DP Eyes Postponement of Special Prosecutor Bill Post-Local Elections; PPP Highlights 'Government Judgment' Argument

The Democratic Party (DP) has indicated its intention to 'adjust the pace' of handling the 'manipulative indictment special prosecutor bill,' proposing to process it after the local elections. The party plans to gather the overall consensus of the public following coordination between the party and the presidential office. Within the DP, there's a strong expectation that the special prosecutor bill could be passed in a plenary session in June or July, after the local elections. Some top-tier leadership candidates have also expressed concerns about the necessity of making the special prosecutor bill a campaign issue at the time of the local elections.

In response, the People Power Party (PPP) launched a full-scale offensive, putting the 'government judgment' argument at the forefront, stating that the president's 'self-pardon' must be blocked through voting. PPP floor leader Jang Dong-hyuk criticized the delay in withdrawing the indictment as a serious crime by President Lee Jae-myung. PPP interim leader Song Eon-seok slammed the presidential office's announcement of deliberating on the bill's passage as a deception and fraud aimed at deceiving the public ahead of the elections.

Seven PPP candidates for metropolitan mayor, including Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the special prosecutor bill. These candidates urged the president to declare that there will be no withdrawal of charges against himself during his term.