Opposition Continues Boycott... Leaves Room for Participation in Supplementary Budget if Given Deadline Until the 11th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea as a 'one-party dictatorship' and decided to continue the National Assembly 'boycott.' Regarding the third supplementary budget (supplementary budget) review, he pointed out, "They say they will review the 35 trillion won supplementary budget, which involves taxpayers' money, for three days without any funding plan." However, voices within the party argue that "endless hardline stances lead to a dead end" and call for negotiations.

However, Choi Hyung-doo, floor spokesperson for the United Future Party, stated on the 30th, "If the National Assembly sets a deadline until July 11, our party will participate in the Budget and Accounts Special Committee to review and deliberate on the supplementary budget and create a budget that truly meets the purpose of the supplementary budget," leaving room for negotiation.

On the morning of the 30th, Floor Leader Joo said at the United Future Party members' meeting held at the National Assembly main building, "They emphasize a working National Assembly, but in reality, they are packaging a 'reckless National Assembly' that does whatever they want as a working National Assembly." The United Future Party had negotiated with the Democratic Party until the 29th over the organization of the National Assembly but declared a boycott of standing committees after the final breakdown.

Floor Leader Joo raised his voice, saying, "Like me, many lawmakers must have lost sleep due to worries and frustration about the country," and "The Democratic Party monopolizes the National Assembly with superpower bullying, sets up a system to do whatever they want, and shamelessly tries to blame our party for the breakdown of the opening negotiations and even attempts to sow discord within our leadership."

Regarding rumors of disagreements within the opposition leadership raised mainly by the ruling party, he explained, "We refused to divide the standing committees as if distributing spoils, and senior lawmakers with three terms gave up vested interests out of concern for the country and the National Assembly," and clarified, "It was not because of differing views within the leadership that we decided to boycott." After the members' meeting turned private, Floor Leader Joo announced, "Forcibly assigning 103 opposition lawmakers to standing committees violates the Constitution and abuses the Speaker's authority, so we are considering filing a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court," signaling a hardline struggle.

Lee Jong-bae, policy chief of the United Future Party, held a press conference in the morning and criticized, "This supplementary budget is based on a wrong diagnosis of the current economic situation and is a supplementary budget lacking realistic awareness with incorrect prescriptions," adding, "I cannot help but lament the current government and ruling party, which fail to recognize even the simple truth that survival today is necessary for tomorrow, and only emphasize the prompt passage of the supplementary budget while misleading the public and intimidating the opposition."

The United Future Party plans to establish future floor strategies through a members' meeting on this day, following a four-hour marathon members' meeting on the 29th. Although the party intends to engage in 'policy competition' instead of attending standing committees, there are limitations to legislative activities if they do not attend. The standing committee boycott strategy cannot continue indefinitely. Therefore, discussions to find appropriate grounds for returning to the standing committees are likely to take place at the members' meeting.

Within the party, the hardline stance still dominates, but calls for negotiation instead of confrontation are being raised again. Representative negotiator lawmaker Jang Je-won pointed out on Facebook that "Yesterday was the golden time. It would have been better to enter with seven standing committees, national investigations, and hearings rather than empty-handed," and added, "Endless hardline stances lead to a dead end. Struggle is only a means."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.