청 "Invited Party Leaders on 21st, but United Party Responded 'Not Possible'"

Choi Jae-sung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, is briefing on August 17 at the Blue House about communication measures with the National Assembly, including talks between President Moon Jae-in and leaders of ruling and opposition parties. 2020.8.17 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] The Blue House proposed a meeting on the 21st between President Moon Jae-in and the leaders of ruling and opposition parties, but it was reported that the opposition party rejected the proposal, causing it to fall through.

Choi Jae-sung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, held a briefing at the Press Center on the 17th and said, "To invite party leaders and create a space for open and frank discussion on overall state affairs without any agenda restrictions, I visited Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the Future United Party, as the newly appointed Senior Secretary for Political Affairs on the 13th to express the invitation." He added, "However, the United Party stated that the scheduled date of the 21st was not possible."

However, Senior Secretary Choi said, "President Moon's proposal for dialogue with party leaders remains open at any time," and added, "During this nationally difficult time due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), flood damage, and economic crisis, I ask the political circles to come together with strength and wisdom."

A senior Blue House official said regarding the opposition party's rejection of the 'meeting on the 21st' that "no special reason has been communicated." Regarding the purpose of inviting party leaders, the official explained, "Since the agreement on the ruling-opposition permanent consultation body in 2018, it has not been held for a long time," and added, "In February and May, President Moon met with party leaders and floor leaders respectively for dialogue, and based on the agreement to hold such talks every three months, a meeting was proposed for August."

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