2024-07-31 04:59:59
After 111 hours of repeating the cycle of ‘bill submission to plenary session → unlimited debate (filibuster) → forced end of filibuster → unilateral processing of bill’ over 5 nights and 6 days, the processing of the ‘4 Broadcasting Laws’ led by the Democratic Party of Korea was completed on the 30th. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, unilaterally processed the amendment to the Educational Broadcasting System Act (EBS Act) with the unanimous consent of all 189 members present at the National Assembly plenary session that day, while the ruling party was absent. Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae pressured, “If President Yoon Seok-yeol rejects the 4 Broadcasting Laws again and insists on the path of dictatorship, he will end up following the path of the past dictatorships that he admires.” On the other hand, People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho announced his proposal to request reconsideration (veto), saying, “This is the worst of the worst laws that will permanently control public broadcasting in the Democratic Party’s hands.” The Blue House also hinted at exercising its veto, saying, “We are concerned about the opposition party’s unilateral resolution of the bill without an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.”
As the filibuster situation that would eventually lead to the president exercising his veto power came to an end, the ruling party began to criticize internally, saying, “This has become a circus for the political world to set records while ignoring the people,” while the opposition party said, “Instead of just pushing the government and the ruling party, we need to think about ways for dialogue and compromise.”
● Internal criticism of “filibuster, record-setting circus”
The ruling party continued the filibuster for 111 hours and 27 minutes, but failed to prevent the unilateral passage of the four broadcasting bills. This is the second longest debate, following the 192-hour and 27-minute filibuster against the anti-terrorism law in 2016. Rep. Kim Yong-tae of the People Power Party, who debated against the EBS law, set the record for the longest debate ever at 13 hours and 12 minutes.
However, in the political world, there was criticism that “only the records were passed around, and the actual content was filled with abusive language and slander, making a mockery of politics.” The ruling party lawmakers formed a small group as designated by the floor leadership and kept their seats, while the opposition lawmakers waited outside and showed up for the vote on the bill. On the night of the 29th, Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae sang a song satirizing the suspicions of Kim Gun-hee manipulating the stock price of Deutsche Motors, saying, “Let’s meet up. 80,000 shares. A quick date. Deutsche mother and daughter.”
A People Power Party lawmaker said in a phone call, “We were the only ones focused on the record-setting circus, and the people were not watching, and the plenary hall was empty.” There were also complaints within the ruling party, such as, “The floor leadership was forcibly conducting the filibuster to build up a justification for the president’s veto,” and “Every day was a day of helpless defeat.” A Democratic Party lawmaker who was re-elected in the metropolitan area said, “Even within our party, there is considerable fatigue from the repeated filibuster situation over bills that are obviously subject to veto.”
The four broadcasting laws, which are the Democratic Party’s platform bills, refer to the three broadcasting laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, Broadcast Culture Promotion Act, and Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act) that increase the number of board members of KBS, MBC, and EBS and grant recommendation rights to academic societies and professional organizations, as well as the amendment to the Korea Communications Commission Act that stipulates that the quorum for the Korea Communications Commission be four or more.
● The opposition party repeats the ‘filibuster situation’ including the yellow envelope law
The Democratic Party plans to push through the People’s Livelihood Recovery Support Act and the Yellow Envelope Act (amendment to the Labor Union Act) during the July extraordinary session that will continue until August 3rd and the August extraordinary session that will begin afterward. The Democratic Party plans to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 31st and transfer the People’s Livelihood Recovery Support Act and the Labor Union Act to the plenary session. The People Power Party has announced a filibuster for these bills as well, so the ‘filibuster situation’ is likely to repeat itself. It has been reported that the Democratic Party’s general meeting on that day also raised concerns that “a wise and intelligent measure is needed.”
President Yoon approved the request for resubmission of the personnel hearing results report on nominee for the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission Lee Jin-sook on this day. The deadline for submission is this day. If the National Assembly misses the deadline for resubmission, the president can appoint the nominee, so it is expected that President Yoon will appoint both nominees as early as the 31st.
In response, Democratic Party floor spokesperson Yoon Jong-gun met with reporters after the general meeting and said, “If this candidate is appointed and (the KCC meeting is held) a vote is made, we will immediately move on to impeachment,” adding, “We have no choice but to (impeach) him until the pool of talent for the KCC chairman is exhausted.”
Reporter Lee Sang-heon [email protected]
Reporter Kang Sung-hui [email protected]
Reporter Shin Na-ri [email protected]
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2024-07-31 04:59:59