The main opposition People Power Party(PPP) boycotted President Lee Jae Myung’s budget speech in protest of a special counsel team’s request to detain their former floor leader.

PPP floor spokesperson Choi Soo-jin told reporters ahead of the speech on Tuesday that the party had decided to boycott Lee’s speech after a meeting of party lawmakers.

The PPP instead staged a rally at the National Assembly in protest of prosecutors' request for the pretrial detention of Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, who is accused of obstructing PPP lawmakers from taking part in a crucial parliamentary vote to lift former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration.

In the meeting of party lawmakers, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok declared war against Lee, saying that it was time for the party to unite to bring down the current administration.

PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog also condemned the special counsel's move, blasting it as a brazen attempt to annihilate the party a day before Lee’s budget speech.