By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Moon Hee-sang, the newly selected interim leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), indicated Friday that he is ready to compromise stance in dealing with a special bill for an investigation into the Sewol ferry disaster.
“Everybody ― the ruling Saenuri Party, the National Assembly and the nation ― should move past the deadlock. We cannot die together,” the five-term lawmaker told reporters. “I have a plan in my mind. But there is a precondition ― the understanding of the relatives of those who died in the April ferry accident.”
Moon was appointed as a chairman of the party’s emergency planning committee, Thursday. His job is to serve as the de facto leader of the largest opposition party until an NPAD national convention is held to elect a new chairman.
His remarks were interpreted as indicating his intention to take a step back from the party’s existing position of complying with requests from the bereaved families regarding the bill, which is designed to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate the ferry sinking.
The families have so far called for granting the committee the authority to indict people suspected of being responsible for the disaster.
The governing party opposes the idea, claiming that it will damage the nation’s judicial system.
The rival parties’ confrontation over the bill has resulted in a standstill at the National Assembly, which has not passed a single bill since May.
Moon’s predecessor Rep. Park Young-sun stepped down after failing twice to push the bill through.
Moon is expected to come up with a compromise plan to resolve the deadlock, as he is apparently aware that public distrust toward the parties is deepening due to the ongoing stalemate.
He is also expected to take a flexible attitude in negotiations with the ruling party.
A positive outlook toward passage of the bill is emerging as nine leaders of the committee representing the bereaved families were recently replaced as well. They were allegedly involved in a recent brawl on a street in Yeouido, Seoul, after having drinks with NPAD lawmaker Kim Hyun.
Observers say the leadership change in both the NPAD and the committee of the families will likely serve as an opportunity for the parties to push through an agreement on the special bill.
The governing side expressed its hope of getting the Assembly back on track.
“Rep. Moon has rich experience in politics. We expect him to sort out the mess in the NPAD to normalize the Assembly at the earliest possible date,” said Rep. Kim Young-woo, the ruling party spokesman.
However, concern remains about the possibility that the bereaved families and some hard-line lawmakers of the NPAD could again reject a compromise bill offered by Moon and the ruling party.
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