Tensions Between Ruling and Opposition Over Supplementary Budget... Ruling Party Says "First, Bipartisan Agreement," Opposition Says "Party-Government Talks Should Come First"

Proposal for Agreement Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Before Presidential Election
Opposition: "It Is Principle That Party and Government Reach Agreement"

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[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Chae-eun Koo] The ruling and opposition parties are engaged in a tense standoff over the formulation of a supplementary budget (추경) for the first quarter. The Democratic Party, which wants the supplementary budget to be prepared before the presidential election day, is pressuring the Ministry of Economy and Finance while aiming to reach an agreement with the opposition party. However, the People Power Party maintains a fundamental stance that the government must submit the supplementary budget proposal to the National Assembly before discussions with the ruling party can take place.

On the 3rd, Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Seong-jun appeared on the radio and stated, "The ruling and opposition parties should immediately sit down together, agree on the principles of the supplementary budget, and convey this to the government to urge action." He added, "Due to the burden of national debt, it is difficult for the government to submit the supplementary budget first. In this regard, the ruling and opposition parties, which are free from such constraints, need to reach an agreement and urge the government." He particularly criticized, "Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol agrees on the necessity of the supplementary budget but keeps passing the responsibility to the government or expresses that it will be fine if he wins, which raises doubts about the sincerity of his support for small business owners, self-employed individuals, and compensation for losses."

On the other hand, the People Power Party emphasized the fundamental premise that the supplementary budget should be made through party-government consultations. Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party’s general election campaign committee chairman, told reporters after the campaign committee meeting that day, "It is not the opposition party that prepares the supplementary budget, but the government and ruling party. Then, (at the National Assembly level) there is consultation about it," adding, "There is no particular need for the opposition party to prepare the supplementary budget."

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