PPP Floor Leader Slams Speaker's 'Arbitrary' Committee Assignments, Vows to Fight to the End

People Power Party (PPP) Floor Leader Jeong Joong-sik stated on the 26th, regarding Speaker of the National Assembly Cho Jung-sik's arbitrary assignment of members to standing committees for the latter half of the parliamentary term, "Do as you please, just monopolize and rule dictatorially. The opposition party will fight to the end." Jeong made these remarks to reporters at the National Assembly that afternoon, revealing a faxed document from Speaker Cho to the PPP's floor leader's office detailing the committee assignments for the PPP.

Speaker Cho Jung-sik had reiterated his demand for both ruling and opposition parties to submit their lists of standing committee members for the latter half of the parliamentary term by noon that day. When the PPP failed to comply, the Speaker arbitrarily assigned members in accordance with the National Assembly Act. The Speaker's office's senior communications secretary stated on the 26th that the PPP's list was not submitted by noon, thus a document was sent in accordance with the National Assembly Act appointing members belonging to the PPP.

Speaker Cho Jung-sik notified the PPP on the 26th via fax of the proposed composition, where members of the PPP were arbitrarily assigned to standing committees. The fax also requested that amendment opinions be submitted by noon on the 29th.