Constitutional revision drive stalls as PPP boycotts Assembly vote

“A constitutional revision aimed at tightening conditions for declaring martial law has fallen through as the conservative People Power Party (PPP) boycotted a parliamentary vote, claiming the amendment bill was politically motivated. The National Assembly on Thursday voted on a constitutional amendment package for the first time in 39 years, with a plan to hold a national referendum for the revision alongside the June 3 local elections. The proposed amendment, jointly introduced by six parties excluding the PPP, included provisions requiring parliamentary approval for a presidential declaration of martial law and strengthening the Assembly’s authority to lift martial law. The amendment also added references to the Busan-Masan Democratic Uprising of 1979 and the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising of 1980 to the Constitution’s preamble. The revision package also included calls for balanced regional development. For passage, the bill required approval by more than 191 sitting lawmakers, or two-thirds of all 286. However, the PPP, which holds 107 seats, did not participate in the voting,

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