By Jun Ji-hye
Political compromises have disappeared since President Park Geun-hye took office on Feb. 25.
Neither the ruling Saenuri Party nor the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) have used their political influence or bargaining power to solve the deadlock over the government restructuring bill for more than a month.
Due to this stalemate, other urgent bills affecting people's livelihoods have also been stalled.
The revision of the Local Tax Law to give people tax benefits and amendments to the Worker Protection Law to prohibit discrimination against subcontract workers remain pending, as the two main rival parties have not been able to compromise. If and when they will be able to make a breakthrough remains uncertain.
Experts attribute the political impasse to both parties lack of leadership.
After the presidential election, the Saenuri Party appeared to just wait on Cheong Wa Dae as its leaders are mostly from a pro-President Park faction.
The Saenuri Party leaders lack independence from President Park.
Thats because they are her loyalists, who were the driving force behind her victory, said Chung Goon-gi, a professor at the Journalism and Media Department of Kyonggi University.
Besides, Chairman Hwang woo-yea and floor leader Lee Hahn-koo are split over the National Assembly Advancement Law.
Factional disputes die hard Hwang introduced the law last year to restrict the Assembly Speakers authority to push ahead with putting a bill to a vote.
However, Lee recently blamed the law for the parliament stalemate and called for a revision.
I began to check the relevant statutes to file a constitutional appeal on the advancement law, the floor leader said Tuesday.
Bae Jong-chan, director of the department of social research and a consultant at Research & Research, said, After Park moved to Cheong Wa Dae, no pivotal figure to lead the Saenuri Party has emerged.
In addition, as Chin Young, who was in charge of partys policy committee, is now serving as health and welfare minister, the post has remained vacant for three weeks. The committee is responsible for mediating policies between the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae,.
The DUP is in the same position as its interim leadership has been in charge of the party since its election defeat — it plans to elect new leaders for a period of two years on May 4.
The party is still suffering from factional disputes over the cause of its failure in the presidential race.
Supports of the late Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung have been blaming each other, which has disrupted party unity. The two factions went head to head again last month while deciding the new leaderships term in office.
The DUP has failed to display a solid organizational power in negotiations over the restructuring bill and the confirmation hearings due to its emergency leadership,.
Chung said. Experts also pointed out that the DUP has failed to show the public its vision for the future.
They lack the ability to hold the President and the ruling party in check as they have not undergone a proper self-examination, Bae said.