Parliamentary Speaker Asked to Invoke Voting Authority

The ruling Grand National Party yesterday officially asked National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o to exercise his right to bring to a vote highly contentious bills on media reform and temporary workers.

Accompanied by leaders of his party, floor leader Ahn Sang-soo told Kim, "Given the present condition, there is no possibility that relevant standing committees will pass media reform and temporary workers’ bills. The only measure is that you can exercise is the right to present the bill for a vote.”

“Since the ruling and opposition parties are at odds, standing committees can hardly operate. You must understand that the media reform bill is hardly likely to be passed by the standing committee and that the parliamentary environment and labor committee has never held a meeting on the temporary workers’ bill.”

Kim said he will invoke his right as speaker to present the bills before the National Assembly for a vote around July 23 if no progress is made in negotiations.

kimkihy@donga.com