Democratic Party Urges Government and Ruling Party to Negotiate
If Pressured by Vetoes, Will Push Ahead with Plenary Session
[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea expressed that if the Presidential Office and the ruling party mention the exercise of veto power regarding the 'Grain Management Act,' they have no choice but to push it through. However, the Democratic Party also mentioned the possibility of negotiation related to the Grain Management Act and urged the government and ruling party to actively engage in dialogue.
On the 31st, Oh Young-hwan, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, met with reporters after a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly and said, "If (the government and ruling party) continue to talk about exercising veto power until the end and show no compromising attitude, we have no choice but to push (the plenary session approval) through."
However, Spokesperson Oh added, "Our party is also willing to consider it if the government and ruling party show a progressive attitude toward handling the Grain Management Act and propose alternatives," and said, "The next plenary session for handling it is scheduled for the 24th of next month, so efforts to find various compromise points until then seem possible." He continued, "But the important thing depends on the attitude of the government and ruling party."
The day before, the National Assembly held a plenary session where the Grain Management Act amendment bill, directly submitted by the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, was passed solely by the opposition party. The Grain Management Act passed the full meeting of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee on October 19 last year but was rejected from being tabled by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which has the authority for systematic and textual review, citing procedural issues such as the opposition party's unilateral handling. In response, the opposition party directly submitted the Grain Management Act to the plenary session after approval by the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee.
Regarding the Grain Management Act, Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo said, "Regarding the Grain Management Act amendment bill, there are opinions in favor for the sake of stabilizing the rice market and opposing opinions due to concerns about financial burden and long-term price decline," and added, "Considering these opinions comprehensively, I ask the ruling and opposition parties to carefully deliberate what is for the farmers, centered on the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, and prepare a reasonable alternative."
Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, said in a public statement at the floor strategy meeting that day, "The Grain Management Act was submitted after a vote according to the National Assembly Act procedures," and explained, "It has been pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for more than 60 days and was directly submitted to the plenary session according to legal provisions." Park said, "Since this bill concerns the livelihood of farmers, it will definitely be tabled and processed at the next plenary session," and criticized, "The People Power Party did not participate in the vote and left, acting like a sunflower party only looking at Yoon's heart (Yunshim), neglecting the National Assembly's duties and politicizing a bill concerning farmers' survival rights." He urged, "The People Power Party should stop their role and dedicate themselves to the bill's processing with the spirit that there is no ruling or opposition in front of people's livelihood."
Additionally, Park criticized the issues revealed in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee during the Grain Management Act handling process, saying, "Due to the overreach and arrogance of Kim Do-eup, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party, bills concerning people's livelihood that should have been reviewed on time are piling up in the committee," and emphasized, "Chairman Kim should apologize for abuse of authority, normalize the operation of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and promise to prevent recurrence."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
