Saenuri says will convene session on its own if opposition rejects proposal


The ruling Saenuri Party proposed holding a one-day National Assembly session to elect a new speaker and vice speakers amid mounting criticism of a prolonged parliamentary impasse.

The party signaled that it would convene the session unilaterally if the main opposition Democratic United Party rejects the proposal.

Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the party’s vice floor leader, urged the main opposition party to hold a special session in consideration of a timetable for confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominees.

“We need to hold a parliamentary session this week in order to proceed in time with confirmation hearings of the newly-appointed justices,” he said.

President Lee Myung-bak submitted earlier this month the motion regarding the appointment of four Supreme Court justices, whose term is to start on July 11.

Under the law, the National Assembly must complete the confirmation hearings on the appointed members within 20 days of submission, which is July 4.

“The DUP, as the leading opposition party , should no longer impede the opening of the parliament,” Kim said.

Some also urged the party to open the session single-handedly, without the participation of the DUP.

“The Saenuri Party, as a responsible ruling party, should elect a parliamentary speaker and vice speaker in order to prevent a judiciary vacuum,” said supreme councilor Rep. Shim Jae-chul.

The two positions are to be elected through a majority vote in a plenary session. As the ruling party currently occupies 150 out of 300 seats in the house, the motion is likely to be passed even without the DUP members present.

The special session, if held, is to be chaired by the Saenuri’s seventh-term lawmaker Rep. Chung Mong-joon.

The DUP immediately lashed back.

“The Saenuri Party, after holding an exclusive session, will then attempt to monopolize the standing committee chairmanships,” said vice floor leader Rep. Park Ki-choon.

Both parties earlier fought over the Saenuri’s dominance of key parliamentary panels, such as the culture and broadcasting committee, the state affairs committee and the land committee.

The DUP claimed that the panel allocation issue should be the top priority in order to properly kick off the 19th parliamentary term.

The Saenuri Party, on the other hand, blamed the liberal party for holding the parliamentary schedule hostage for the sake of its own interests.

The party also earlier established a special hearing committee for the justices and named Rep. Lee Ju-young as its chairperson, gesturing to push ahead with the confirmation.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)