Joo Ho-young Expresses "Deep Responsibility as Ruling Party Floor Leader" Over Failure to Meet Budget Legal Deadline

"Difficult to Operate Regular National Assembly Due to Democratic Party's Political Interests"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed his apologies on the 2nd for the impossibility of passing next year's budget bill within the legal deadline.

In a notice on the same day, Floor Leader Joo stated, "It has become impossible to pass the budget bill by the legal deadline of December 2," and added, "As the floor leader, I deeply feel responsible and am very sorry."

The plenary session scheduled for the day was ultimately canceled as the ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences over the budget bill and the motion to dismiss Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min. Speaker Kim Jin-pyo plans to hold plenary sessions on the 8th and 9th to process the budget bill.

Floor Leader Joo pointed out, "Due to the Democratic Party's partisan interests, such as biased budget reviews, legislative rampages including the Broadcasting Act, and the motion to dismiss Minister Lee, it has become difficult to operate the regular National Assembly smoothly." He continued, "The budget bill needs to be passed promptly to revitalize the frozen economy and save people's livelihoods," emphasizing, "As the responsible ruling party, we will do our best to ensure that the budget bill is definitely passed within the regular National Assembly session."