MDP, GNP to Agree on Floor Vote for New Speaker

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party and the opposition Grand National Party have reportedly narrowed differences on how to elect a new speaker for the 16th National Assembly, clearing a major hurdle to normalizing the National Assembly.

At a meeting held by floor leaders from the two parties, the rival parties discussed holding a floor vote, which MDP said it would consider positively. Then it is highly likely that a top legislative leader will be elected through a floor vote under the revision introduced in March this year.

Earlier before the meeting, the GNP decided to cancel its nomination of Rep. Park Kwan-yong as its candidate for speaker. In return, MDP floor leader Jung Kyun-hwan said after the gathering that he would “discuss GNP’s proposal for a floor vote with party leaders.”

The two sides agreed to meet on June 27 again. The meeting is known to cover ways to form new parliamentary leadership including vice-speakers and standing committee chairmen, but fail to reach an agreement.

Jung hinted that his party would hand its rival the top post by agreeing with the proposal. He demanded, however, that MDP take as many chairman seats as it did in the first half including a vice-speaker post and chairmanship of the Steering Committee.

Meanwhile, Lee Kuy-taek, Jung’s GNP counterpart, insisted that GNP head the Steering Committee citing it is a rule to a party to take the speaker post and the steering committee chairmanship at the same time. But he said his party is willing to give a vice-speaker post to MDP.

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com