National Assembly on track to normalization
- 5 years ago
여야, 특위 연장 '합의'...국회 정상화 수순
South Korea's National Assembly is getting back to work after a political showdown essentially shut it down for over 80 days.
The parties held a plenary session today, voting on some important procedural matters,... while the main opposition party has ended its boycott of parliamentary committee meetings.
Kim Min-ji reports.
It was a full house at the National Assembly's plenary session on Friday as rival parties voted to extend the terms of two special committees that expire this month.
This was made possible by a deal reached earlier in the day by the three main parties.
The committees are on political and judicial reform... and they've been given a mandate until the end of August,.. during which time they will deliberate key bills that were put on fast-track a move that sparked the parliamentary standoff that lasted more than 80 days.
In April, despite strong objections from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party the ruling Democratic Party and the minor opposition bloc fast-tracked key bills including one on electoral reform and establishing an independent body to probe high-level government officials.
Friday's agreement gives the chairmanship of one of the committees to ruling party,... while the main opposition will chair the other.
The parties acknowledged that the National Assembly is not completely normalized,... but it's a first step.
"The people may think that we are very late,... but I think it's fortunate that we can start things over. I believe it's an important step, and the first step towards reaching a bigger deal."
It took a lot to get this far rival parties had reached an agreement earlier this week,... which the Liberty Korea Party later pulled out of.
Amid mounting public criticism that they are neglecting their legislative duties,... the main opposition party says it will also participate in standing committees,... but other matters will need further negotiation.
"Although we're not completely operational yet,... we have decided to return to parliament. We have a lot to do in the June parliamentary session. We will take care of people's livelihoods by participating in parliamentary meetings."
The deal was generally welcomed by the smaller parties,... but it was met with fierce criticism from the minor progressive Justice Party,... which had headed the committee on political reform.
They said the agreement does nothing more than replace their lawmaker... and hands a position over to what they called "extreme conservatives."
"While parliament is running again, there are concerns of more tugs of war down the road especially when rival parties get down to negotiating pending bills, as well as discussing the other agendas for the June session, such as reviewing the government's multi-billion dollar extra budget proposal.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News."
South Korea's National Assembly is getting back to work after a political showdown essentially shut it down for over 80 days.
The parties held a plenary session today, voting on some important procedural matters,... while the main opposition party has ended its boycott of parliamentary committee meetings.
Kim Min-ji reports.
It was a full house at the National Assembly's plenary session on Friday as rival parties voted to extend the terms of two special committees that expire this month.
This was made possible by a deal reached earlier in the day by the three main parties.
The committees are on political and judicial reform... and they've been given a mandate until the end of August,.. during which time they will deliberate key bills that were put on fast-track a move that sparked the parliamentary standoff that lasted more than 80 days.
In April, despite strong objections from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party the ruling Democratic Party and the minor opposition bloc fast-tracked key bills including one on electoral reform and establishing an independent body to probe high-level government officials.
Friday's agreement gives the chairmanship of one of the committees to ruling party,... while the main opposition will chair the other.
The parties acknowledged that the National Assembly is not completely normalized,... but it's a first step.
"The people may think that we are very late,... but I think it's fortunate that we can start things over. I believe it's an important step, and the first step towards reaching a bigger deal."
It took a lot to get this far rival parties had reached an agreement earlier this week,... which the Liberty Korea Party later pulled out of.
Amid mounting public criticism that they are neglecting their legislative duties,... the main opposition party says it will also participate in standing committees,... but other matters will need further negotiation.
"Although we're not completely operational yet,... we have decided to return to parliament. We have a lot to do in the June parliamentary session. We will take care of people's livelihoods by participating in parliamentary meetings."
The deal was generally welcomed by the smaller parties,... but it was met with fierce criticism from the minor progressive Justice Party,... which had headed the committee on political reform.
They said the agreement does nothing more than replace their lawmaker... and hands a position over to what they called "extreme conservatives."
"While parliament is running again, there are concerns of more tugs of war down the road especially when rival parties get down to negotiating pending bills, as well as discussing the other agendas for the June session, such as reviewing the government's multi-billion dollar extra budget proposal.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News."