While People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk is facing responsibility after his defeat in the June 3 local elections, the People Power Party plans to hold a general meeting of lawmakers on the 17th to discuss related issues, but the situation within the party appears to have become more complicated due to the shortage of ballot papers.
The anti-Jang Dong-Hyuk camp, including the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction, the small faction, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's side, is pressuring Representative Jang to resign, but Representative Jang is making a massive counterattack, saying that it is not a matter of his own future, but rather that it is time to focus his party's energy on responding to the situation where suffrage is being undermined.
It is expected that Ban Jang Dong-hyuk's side will raise the theory of Representative Jang's responsibility again at the general meeting of lawmakers this afternoon.
The main agenda of the general assembly is the election appeal issue, but the issue of Rep. Jang's replacement is the biggest pending issue within the party.
In particular, Banjang Donghyuk's side is criticizing Representative Jang for using the suffrage issue as a shield against his own responsibility.
Seoul Mayor Oh met with reporters before attending the court on this day and was asked about discussing the 'election appeal' at the party's general meeting, saying, "I believe that the leadership of Jang Dong-hyuk has already reached the end of his life. This is because his leadership has been dealt a decisive blow." He added, "I hope that sufficient discussion will take place by focusing on the fact that the claim for re-election, along with the leadership of Jang Dong-hyuk's actions at the general assembly, is largely a political slogan to strengthen his political position."
However, Representative Jang is instead taking steps to solidify party power.
He actively exercised his authority by convening an emergency high-level meeting on the 15th and deciding to push for election appeals in areas where ballot shortages occurred.
Within the party, it is said that Representative Jang gained confidence due to the increase in the approval rating of the People Power Party after the local elections and the election of floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik, who was classified as a party factionalist, in the recent floor leader election.
The fact that Supreme Council members Kim Min-soo, Kim Jae-won, Shin Dong-wook, and Jo Kwang-han, who are members of the party faction, made it clear that they have no intention of resigning also appears to be influencing Representative Jang's stance to defend the party power. In reality, there is no way to force CEO Jang's resignation other than the collapse of the leadership system due to the resignation of the Supreme Council member.
For this reason, the main purpose of the party's ruling party is to explain the decision to petition the National Assembly on this day, and it seems to attach some significance to the decision to listen to the voices of lawmakers who have called for Representative Jang's resignation.
Rep. Lee Jin-sook, who entered the National Assembly for the first time through the last National Assembly by-election, said of Representative Jang on YTN Radio, "There is absolutely no reason for him to resign. In order to fight against the Lee Jae-myung administration, he should be strengthened." Rep. Lee was nominated under Representative Jang’s system.
For this reason, many within the party predict that the call for Representative Jang's resignation will not be as strong as expected at today's general meeting.
This is based on the analysis that if CEO Jang is in a situation where he is in a holding state and the level of pressure is rapidly raised, the rupture sound will become louder and there may be aftereffects.
Re-elected lawmaker Kwon Young-jin said on SBS Radio, "Isn't Representative Jang pushing for a re-election in order to maintain his position?" He added, "If we go in a radical way like when we ousted Representative Lee Jun-seok, there will be aftereffects, so we need to open a way out."
First-term lawmaker Jeong Yeon-wook also said on KBS Radio, "There will be a lot of talk, but wouldn't it be difficult to come to a conclusion right away? I think it's important to get the discussion started."
Meanwhile, interest within the party is focused on what position the leading lawmakers, who have been reticent so far, are taking.
The analysis is that depending on where they put their efforts, the direction of the discussion on CEO Jang's future may be determined.
In relation to this, a leading member of the National Assembly predicted criticism in a phone call, saying, "It is natural to file an appeal, but once the ruling is made, we have no choice but to discuss how far the re-election will go. I don't understand why this was done without going through the general assembly."
