Parties Seek Breakthrough to Normalize Assembly
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Political parties Wednesday showed signs of backing off from their stance on revisions of the law governing livestock disease proposed by the largest opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
In a change of attitude, the governing Grand National Party (GNP) said it will participate in a public hearing on the revision, organized by the UDP.
Floor leaders of the two parties said they will meet Thursday to discuss the opening of the new National Assembly and the passage of the bill.
Opposition parties have boycotted the Assembly, demanding the government renegotiate the ``rough-and-ready'' deal to resume imports of American beef despite concerns over mad cow disease. The legislature's four-year term began May 30.
The UDP has demanded the passage of the bill, which is considered to be a substantial request for renegotiation over the beef accord with Washington, should come prior to their attendance at the inaugural Assembly session.
A day earlier, the Liberty Forward Party said that its lawmakers may break the promise to boycott the Assembly with the UDP and the Democratic Labor Party.
Party sources said in Thursday's meeting, the two floor leaders are expected to mainly talk about the passage of the revision but have difficulties reaching an agreement because their stance still runs parallel.
The GNP still balked at accepting the UDP's request even though it decided to participate in a public hearing hosted by the opposition party on preventative measures for livestock diseases.
On the other hand, the UDP sticks to their insistence that the promise on the approval is the only precondition to make them appear in the legislature while some members claimed lawmakers would attend the Assembly as soon as possible with no conditions to deal with pending issue.
The ruling party proposed the same day to organize a policy coordination committee of parties and the government to discuss countermeasures for bread-and-butter concerns.
GNP Spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun underlined the committee is necessary to support the government's plan announced Sunday to help ease the burden of high oil prices on low-income individuals and self-owned businesses.
Chief Policymaker Yim Tae-hee of the GNP urged opposition parties to positively respond to the proposal. ``If parties drag opening of the Assembly and choosing chief posts in the legislature, the implementation of the billion-dollar aid package over oil can also be delayed.''