong to fear the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s prosecution? The intention to pass the damage to the public and escape from crime was the background that gave birth to the Inspection and Complete Law.”
Rep. Kim Woong also emphasized, “Prosecutors are advanced, the division of investigation and indictment, everything is a lie.”
On the other hand, the Democratic Party emphasized the legislative justification, worrying about the “republic of the prosecution” led by former prosecutor-elect Yoon Seok-yeol and Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon. Coincidentally, the People’s Power lawmakers who spoke today are all from the prosecution.
Rep. Kim Jong-min said, “The power of the prosecution’s investigation without brakes and control is the current state of the prosecution, and the prosecution investigation must also be controlled,” he said.
Rep. Ahn Min-seok, referring to the prosecution investigation experienced by himself and the late former lawmaker Kim Jae-yun, said, “It is a planned investigation by the political prosecution.” and showed caution.
The filibuster ended at midnight. Democrats set the end of the session until midnight. National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok declared an open meeting, saying, “The (provisional meeting) ends at 12 o’clock.”
The Democratic Party will hold a new extraordinary session of the National Assembly on the 30th and will take precedence over amendments to the Prosecutor’s Office Act. It seems likely that the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act will also be attempted, but it is highly likely that the people’s power will try a filibuster on this agenda as well.
- reporter information
- Seonghwi Lee
- [email protected]
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