Ruling Party Pledges to Railroad Media Revision Bills

The ruling Grand National Party said yesterday that it will railroad through parliament media revision bills if no agreement is reached by Monday.

Na Kyung-won, a ranking party member for the parliamentary media, broadcast and communications committee, said this to reporters shortly after meeting the main opposition Democratic Party’s Jun Byung-heon, another ranking member of the committee, at the National Assembly in the morning.

In a phone interview with The Dong-A Ilbo, Na said, “We promised the people to pass media reform bills in the extraordinary session. To pass the bills before the end of the session, we must finish debates by July 13 and pass the bill at the standing committee and the general meeting.”

The extraordinary session ends July 25.

Na also said, “We’ll continue debate until July 13 as long as the Democratic Party suggests alternative plans. National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o’s statement that he will put the bills to a vote means he will exercise his rights when the ruling and opposition parties fail to reach an agreement.”

“But the ruling party and Kim did not reach a secret agreement under which he could exercise his rights to put the bills to a vote.”

In response, Jun told a news conference at the National Assembly, “If the procedures of the standing committee are finished by July 13, the Grand National Party will face a disaster. It says we must resolve the matter through dialogue, but it is regrettable that the ruling party tramples on the opposition party.”

“Kim should announce that he will not put the bills to a vote. We’ll hold a general meeting July 9, generate a party opinion, and suggest alternative plans.”

sunshade@donga.com