People Power Party returns to parliament after deal on committee composition

The People Power Party has decided to end its boycott of parliamentary sessions and return to the National Assembly, following an agreement with the Democratic Party on the formation of parliamentary committees. This move effectively concludes the negotiation process for the composition of the 22nd National Assembly's standing committees.

According to People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jin-sik, the party will commence the process of electing standing committee chairs starting Thursday. "From today, our party will proceed with the election of standing committee chairs," Jeong stated after a party caucus. "As agreed with the Democratic Party, we will hold an internal party election for standing committee chairs on Thursday morning and proceed with a plenary session in the afternoon."

“

From today, our party will proceed with the election of standing committee chairs. As agreed with the Democratic Party, we will hold an internal party election for standing committee chairs on Thursday morning and proceed with a plenary session in the afternoon.

Despite returning to the Assembly, the People Power Party expressed continued disapproval of the Democratic Party's unilateral selection of 11 standing committee chairs, including the powerful Legislation and Judiciary Committee. "We still cannot accept the Democratic Party's unilateral action in taking the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and strongly express our rejection," Jeong said. "However, we have provisionally approved our return to the Assembly."

The agreement entails the People Power Party accepting the Democratic Party's appointment of chairs for 11 standing committees. This includes committees that the Democratic Party had initially claimed exclusively, such as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. In return, the Democratic Party agreed to allocate seven standing committees to the People Power Party, including the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Trade, Industry, and Energy Committee.

“

We still cannot accept the Democratic Party's unilateral action in taking the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and strongly express our rejection. However, we have provisionally approved our return to the Assembly.