Governing Party Wants FTA Ratification in May
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Political parties will likely clash over when to hold an extra National Assembly session as they are showing no signs of compromise.
President Lee Myung-bak and the governing Grand National Party agreed Friday to approve bills regarding bread and butter issues, as well as ratify the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA) at an extra session in May.
However, the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) opposed the idea, saying that it is inappropriate because of the time gap with the current Assembly.
The 17th Assembly is to end its term on May 31.
``More than 50 percent of incumbent lawmakers failed to seek re-election. We should think about whether they would appear in the session,'' said Kim Hyo-seuk, floor leader of the UDP.
He also criticized the governing party and the President for seeking to open the National Assembly session without agreement from the opposition parties.
``The first regular session is set to take place in June. The priority is to fully prepare for it, not to forcibly open an extra one in May,'' he said.
Kim added the Assembly has never opened a session right after general elections.
Earlier in the day, the President and GNP Chairman Kang Jae-sup agreed on the prompt passage of about 30 bills at the National Assembly.
Those bills include the free trade agreement with the United States and harsher penalties on child sex offenders, said Presidential Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
The revision to allow conglomerates to own banks is also included among the pending bills.
The two leaders agreed to meet with Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, Cabinet members and GNP leaders next week to coordinate bills to be tackled at the National Assembly.
GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo also urged the opposition parties to cooperate in passing the bills at the National Assembly next month.
He continued, ``The GNP alone will submit a request to hold an extra session next month.''
Furthermore, the two major parties showed disagreement on parliamentary committees.
The GNP claimed that lawmakers from the largest party should chair all committees while the UDP insisted parties should decide who will lead committees through negotiations for balance in the Assembly.
The two parties are expected to hold a meeting of deputies to discuss the issue soon.