On July 29, the National Assembly's Legislative Judiciary Committee and the Operations Committee approved amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law aimed at abolishing supplementary investigation rights and shortening the fast-track process. These bills are set to be presented for a vote in the plenary session scheduled for July 30, prompting the People Power Party to announce plans for an unlimited debate (filibuster) to block the measures.
Both committees convened in the morning to review and vote on the proposed amendments.
Initially, the Criminal Procedure Law amendment was slated to be submitted to the plenary session through the Legislative Judiciary Committee. However, members from the People Power Party protested against the Democratic Party's push, leading to the bill being referred to the agenda coordination committee.
After passing through the coordination committee, the Criminal Procedure Law amendment was brought back to the Legislative Judiciary Committee, where it is now set for a vote in the plenary session under the Democratic Party's leadership.
The amendment to the National Assembly Law, which aims to reduce the fast-track process from a maximum of 330 days to 90 days, also passed the Operations Committee on the same day.
This change will significantly shorten the timeline for committee reviews from 180 days to 60 days, and for the Legislative Judiciary Committee and plenary session from 90 days and 60 days to 30 days, respectively.
However, the People Power Party members expressed their opposition during the Operations Committee meeting, arguing that the Democratic Party's actions were unilateral and aimed at facilitating the cancellation of President Lee Jae-myung's indictment. They chose to abstain from the vote.
Kim Seung-soo, the opposition's floor leader in the Operations Committee, criticized the National Assembly Law amendment, stating, "This legislation is for the Democratic Party's convention and a show for the 'Daughter of the Party.' It is a buildup for bad laws like the cancellation of Lee Jae-myung's indictment and constitutional amendments for re-election."
As the prospect of the Criminal Procedure and National Assembly Law amendments being presented in the plenary session becomes clearer, the People Power Party is expected to launch a major offensive through a filibuster against what they deem unilateral operations by the Democratic Party.
During the Legislative Judiciary Committee meeting, member Park Hyung-soo expressed dissatisfaction with the proceedings, stating, "The Democratic Party is operating unilaterally while we are merely filling seats as props," addressing the committee chair, Seo Young-kyo.
Later that afternoon, members of the People Power Party visited the Legislative Judiciary Committee meeting room to demand an end to the push for abolishing supplementary investigation rights and announced their plans for a significant filibuster.
Park Chung-kwon, the party's chief spokesperson, stated, "The Democratic Party is trying to set up a mechanism to eliminate the President's trial," adding, "The People Power Party will mobilize all means, including a filibuster, to ensure that this unprecedented bad law is stopped."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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