An Gwang-ryul Elected Chair of Democratic Party Metropolitan Legislators Council

An Gwang-ryul, Representative Member of the Democratic Party at Gyeonggi Province Assembly (Siheung 1), has been elected chair of the party's National Metropolitan Assembly Members Council.

According to the Democratic Party on the 20th, Yum Tae-young, chairman of the party's Good Local Government Committee, finalized An's election as chair of the National Metropolitan Assembly Members Council on the same day after running as a sole candidate. His term lasts two years from today.

The Democratic Party announced the election for the chair of the National Metropolitan Assembly Members Council on the 12th, with a rule that if there is only one candidate and no grounds for disqualification, election is confirmed without a vote. The originally scheduled voting date was the 23rd, but the election process was expedited as An registered as the sole candidate.

The chair of the National Metropolitan Assembly Members Council is responsible for gathering opinions from Democratic Party members serving in metropolitan assemblies across 16 cities and provinces and conveying them to the central party. The position also involves concurrent service as a party executive committee member participating in major decision-making processes of the central party.

Upon taking office, An identified as the highest priority the enactment of the 'Local Assembly Act' by year-end to strengthen the independence and authority of local assemblies.

An said, "As this position was entrusted based on confidence rather than competition, I will accept it with greater solemnity. I will take the lead in enacting the Local Assembly Act by year-end so that local assemblies can function as independent institutions and will surely deliver results."

He further emphasized, "I will become a representative who listens to the voices of legislators from all 16 metropolitan cities and provinces first, and conveys them the furthest."

To this end, he plans to regularly publish newsletters on metropolitan assembly legislative activities, establish standards for regional legislative expenses and negotiating group support, and institutionalize regular communication with the central party.

An previously held a joint press conference on the 17th of last month with Bang Seong-hwan, the Representative Member of the People Power Party at Gyeonggi Province Assembly, urging the enactment of the Local Assembly Act and participating in related legislative activities. It is noteworthy whether the bipartisan consensus on enacting the Local Assembly Act can be expanded to a legislative demand at the national level among metropolitan assemblies.