Rival lawmakers at the National Assembly are engaging in a fierce standoff, following a day-long filibuster that was launched on Wednesday afternoon.
The biggest clash of the 22nd National Assembly thus far revolves around an opposition-led bill calling for a special investigation into the death of a Marine during a search and rescue operation amid last year’s floods.
Our political correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports.
When National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik declared an end to a filibuster on the contentious special investigation bill on Thursday, announcing he would call a vote,
“We’ll begin voting immediately following explanations of the process.”
ruling party lawmakers, who had requested the prolonged debate, surrounded the podium, shouting and shaking their fists in anger.
As of 5:30 PM, the rival lawmakers remained in a stalemate over the vote.
This is, after an over-24-hour filibuster that was launched on Wednesday afternoon regarding the bill calling for a special prosecution probe into the death of a Marine during last year’s flood rescue operations and alleged government interference with a preliminary investigation into the case.
The ruling party, which had called for the relay debate, asserted the bill was politically motivated, and targeted President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The opposition reiterated the need for a special investigation, bringing up allegations that the government and military officials interfered with the initial internal investigation by the military.
But the legislative history goes back beyond just the night.
The bill was first introduced during the previous 21st National Assembly then too by opposition lawmakers who unilaterally passed it in early May.
Later that month, President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed the bill.
The bill returned to the Assembly for a revote, but it failed to pass,. at the very last plenary session of the 21st Assembly.
The main opposition Democratic Party reintroduced the bill as its first legislative goal when the 22nd National Assembly commenced at the end of May.
Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=272860
Arirang TV(public institution's name)'s public work is used according to KOGL