Parties Likely to Normalize Assembly This Week
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Leaders of the two largest parties are near agreement to normalize the National Assembly this week, party sources said Monday.
Hong Joon-pyo, floor leader of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), and his counterpart Won Hye-young of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) discussed normalization of the legislature when they met Sunday.
During the meeting, Hong Joon-pyo of the GNP gave concessions on a bill to monitor and control infectious diseases in cattle, pledging to allow a free vote at the Assembly.
Sources said the concession spurred the UDP to look into the possible ways of collaborating with the GNP for the inauguration of the new legislature whose four-year term began May 30.
Following a four-hour meeting of UDP lawmakers on the matter, Rep. Cho Jeong-sik told reporters that they agreed to let party leaders make a decision on the issue.
``We were divided over the timing of normalizing the Assembly. But we shared the view that the party should work together with the GNP to activate the parliament in the near future,'' said Cho.
Despite no confirmation, signs supporting the Assembly normalization are evident.
UDP Co-chairman Sohn Hak-kyu said the party should make a decision that can help get parliamentary politics back on track.
At a meeting of the party's decision-making Supreme Council, Sohn stressed the role of the UDP in the legislative body, saying, ``We should find ways of saving the nation in peril.''
He observed that the options his party can take were extremely limited. ``The streets are not the place for UDP lawmakers. The party's refusal to collaborate with the GNP is not an option any more, either,'' he said.
Until last week, the atmosphere of the UDP was tough. Several leaders called for the party to stand firm on its boycott, as, according to UDP officials, the government used force to disperse people protesting against the beef imports.
Rep. Choo Mi-ae, a candidate running in the election for the leadership of the UDP, slated for July 6, said the party should continue to boycott the legislature as the GNP does not consider it a partner.
Choo, however, showed sings of softening her hardline position Monday, arguing UDP members should review working together with the GNP if it gives more concessions on key issues such as an animal diseases control bill.
The shift came at a time when the latest poll results have confirmed that more people want the protestors to end the rallies as the latest beef talks in Washington addressed their wishes for beef cuts from cattle aged older than 30 months not to be imported.
Rep. Lee Hoi-chang, leader of the minor opposition Liberty Forward Party, made similar remarks. ``In a society where the rule of law is respected as a core value, any acts intimidating that principle will not be tolerated,'' he said.
Lee urged UDP lawmakers to return to the Assembly to discuss the matter, claiming the Assembly is the place for legislators.