DP fights to annul the Broadcasting Law amendment

Posted on : 2009-07-23 11:53 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
If DP can gather a broad public consensus, it may challenge the Broadcasting Law amendment in the ordinary session of the National Assembly in September
 July 22.
July 22.

Politics in South Korea have reached a state of complete turmoil following the passage of the ruling Grand National Party’s (GNP) slipshod broadcasting legislation.

Analysts project political deadlock as relations between ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly have grown cold.

The opposition Democratic Party (DP) has announced the termination of the 18th National Assembly. The DP has decided that they will fight to annul the GNP’s passage of the Broadcasting Law revision bill in solidarity with media and civic organizations. In particular, they have announced that they will not recognize Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o as the head of the National Assembly, who has damaged the authority and operations of the National Assembly and the speaker position by presenting the controversial revison bills in the plenary session.

The ruling Grand National Party, meanwhile, seems to be content on waiting for the opposition party to return to the National Assembly in the fall now that they have secured the entrance of the three major conservative newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, into broadcasting.

Immediately after the passage of the Broadcasting Law revision bill, Ahn Sang-soo, the GNP’s floor leader, said, “We will pass additional bills during the remainder of the July extraordinary session.” Analysts take Ahn’s words to means that the GNP will pass the irregular Worker Law revision bill, and the Public Officials Pension Act.

However, many within the GNP do not agree with the necessity of passing more bills this month while running the legislature on their own. A first term pro-Lee Myung-bak lawmaker said, “We expected strong resistance from the DP on the Broadcasting Law revision bill.” He adds, “It is better though that we not exacerbate things further with the DP, and we begin preparing for the regular session in September.”

There is some possibility turmoil within the National Assembly will be prolonged. Analysts are saying if the DP is able to gather a broad consensus in opposition to the media related bills that just passed, it could open the ordinary session in September with a re-revision of Broadcasting Law. On this matter, a GNP official says, “Considering the current mood, I think the National Assembly may be in turmoil until the ordinary session of the National Assembly is convened in September.” He also says, “The GNP will attempt to persuade opposition party lawmakers to return to their seats in order to discuss the fiscal budget.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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