In the past, the election of the chairperson group and the presidential opening speech were held on different days... Cheong watches negotiation results while waiting for opposition party participation
[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Son Seon-hee] The Blue House has indicated that it may postpone President Moon Jae-in's opening speech for the 21st National Assembly, originally planned for the 5th. This suggests that if the Democratic Party of Korea proceeds with the National Assembly schedule without consulting the United Future Party, it would be politically burdensome for President Moon to deliver the opening congratulatory speech, making it a potential variable in negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties.
A senior Blue House official said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the morning of the 3rd, "The opening of the National Assembly must be held within the legal deadline according to the National Assembly Act," but added, "The election of the Speaker and the opening ceremony do not necessarily have to take place on the same day." The official further explained, "Looking at past National Assembly cases, the election of the Speaker and the opening ceremony, where the President attends to congratulate the opening, have sometimes been held on the same day and sometimes on different days."
In fact, there have been such cases in the past. During the opening of the 20th National Assembly in 2016, the election of the Speaker (June 9) and the opening ceremony with the President's speech (June 13) were held on different dates. Similarly, in the 18th National Assembly in 2008, the Speaker was elected on July 11, and the opening ceremony was held the following day.
The senior Blue House official's remarks imply that even if the ruling party holds a plenary session on the 5th to elect the new Speaker and the Democratic Party's Deputy Speaker, the National Assembly opening ceremony where President Moon's speech would take place could be held separately. If the United Future Party boycotts the plenary session due to disputes over the distribution of standing committee chairmanships, the President's opening congratulatory speech could be postponed to ease political pressure.
Earlier, on the 2nd, Kang Ki-jung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, met with Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, at the National Assembly and said, "The Budget and Accounts Special Committee must be formed, but there is a big problem. The President is preparing the speech for the opening on the 5th."
Kang's statement is interpreted by political circles in Yeouido as meaning that the Blue House is preparing the scheduled process in line with the National Assembly's opening, but it differs from the idea that the President will deliver the opening speech regardless of the opposition party's participation in the plenary session. As a result, the Democratic Party finds it difficult to maintain its previous stance of excluding the United Future Party.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, plans to meet with Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party, on the 3rd to discuss the organization of the National Assembly, leaving open the possibility of a last-minute dramatic agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. The two party leaders are expected to negotiate on key issues such as the distribution of the chairmanships of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Budget and Accounts Committee.
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