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| President Moon Jae-in submits a constitutional revision bill to the National Assembly using an electronic signing system, Monday, during his visit to the United Arab Emirates. / Yonhap |
Parties to begin constitutional negotiations
By Choi Ha-young
President Moon Jae-in submitted his constitutional revision bill centered on reforming the country's presidential system and enhancing people's basic rights Monday, despite protests from the opposition parties.
Moon approved the bill using an electronic signing system while visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the Cabinet endorsed it earlier the same day. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon presided over the Cabinet meeting despite the death of his mother, Sunday.
The National Assembly should put the bill to a vote within 60 days to decide on whether to discard it or hold a referendum.
"To keep the promise to complete the constitutional revision by June, in tandem with the local elections, I submitted the revision bill today," Moon said in a statement.
The President explained why he decided to push ahead with the revision, despite bitter protests from the opposition parties. "For over one year, there has been no progress in the Assembly's constitutional talks. If I give up the bid, the promise to citizens will fall apart."
Moon said the simultaneous votes in June will save taxpayers' money. If Moon's bill goes smoothly, the nation will also be able to combine the presidential and local elections, according to an election timetable outlined in the revision bill.
The three major parties ― the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and the minor centrist Bareun Mirae Party (BMP) ― will begin their own constitutional negotiations today, according to the floor leaders of the DPK and LKP.
The agenda for these includes reform of the country's power structure, electoral system and law enforcement authorities, and the deadline for the constitutional revision, said LKP floor leader Kim Sung-tae. The interparty discussion will focus on creating an Assembly-led revision bill, separate from Moon's bill. The LKP has been threatening to boycott legislative proceedings to protest Moon's actions.
A constitutional revision requires approval of two thirds of lawmakers at an Assembly plenary session that must be held by May 25. This necessitates bipartisan consent over the revision before the planned national referendum slated for June 13. Therefore, if the parties manage to reach a consensus to present their own revision bill, the President is expected to withdraw his and respect the bipartisan one.
Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun pinned his hopes on a last-minute agreement between the rival parties. "If the parties create a united constitutional revision bill, I will propose delaying the national referendum to the President," Chung said.
The LKP has demanded giving the Assembly authority to elect the prime minister, and other opposition parties generally agree with this. Cheong Wa Dae, however, has dismissed the idea, saying the "duel power structure" will throw state affairs into confusion.
The Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and the Justice Party, which usually support the ruling camp, are trying to relieve the showdown between Cheong Wa Dae and the LKP.
"In exchange for the Assembly's right to recommend the prime minister, the PDP urges the LKP to adopt electoral reforms to impartially reflect voters' wishes," Rep. Chun Jung-bae of the PDP said.
Justice Party lawmaker Shim Sang-jung also called for dialogue between the ruling camp and the LKP, saying constitutional revision is impossible with an ongoing severe interparty dispute.
Meanwhile, opinion surveys are overwhelmingly in favor of Moon's initiative. According to a Realmeter survey Monday, 64.3 percent of respondents backed Moon's bill, while 28.5 percent opposed it.
The outcome showed an ideological division around the bill ― 88.5 percent of liberals support Moon's bill, while 56.6 percent of conservatives are against it. This reflects the impact of the LKP's continuous ideological attack on the bill, branding it as a move toward "socialism."
Support has increased after briefings by the presidential office from March 20 to 22, the pollster said. On March 21, the support stood at 59.6 percent. For three days, Moon's aides elaborated on his bill in public, putting the emphasis on human rights, checks and balances between the authorities and the history of pro-democracy movements.
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