Opposition: "Abolition of Semi-Linked Proportional Representation System to Be Pursued as Party Platform"

[Financial News] The People Power Party said it would pursue electoral reform to abolish the semi-linked proportional representation system as its official party position. The move targets the controversy over Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in holding dual positions after her nomination for minister of Gender Equality and Family fell through. The People Power Party maintains that the semi-linked proportional representation system should be abolished and replaced with the parallel proportional representation system.
Chung Jeom-sik, the party's floor leader, attended an emergency debate at the National Assembly on the 21st titled "The Truth Behind the 2019 Crowbar Incident, the Distortion of the Public Will and Side Effects of the Semi-Linked Proportional Representation System, and the Abolition of the Bad Law." He said, "Lawmaker Yong is a monster created by the semi-linked proportional representation system."
Chung said, "The semi-linked proportional representation system was the product of collusion driven by the political gains of the Democratic Party of Korea and minor parties." He added, "Bareunmirae Party, Party for Democracy and Peace, and Justice Party (JP), which pushed through the system, have all either disappeared or been pushed out of the National Assembly."
He continued, "Not a single voter chose the Basic Income Party in the general election. Nevertheless, lawmaker Yong became a two-term lawmaker in the name of the Basic Income Party and even aspired to become a minister." He declared, "We will pursue the 'Parasite Party Abolition Act' as our party's official position to abolish this bad law."
The semi-linked proportional representation system was introduced in 2019 and first implemented in the 2020 general election. Na Kyung-won, who was then floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, said, "The Democratic Party of Korea, Party for Democracy and Peace, Bareunmirae Party, and JP colluded to crush the resistance of our Liberty Korea Party and introduce the semi-linked system." She added, "It was the product of a collusive political deal between the Democratic Party of Korea, which wanted the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act, and the minor parties, which wanted the semi-linked proportional representation system."
Regarding the so-called "crowbar incident" that occurred during discussions on the semi-linked proportional representation system, she stressed, "I opposed it because it was obvious that they would create satellite parties and fake opposition parties." She added, "They say I wielded a crowbar, but I confiscated the one the Democratic Party of Korea had been holding and held it up to show it." She continued, "We must not only return to the parallel proportional representation system that we have maintained, but also rectify the misappropriation of state subsidies by satellite parties."

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter