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[Editorial] "One with the Party and Government," "Faithful to Party Members," "Regime Re-election"... Is This the National Assembly Speaker Election?

From Daily Star · (14m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Three prominent members of the Democratic Party have declared their candidacy for the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, with their campaign rhetoric focusing on party loyalty and achieving a "regime change."
  • Their statements have drawn criticism for prioritizing party interests over the neutral role expected of the Speaker.
  • The upcoming election for the Vice Speaker will incorporate a 20% vote from the Democratic Party's registered members, a change introduced after previous internal disputes.

The race for the Vice Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly has taken a peculiar turn, with the leading candidates from the Democratic Party—Joo Ho-young, Kim Tae-nyeon, and Park Ji-won—unveiling campaign slogans that seem more suited for a party leadership contest than for the impartial role of the Assembly's head. Joo Ho-young declared he would "move as one with the party, government, and the Blue House," while Kim Tae-nyeon pledged to "faithfully uphold the demands of the party members." Park Ji-won, not to be outdone, vowed to "burn himself out for the regime's re-election."

I will move as one with the party, government, and the Blue House.

— Joo Ho-youngStating his intention to align closely with the ruling party and government.

This rhetoric is particularly concerning given the National Assembly Act, which mandates that the Speaker must relinquish their party affiliation for their two-year term. The expectation is that the Speaker, regardless of which party they hail from, should act as a neutral mediator, bridging the divide between the ruling and opposition parties. However, the current candidates appear to be openly campaigning on a platform of partisan advantage, confusing the election for the Assembly's leadership with a bid for party leadership.

I will faithfully uphold the demands of the party members.

— Kim Tae-nyeonEmphasizing his commitment to the party's rank-and-file.

The significant influence of the Democratic Party's registered members, whose votes will account for 20% of the outcome, is a likely driver behind this emphasis on "party loyalty." This electoral change was implemented after the contentious election for the first half of the Assembly's Speaker term, where former candidate Choo Mi-ae, who argued that the Speaker "is not neutral," was defeated. The party's subsequent decision to incorporate member votes, despite concerns about undermining representative democracy, has seemingly emboldened candidates to appeal directly to the party base. In a political climate already marked by intense partisan conflict, the prospect of a Vice Speaker prioritizing their party's agenda over legislative mediation is a worrying development for the functioning of the National Assembly.

I will burn myself out for the regime's re-election.

— Park Ji-wonExpressing his dedication to securing another term for the current administration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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