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Don’t politicize next year’s budget this time

Published: 07 Dec. 2023, 20:13

The National Assembly still engrossed in political battles is turning a blind eye to the tough livelihoods of the people again. Lawmakers have already passed the Dec. 2 deadline to pass the government’s budget bill for next year. But it may be delayed further due to the deepening conflict over the majority Democratic Party (DP)’s push for the appointment of special prosecutors to investigate the first lady’s alleged stock price manipulation and a few influential people’s receipt of 5 billion won ($3.8 million) each in bribes in return for favors over the Daejang-dong redevelopment project.

The majority party is also pushing for three legislative probes, including the suspicion over the changed route of a highway between Seoul and Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, to allegedly benefit the first lady’s family. If the heated battle continues, the budget for next year could be passed later than Dec. 24, a record last year since 2014.

The DP even mentioned the possibility of revising the budget bill on its own and passing it, while the governing People Power Party (PPP) countered it with a plan to follow this year’s budget unless the majority party helps. Such an episode must not happen. If the budget is not passed by the end of the year, the government cannot start any new programs. If the DP deprives the government of its right to draw up next year’s budget, is this democracy?

The legislature must exercise its budget review authority without linking it to political issues. Deliberation on next year’s budget requires heated debates. But the two parties reneged on their obligation after the majority party pushed a number of motions to impeach any government officials it doesn’t like. As a result, the parties could not even determine how much to cut from the budget bill. In the meantime, the DP unilaterally approved their own budget bill in six standing committees, which includes more money for the programs it wants and less money for the government.

The two parties must find a reasonable solution particularly over the budget for research and development — the most contested issue — since the president promised to complement it. The DP must stop demanding an excessive increase in many populist programs championed by its leader Lee Jae-myung. The two parties must not collude in acquiring a bigger budget for their pork-barrel programs as in the past.

If the budget’s passage is delayed, the government cannot spend it timely, which will certainly delay local governments’ budgeting process, too. The effect of next year’s budget can be maximized when it is spent as early as possible. We urge the legislature to not politicize the budget this time.