Summit proposed to end Assembly’s political deadlock
Published: 16 Dec. 2009, 21:20
In an attempt to end a deadlock in the National Assembly, a summit of leaders of the ruling and opposition parties and President Lee Myung-bak was proposed yesterday.
Grand National Chairman Chung Mong-joon said that a summit could stabilize operations of the legislature.
“We don’t have to meet at the Blue House,” he said. “We can meet anywhere.”
Chung asked to meet with his Democratic Party counterpart, Chung Sye-kyun, earlier this week, but the opposition party declined. The Democrats, however, reversed positions and accepted the GNP’s modified proposal that included Lee in the talks.
“President Lee is the highest decision-maker of the four major rivers project, and we agreed to sit down for talks to tell him about the people’s concerns about the program,” said DP spokesman Woo Sang-ho.
The Blue House, however, appeared to be surprised by the plan.
“It is desirable for the president to meet with heads of the ruling and opposition parties at any time to discuss crucial issues of the nation,” said Park Sun-kyoo, Lee’s spokesman. “But we did not propose the summit first. The GNP did, and we need time to review it.”
Park said discussions will take place at the Blue House while Lee will travels to Copenhagen to attend the international climate conference. Lee departs today for a three-day trip.
Since Lee’s inauguration, no trilateral summit with GNP and DP heads has taken place. The last time Lee sat down to talk with DP Chairman Chung was a luncheon in September of last year.
Other Blue House officials said they too were surprised by the unprecedented proposal. “I don’t think the budget can be an agenda item,” said a senior Blue House official. “It’s something that the legislature should handle. We will decide our position while the ruling and opposition parties discuss the agenda.”
Another presidential aide said the Blue House is not sour about the abrupt proposal, but it all will depend on what the agendas of the talks will be. “The door to dialogue is open and we welcome talks at any time,” said Kim Eun-hye, presidential spokeswoman. “But we will make a decision on whether Lee will join the talks or not depending on the agendas agreed by the ruling and opposition parties. The Blue House will not intervene in the agenda selection.”
As a political solution is being worked on by party leaders, ruling and opposition party deputy floor leaders sat down for negotiations yesterday to discuss the timetable for deliberation and approval of the budget bills.
Ahead of the negotiations, Grand National floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said the party is willing to cut some of budget for the four rivers project for items that are not urgent, and his DP counterpart, Lee Kang-rae, said the party is willing to resolve the controversy through dialogue.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
Grand National Chairman Chung Mong-joon said that a summit could stabilize operations of the legislature.
“We don’t have to meet at the Blue House,” he said. “We can meet anywhere.”
Chung asked to meet with his Democratic Party counterpart, Chung Sye-kyun, earlier this week, but the opposition party declined. The Democrats, however, reversed positions and accepted the GNP’s modified proposal that included Lee in the talks.
“President Lee is the highest decision-maker of the four major rivers project, and we agreed to sit down for talks to tell him about the people’s concerns about the program,” said DP spokesman Woo Sang-ho.
The Blue House, however, appeared to be surprised by the plan.
“It is desirable for the president to meet with heads of the ruling and opposition parties at any time to discuss crucial issues of the nation,” said Park Sun-kyoo, Lee’s spokesman. “But we did not propose the summit first. The GNP did, and we need time to review it.”
Park said discussions will take place at the Blue House while Lee will travels to Copenhagen to attend the international climate conference. Lee departs today for a three-day trip.
Since Lee’s inauguration, no trilateral summit with GNP and DP heads has taken place. The last time Lee sat down to talk with DP Chairman Chung was a luncheon in September of last year.
Other Blue House officials said they too were surprised by the unprecedented proposal. “I don’t think the budget can be an agenda item,” said a senior Blue House official. “It’s something that the legislature should handle. We will decide our position while the ruling and opposition parties discuss the agenda.”
Another presidential aide said the Blue House is not sour about the abrupt proposal, but it all will depend on what the agendas of the talks will be. “The door to dialogue is open and we welcome talks at any time,” said Kim Eun-hye, presidential spokeswoman. “But we will make a decision on whether Lee will join the talks or not depending on the agendas agreed by the ruling and opposition parties. The Blue House will not intervene in the agenda selection.”
As a political solution is being worked on by party leaders, ruling and opposition party deputy floor leaders sat down for negotiations yesterday to discuss the timetable for deliberation and approval of the budget bills.
Ahead of the negotiations, Grand National floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said the party is willing to cut some of budget for the four rivers project for items that are not urgent, and his DP counterpart, Lee Kang-rae, said the party is willing to resolve the controversy through dialogue.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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