People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok on the 30th criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration as "a government that gives 100 won and takes 1,000 won."
At the supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day, Jang said, "They plan to spray cash through an extra budget before the local elections to buy votes and then, once the election is over, to claw it back with a tax bomb," and stated accordingly.
Jang said, "When reports came out that cigarette and liquor taxes would be raised, the government announced that it was 'not currently reviewing it,'" adding, "Not right now, but eventually they will raise them."
He continued, "They floated a sugar tax but backed off when backlash grew fierce," and said, "During the campaign they said they wouldn't use taxes to rein in housing prices, but now they are openly mentioning property holding taxes."
He added, "If a tax bomb drops on top of high inflation, a strong dollar, and high interest rates, people's livelihoods will collapse and the economy will crumble," and said, "The way to stop a tax bomb is to vote the right way."
Jang said, "In this local election we must decisively judge the Lee Jae-myung administration to stop the predatory politics that empty the public's pockets," adding, "The People Power Party will, together with the people, block reckless tax hikes."