Clashed Parties Blocked Plenary Session of National Assembly

The plenary session of the National Assembly to deliberate the special consumer tax was cancelled since the ruling and the opposition had failed to agree on the deliberation schedule.

Reps. Lee Sang-Soo (NMDP) and Lee Jae-Oh (GNP), floors leader of the two parties, discussed whether to present the law related to the extension of the teachers` retirement age but they failed to reach an agreement by the opposition of NMDP.

Lee Jae-Oh said, "we will re-schedule after deliberating other bills." GNP already decided not to pass the bill by majority power, the bill is likely to be presented to the plenary session on Dec. 6-8.

NMDP criticized that GNP enforce to pass the bill for the extension of the teachers` retirement age and for the resolution of Prosecutor General`s presence as an anti-congressional violation. The high ranking officials of NMDP visited National Assembly president Lee Man-Sup to set a measure to prevent such violation by majority and to ask him not to submit the bill to the plenary session.

Meanwhile, GNP urged for the self-resignation of Prosecutor General Shin Seung-Nam and confirmed to submit an impeachment bill to the National Assembly if he refuses to withdraw.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com