The National Assembly’s regular session opens Monday, but prospects for smooth sailing are grim because of a protracted standoff between the ruling and opposition parties over the “special Sewol bill.”
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), which has staged outdoor protests since early last week, will attend Monday’s opening ceremony, but has yet to decide whether to take part in the deliberation of other bills that remain in limbo. As things stand, there is fear that the regular session will be crippled for extended periods of time, just as it was last year.
This concern is realistic, given that the July and August extraordinary sessions closed without deliberations taking place over a single bill. When the August session came to an end without a general meeting, the scheduled parliamentary audit of government offices fizzled out and the Aug. 31 deadline for settling the 2013 budget accounts passed.
A separate parliamentary probe to uncover the direct and associated causes of the Sewol ferry disaster also ended even without hearings due to partisan wrangling over who should take the witness stand. As a result, nearly 130 bills that directly affect people’s lives are pending at the Assembly, including one that could address much-needed suicide prevention measures for people living in extreme poverty.
Against this backdrop, the public is increasingly directing an icy stare at the parliament. To break the partisan impasse, reaching a consensus on the Sewol bill is a prerequisite.
Now is the time for the rival parties to be aware of the importance of dialogue and compromise, two of the basic tenets of a parliamentary democracy.
The NPAD reneged on its commitments on the Sewol bill twice, but it is the ruling party that should take action to break the deadlock and bring politics back to normal. In this vein, it is essential for Saenuri Party lawmakers to make a sincere effort. Specifically, the governing party needs to suggest a compromise acceptable to the victims’ families.
The NPAD has fallen into disarray, and it is a pitiable sight. The largest opposition party saw its approval rating dip to its lowest level last week since the party’s inception in March.
This is indisputable proof that the public has had enough of the opposition’s protest rallies. The people are complaining about the NPAD’s refusal to deal with bills, especially those intended to protect the vulnerable and enhance public safety. The overwhelming defeat in the July 30 by-elections is further evidence that the party has lost the public’s trust. If the NPAD, which commands 130 seats in the unicameral legislature, sticks to this stubborn stance, it may be beyond hope.
The solution is clear: The parties ought to take a step back and find a middle ground. This is the time to use politics for its intended purpose, to mediate conflicts.