MDP, ULD summon special Assembly session

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and its coalition partner, the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), submitted a motion to the National Assembly July 28 calling for the opening of an six-day extraordinary session beginning July 31. Their unilateral convocation of the parliamentary sitting signifies the start of a new chapter in domestic politics.

The proposal was signed by a total of 133 lawmakers from the two parties.

The colation partners have decided to hold negotiations with the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) until July 31, and have agreed to operate the legislative session unilaterally and deal with some outstanding bills if the GNP refuses to comply with the convocation request. The pending legislation that the ruling camp has decided to tackle in the forthcoming session include a revision to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and five economy-related bills, including one on the establishment of financial holding companies. Also on the agenda are a revision to the Police Affairs Law, an amendment to the Minimum Wage Law and six other bills. MDP secretary-general Rep. Kim Ok-doo and MDP chief policy maker Lee Hae-Chan both made phone calls to the GNP and asked the opposition to participate in inter-party talks among the secretaries-general, floor leaders and chief policy makers of all three parties.

The GNP, however, is maintaining the position that it will not attend any parliamentary session until the ruling camp accepts its proposed conditions. These include the ruling party nullifying a National Assembly Law revision that was railroaded through the Assembly Steering Committee by the coalition July 24, and its pledge not to repeat such an irregular action on the parliamentary floor.