Partisanship Conflict Freezes National Assembly

Disagreeing on the apology for Rep. Ahn Taek-soo`s `demand for the resignation of President Kim Dae-Jung` and stepping up the verbal attacks between rival parties, the National Assembly remained idle for three days.

Rep. Lee Sang-Soo, floor leader of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), asked, ``The floor leader of the Grand National Party (GNP), Rep. Lee Jae-Oh, should apologize not just for the limping operation of the National Assembly, but for the speech of Rep. Ahn, and has to secure the prevention of recurrence.`` in the inter-floor leader meeting.

Chairman of the MDP, Han Gwang-Ok, in a press meeting, said, ``Degrading of the president, who was elected by the people, is degrading of the people. It is questionable to recognize the opposition party, which does not accept apology, deletion of the parliamentary record, and guarantee for the prevention of recurrence, as a partner of the national administration.``

The vice-spokesperson Lee Myung-Sik criticized that, ``Rep. Kim Yong-Gap of the GNI named our party as the `second unit of the Choson Labor Party` last November, and at this time Rep, Ahn defined the government as the `pro-North Korea government` These are typical tactics of McCarthyism and extreme political style to factionalize the people.``

But Rep. Kwon Chul-Hyun, the spokesperson of the GNI, refuted, in his comment, ``The presidency is not a sacred and inviolable position. To criticize the mistake of the president is a just responsibility of any lawmaker, the representative for the people.``

``The overt reaction of the ruling lawmakers`, in response to the order of Cheong Wa Dae, reminds me the old North Korean propagation film.`` he sarcastically continued.

The floor leader of the GNP, Rep. Lee Jae-Oh, argued that, ``Even I, as the floor leader of the opposition party, expressed regret and suggested to cooperate for preventing the recurrence of this kind of problem, the ruling party did not admit my effort, It shows the intention to avoid the criticism on the faulty administration of the government that will be raised through the interpellation session.``

Thus, the interpellation session for economy, which was planned yesterday, was not held. Although the GNI tried to open the Assembly plenary session only with its members, House Speaker Lee, Man-Sup rejected the attempt. House Speaker Lee said to the floor leader of the GNP, ``If the National Assembly will not be normalized until 15th, I will make a resolute decision.``

Moon Chul fullmoon@donga.com