Ruling and Opposition Parties Hold Firm Over 'Committee Formation Negotiations'... "Must Give Up Judiciary Committee Chair" vs "Elect Speaker First"

Delayed Continuously Due to Disagreements Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Second Half Assembly Formation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The ruling and opposition parties continue to engage in a strong standoff over negotiations for the parliamentary organization. The ruling party insists that the opposition must give up either the Speaker of the National Assembly or the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, while the opposition counters that the election of the Speaker should be pursued first.

On the 7th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at the floor strategy meeting, "The Democratic Party cannot hold both the Speaker and the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee simultaneously," adding, "If they cannot give up the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, they must give up the Speaker position."

He criticized, "From the beginning of the 21st National Assembly, the dominant Democratic Party forcibly took the Chairpersonship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," and said, "The result of trampling on the spirit of cooperation, which stipulated that the first and second largest negotiating groups should alternate in holding the position, and monopolizing it all, was the people's judgment."

He continued, "Keeping promises made to the people is true reform and innovation," and said, "If only the Democratic Party cooperates, the parliamentary organization will proceed smoothly. I hope the floor leaders of both parties can meet today to negotiate the parliamentary organization."

On the other hand, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the floor strategy meeting on the same day, "The second half parliamentary organization is being stalled due to obstruction by the People Power Party," and criticized the ruling party's responsibility, saying, "This parliamentary organization negotiation should not be seen as a mere seat battle between the ruling and opposition parties."

He criticized, "Ignoring the duties that the National Assembly must and can perform immediately and instead requesting the president to appoint (ministerial candidates) is a self-nullification of the National Assembly's authority," and said, "Through the parliamentary organization negotiations, parliamentary reform and innovation that meet the people's expectations must be pursued simultaneously."

He added, "The Speaker of the National Assembly must be elected promptly, setting aside strategic approaches," and argued, "If the Speaker is elected quickly and the National Assembly is reorganized, the second half parliamentary organization will gain momentum."

Floor leader Park explained, "Following the candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare, Jeong Ho-young, who was serious, and the candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare, Kim Seung-hee, it has been proven that the appointment should never be forced without sufficient verification, especially after the revelation of Education Minister candidate Park Soon-ae's drunk driving record."

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