“We must exercise our veto on the special prosecution bill”… Opinion battle at the highest level and general meeting ahead of the Blues next week
“Open and review all cards that can be used”… Concerns over linkage with National Assembly budget review
On the 7th, the day after the 'Special Prosecution Bill on Manipulated Prosecutions' was passed by the National Assembly under the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, the people held a large-scale outdoor rally in downtown Seoul and criticized President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party.
Following the National Assembly meeting the previous day, a large-scale rally was held on this day, and public opinion against the government was mobilized in earnest using the special prosecution bill on fabricated prosecutions as a link.
It has been about a month since the People Power Party held an off-site rally in front of Sungnyemun Gate on the 3rd of last month to criticize the government.
On this day, the People Power Party held a 'National Condemnation Rally for the cancellation of Lee Jae-myung's trial and the enforcement of the evil law' in front of Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul.
Attending the rally were about 70 lawmakers, including Representative Jang Dong-hyuk and floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik, as well as chairmen of party committees outside the National Assembly.
Attendees wore condolence ribbons that read 'Death of Democracy' and held signs such as 'Strongly condemn Lee Jae-myung's self-exoneration' and 'Resumption of Lee Jae-myung's trial is an order from the people.'
Representative Jang shouted, "Criminal Lee Jae-myung defrauded the entire nation. Lee Jae-myung is no longer the president of the Republic of Korea. Now, impeachment is the only answer. Shouldn't he be impeached and brought down right away?"
Referring to President Lee's nomination of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Director Lee Yong-cheol as a candidate for the new Attorney General, he said, "They are trying to entrust the design of the prison break project to the designer of Daejang-dong," and argued, "Defendant Lee Jae-myeong has become a prison escapee. He must be sent to prison with the crime of prison escape added."
At the same time, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and the judiciary urged, "If you do not have the courage to stand up to power, you should take off your judicial uniform immediately. Please do not hesitate and immediately resume Lee Jae-myeong's trial."
Floor leader Jeong raised his voice, saying, “Yesterday, the Democratic Party passed the Special Prosecutor’s Office Cancellation of Indictment Act to cancel the President’s trial,” calling it “an obvious congressional coup.”
He said, "The Democratic Party is saying that they will expose fabricated indictments through a special prosecutor. This is nonsense. They are committing legislative fraud against the people," and added, "This president, who is afraid of trials, has now become an escaped convict himself."
He continued, "Furthermore, President Lee can appoint a special prosecutor to investigate his case. It is a clear conflict of interest," and condemned, "Such blatant destruction of the Constitution is a civil war. The President and the Democratic Party are committing a civil war against the Republic of Korea."
He appealed, “If the Democratic Party tries to eliminate the presidential trial, we must eliminate all Democratic seats in the next general election.”
A party official said that an estimated 150,000 people attended the rally that day. Police tentatively calculated that about 6,000 people attended.
Following today's rally, the People Power Party will hold a series of on-site supreme committee and general assembly meetings in front of the Blue House on the 9th and 10th. In addition, lawmakers will participate in one-person protests in symbolic areas such as Daejang-dong.
Furthermore, the People Power Party pressured President Lee to exercise his right to veto the special prosecution bill, suggesting the possibility of linking the response to the special prosecution bill with the budget review.
Chief Spokesperson Park Seong-hoon met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, "If President Lee does not exercise his veto on the special prosecution law to cancel indictments, I will bring out a stronger fighting card." He added, "A situation in which a person in power mobilizes state agencies to clear himself of his own sins should never happen in a civilized country."
When asked if he was considering not participating in next year's budget review, he answered, "We are considering opening all the cards we can use."
