Ruling Party Pushes for Constitutional Amendment Vote on 7th; Rejection Feared if PPP Boycotts

The ruling party is pushing for a vote on a constitutional amendment at the National Assembly's plenary session on the 7th, but concerns are mounting that it could be rejected if the People Power Party (PPP) does not participate in the vote. An official from the Speaker's office stated on the 7th that the plan is to put the constitutional amendment bill on the agenda for the plenary session. This bill was submitted to the National Assembly on the 3rd of last month by the floor leaders of six parties, excluding the PPP, signed by 187 lawmakers.

Passing the constitutional amendment requires the affirmative vote of more than two-thirds of the total number of lawmakers. Based on the current total of 286 members, 191 votes in favor are needed. Therefore, it is calculated that passing the amendment will be difficult without at least 12 votes from PPP lawmakers.

The PPP is maintaining its opposition, calling it a "hasty amendment for election purposes," and is considering boycotting the plenary session vote on the constitutional amendment on the 7th. A party official mentioned the possibility of not participating in the vote itself, as it would be inappropriate to oppose it directly.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik plans to pursue a meeting with PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk this week to persuade them to join the amendment process.