politics
Ruling Party Vows to Finish Naming Committee Chiefs by Tuesday
South Korea's Democratic Party pledged on June 29 to complete selection of parliamentary committee leaders by the next day. The move comes amid a standoff with the opposition People Power Party over chairmanships in the 22nd National Assembly.
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The ruling Democratic Party vowed on June 29 to complete the selection of parliamentary committee chiefs by the next day. DP floor leader Han Byung-do told a general meeting of party lawmakers that the party would finish forming the committees within the month and return the Assembly to work.
He said the process would not extend past June 30 and directed all DP lawmakers to remain on standby from the afternoon onward.
The main opposition People Power Party refused to submit nominees for the chairs of 18 standing committees by the noon deadline set by the parliamentary speaker. PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig said the speaker and the DP produced a list of nominees without prior proposals or negotiation and informed the opposition afterward. He added that the DP was threatening the PPP rather than negotiating.
The central dispute concerns the chairmanship of the legislation and judiciary committee, currently held by DP Rep. Seo Young-kyo. PPP lawmakers held an indoor rally at the National Assembly, declaring they would not relinquish that post.
The DP holds 161 of the 300 seats in the Assembly and therefore possesses the majority required to elect committee chiefs unilaterally. Han Byung-do spoke during a meeting of the party's Supreme Council at the National Assembly in Seoul. PPP lawmakers staged their rally at the same location on the same day.
