PPP to file petition against opposition's unilateral decision on standing committee chairs

Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, left, attends a meeting arranged by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, right, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on June 17. Yonhap

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said Tuesday it will file a constitutional petition against the unilateral selection of parliamentary committee chairs by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and the National Assembly speaker.

The petition, signed by all 108 lawmakers of the ruling party, will be filed with the Constitutional Court against Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for unilaterally electing the speaker and selecting the chairs of 11 standing committees without any agreement with the PPP.

"Such actions severely infringe on the representative rights granted by the people and the Constitution, the right to participate in the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, as well as in the selection of standing committee chairs and its members and the right to vote for deliberation on the parliament's agendas," PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said during a party meeting.

Choo called on the Constitutional Court to make a "wise decision" considering the DPK's "unconstitutional and autocratic" actions.

The PPP has been boycotting all committee meetings after the DPK unilaterally selected 11 out of the 18 parliamentary committee chiefs for the newly launched 22nd parliament without the ruling party's participation. (Yonhap)