More chaos in the National Assembly

With the automatic cancellation of the bill for the impeachment of the Prosecutor-General and his deputy due to the blockade of the National Assembly Chairman's office, the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has reacted strongly, refusing to take part in National Assembly proceedings. As such, the Korean political situation has once again been crippled for who knows how long.

Over the weekend, through a meeting of all its members, the opposition GNP announced its refusal to participate in the National Assembly, called for President Kim Dae-Jung¡¯s apology for his involvement in the impeachment bill, proposed the re-introduction of the impeachment bill if the Prosecutor-General fails to resign on his own, and sought the resignation of the Chairman of the National Assembly, Lee Man-Sup. Although the opposition GNP failed to push through the impeachment bill, it seems to be resolute in correcting the Prosecutor¡¯s Office lack of impartiality. Especially of note was certain United Liberal Democrat representatives¡¯ decision to break ranks, which destroyed MDP-ULD cooperation.

Judging that there will be nothing to lose, the opposition GNP has taken a strong stance against the government. Ruling MDP Chairman Suh Young-Hoon's press conference on Sunday, in which he explained the inherent flaw of the impeachment bill that necessitated its cancellation and called for the normalization of the National Assembly through peace between the parties, was largely ignored by the opposition GNP. As such, another long-term party-line entrenchment may cripple the National Assembly. Even those in the ruling MDP acknowledged the inevitability of a freeze in the National Assembly for the time being.

The failure of the third party United Liberal Democrats to adopt a party line and throw the deciding vote on the matter could work as yet another factor to slow down the normalization process. With the National Assembly crippled yet again, bills crucial to public welfare may once again be stuck in limbo. The measure for the agreement on the use of a 40-trillion won public fund slated to be put to a vote on Nov. 23, as well as the budget review and passage, which has a legal deadline of Dec. 2, look uncertain. In case of next year's budget package, there were already worries that the government and ruling party would railroad the budget to cripple the National Assembly.

However, as the two parties continue to bicker and neglect their duty of passing the bills for public welfare, they may soon become the targets of criticism. Although the opposition GNP considers the ruling MDP's action unforgivable, some of its members have expressed the urgent need to pass the bill on the public fund.

Despite his assertion that the prior investigation of the government's affairs takes precedence over participation in the National Assembly, Grand National Party president Lee Hoi-Chang's statement during his Assembly speech hinting that the party would be open to participating and voting on the public fund bill shows that necessity took precedence. Some observers have carefully suggested that there may be a possibility of dialogue to normalize the National Assembly due to the necessity of voting on the public fund bill and debating on the legality of the impeachment bill.