[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The opposition parties have sharply criticized the dinner between President Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party's floor leadership.
Lee Chang-soo, spokesperson for the Liberty Korea Party, criticized the dinner on the 18th, saying, "While the people are shedding tears of blood and complaints never cease, the president invited the ruling party leadership to hold a self-congratulatory party."
He pointed out, "The president was pleased to see lawmakers loyal to him, and the attending lawmakers seemed happy as if their nominations were guaranteed. They praised the passage of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act, which has drawn criticism from both the judiciary and across the political spectrum, and commended the rushed election law that caused confusion in the education field."
He added, "He spoke of the 'disappearance of cooperation' to the ruling party leadership that caused parliamentary outrage through the fragmented four-party and rushed legislation, and while dozens of Blue House aides abandoned livelihood issues to jump into the general election battlefield, he mentioned livelihood bills. Where they are, hypocrisy and shamelessness are never absent," he criticized.
Kwon Sung-joo, spokesperson for the New Conservative Party, also said, "True to a president who trampled on the constitutional spirit of the separation of powers, he evaluates the National Assembly and openly orders legislation. Truly fitting of an imperial president who received the establishment of the three powers," and pointed out, "What is more pathetic is the ruling party floor leader who swears loyalty to such a president, not to uphold the dignity of the National Assembly but to repay the meal received."
Spokesperson Kwon added, "The shameless statement that it was regrettable that politics of coexistence in the National Assembly was lacking after the 4+1 shameless tyranny passed the bill by rushing is typical of the Democratic Party, whose trademark is shamelessness," and questioned, "I want to ask the ruling party delegation swearing to repay the meal at the Blue House, the main culprit of livelihood destruction, 'Does the gruel go down your throat?'"
Meanwhile, on the 17th, President Moon held a dinner with the Democratic Party floor leadership, praising their efforts on reform legislation and urging them to work hard on livelihood legislation during the 20th National Assembly's term.
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