與 "Chori Beopjeong Sihan-e Isangmin Haemian Passaengtte"
野 "Isangmin Jikijago Beopjeong Sihan Eogyeo"
4il Yangdang Yesanan Heobuitche Cheot Hoeui Yeollyeo
The Yoon Seok-yeol administration's budget proposal for the next year, prepared for the first time since its inauguration, has not yet been processed by the National Assembly, exceeding the legal deadline of the 2nd. The ruling and opposition parties shifted responsibility to each other. The People Power Party claimed that the opposition was obstructing state affairs, while the Democratic Party countered that the ruling party delayed the budget processing by linking it to the dismissal recommendation of Minister Lee. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] As the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's first budget proposal for the next year, prepared after its inauguration, has not yet been processed by the National Assembly even after exceeding the legal deadline on the 2nd, the ruling and opposition parties have shifted responsibility to each other. The People Power Party claimed that the opposition was obstructing state affairs, while the Democratic Party countered that the ruling party delayed the budget processing by linking it to the dismissal motion against Minister Lee.
On the 3rd, Jang Dong-hyuk, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "The Democratic Party's obstinacy regarding the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's first budget proposal is becoming increasingly outrageous," adding, "They insist on cutting all budgets for key policy tasks while stubbornly demanding an increase in the budget for failed Moon Jae-in administration projects."
Jang questioned, "Yesterday, the legal deadline for budget processing, they even stubbornly refused to handle at least the dismissal motion against Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Do they have any conscience at all?" He also warned, "If the Democratic Party continues to neglect budget review, engage in legislative rampage, and forcibly push the dismissal motion as they do now, they will be recorded in history as the worst party that destroyed parliamentary democracy," urging, "Please join in processing the budget for the sake of the national economy and people's livelihood."
On the other hand, Ahn Gwi-ryeong, deputy spokesperson for the Democratic Party, pointed out in a National Assembly briefing, "The People Power Party delayed by linking the next year's budget proposal with the Itaewon disaster state investigation and the dismissal motion against Minister Lee." Ahn said, "The ruling party, which should be managing the government budget, abandoned its parliamentary duties with a bulletproof strategy to protect just one minister," and argued, "Is it reasonable to break even the legal deadline for budget processing just to protect a minister who should have resigned long ago?"
She continued, "Due to the People Power Party's irresponsible behavior, the state investigation, which was supposed to proceed immediately after the budget processing, is also being delayed," demanding, "Stop the shameless act of holding the budget hostage to protect Minister Lee and show responsibility as the ruling party."
Meanwhile, on the 4th, the ruling and opposition parties will hold the first meeting of the '2+2' budget negotiation body, consisting of the policy chiefs of both parties and the secretaries of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee. Sung Il-jong and Kim Seong-hwan, policy chiefs of both parties, and Lee Cheol-gyu of the People Power Party and Park Jeong of the Democratic Party, secretaries of the Budget Committee, will meet at the National Assembly in the afternoon to expedite the budget processing.
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