People Power Party: "Opposing Constitutional Revision Equals Supporting Martial Law? Is Opposing the Extra Budget Refusing to Accept the Presidential Election?"

According to The Financial News, the People Power Party (PPP) on the 2nd reaffirmed its opposition to revising the Constitution of the Republic of Korea through a national referendum held simultaneously with the local elections. The party argued that claims from the broader pro-government camp—that participating in constitutional revision talks is the only way to clearly cut ties with former president Yoon Suk Yeol and the Martial Law controversy—are exaggerated.
Ahead of President Lee Jae Myung’s policy speech on the supplementary budget that day, Song Eon-seok convened a general meeting of PPP lawmakers and stated, "We are not opposed to constitutional revision itself; we oppose tailoring constitutional revision to match an election schedule." He continued, "They say that supporting constitutional revision will help sever ties with former president Yoon, but that is sheer nonsense. No one claims that opposing a supplementary budget means refusing to accept the presidential election result."
Referring to the party’s earlier decision to oppose holding a constitutional referendum alongside the local elections, Song criticized, "If we revise the Constitution of the Republic of Korea step by step at every election, constitutional revision will become a black hole that sucks in every issue and turns each contest into a ‘constitutional revision election.’"
Meanwhile, six parliamentary parties other than the People Power Party (PPP), along with independent lawmakers, plan to introduce a constitutional amendment bill on the 6th and to have it put to a vote at a plenary session of the National Assembly by May 10. For the bill to proceed to a national referendum, it must win the support of two-thirds of the 295 sitting lawmakers, or 197 votes. The Democratic Party of Korea holds 161 seats, pro-government parties hold 18, the Reform Party (RP) has 3, and there are 6 independents, giving 188 likely votes in favor. This means at least nine PPP lawmakers would need to back the bill. At present, PPP lawmakers Cho Kyoung-tae and Kim Yong-tae have shifted to support the amendment.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho, Lee Haeram Reporter