PPP elects Yoon ally as floor leader

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PPP elects Yoon ally as floor leader

Published: 12 Dec. 2024, 13:06 Updated: 12 Dec. 2024, 17:49

MICHAEL LEE
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Rep. Kweon Seong-dong addresses lawmakers from the conservative People Power Party at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The conservative People Power Party (PPP) elected Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, a five-term lawmaker close to President Yoon Suk Yeol, as its new floor leader on Thursday.

Kweon won the floor leadership contest with the support of 72 PPP lawmakers. His rival Rep. Kim Tae-ho, who is aligned with PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, won 34 votes.

Kweon takes the place of Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, who resigned as the PPP’s floor leader after the National Assembly on Saturday failed to pass an impeachment motion against Yoon for abruptly declaring martial law.

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) has accused Choo of colluding with Yoon on the night martial law was declared by instructing PPP members to gather at the party’s headquarters instead of the National Assembly, where lawmakers from the DP and other parties voted to overturn Yoon’s decree.

In his first public remarks as the PPP’s floor leader, Kweon said he would help his party prepare for a presidential election that could “soon be held.”

However, Kweon also told reporters after his speech the PPP is still officially opposed to Yoon’s impeachment, citing the need for at least two-thirds of its lawmakers to agree on a change in the party’s stance.

The floor leader said the PPP will soon hold a plenary meeting of its lawmakers to gather their opinions on how the party should approach impeachment.

Kweon also declined to offer a clear opinion on Yoon’s public address on Thursday in response to a question from a reporter, saying he was preoccupied with the floor leadership election in the morning.

He noted that the president’s speech appeared “at first glance to be an explanation as to why he felt he had no choice but to declare emergency martial law.”

He added that it was up to the president to “consider his position” after PPP leader Han expressed support for his impeachment the same day.

Update, Dec. 12: Details of the floor leadership contest, accusations against Choo and Kweon's first public remarks as floor leader added.

BY MICHAEL LEE [[email protected]]