Criminal Procedure Act Amendment to Be Voted On Today... Opposition Launches Filibuster Against National Assembly Act Amendment

Second Consecutive Day of Filibuster Over Criminal Procedure Act Amendment
Ruling Party to Pass Bill Today; National Assembly Act Amendment Also to Be Tabled
Opposition Plans Additional Filibuster... Jung Jeongsik Calls It "Dictatorial Evil Law"

The People Power Party is launching consecutive unlimited debates (filibusters) to delay the handling of the National Assembly Act amendment, which is scheduled to be tabled today, following the Criminal Procedure Act amendment that was brought to the plenary session of the National Assembly the previous day.

Jeong Jeongsik, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st.

On the morning of the 31st, during the plenary session of the National Assembly, the People Power Party is holding a filibuster against the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which prohibits the prosecution from conducting supplementary investigations and direct investigations. As soon as the bill was tabled in the plenary session at around 4 p.m. the previous day, the debate began, with lawmakers including Joo Ho-young, Park Hyung-soo, and Na Kyung-won taking the floor, continuing the filibuster for more than 18 hours. Assemblywoman Na criticized the bill during the debate, stating, "The abolition of supplementary investigative rights is clearly unconstitutional" and called it "an infringement of the people's fundamental rights."

The Democratic Party of Korea, upon the launch of the filibuster by the People Power Party the previous day, submitted a motion to end the debate. According to the National Assembly Act, if 24 hours pass from the time of submission, the debate can be forcibly ended and the bill put to a vote with the approval of three-fifths of the members present. The ruling party plans to put the Criminal Procedure Act amendment to a vote after 4 p.m. today. The amendment to the National Assembly Act, which reduces the review period for fast-track bills from 330 days to 90 days, is also scheduled to be tabled immediately.

The People Power Party is strongly opposing this, calling it a violation of parliamentary democracy. Floor Leader Jung Jeongsik said at the party floor strategy meeting that day, "If I had to sum up this law (National Assembly Act amendment) in one word, it would be 'the National Assembly rubber-stamp law,'" and criticized it as "a dictatorial evil law that treats the National Assembly as a rubber stamp for the Democratic Party and seeks to turn it into a faster, more obedient voting machine." He further cautioned, "Rushing this through recklessly may lead to long-term national repercussions."

The People Power Party plans to launch another filibuster when the National Assembly Act amendment is tabled. However, as today is the last day of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly for this month, the debate must conclude by midnight. Under the National Assembly Act, if the session ends during a filibuster, the end of debate is declared and the agenda item is to be voted on at the next session. A party official stated, "Since the debate ends at midnight, it appears that only lawmakers Kim Mi-ae and Kim Min-jeon will be able to participate."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.