ID :
33717
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 15:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33717
The shortlink copeid
President Lee delays meeting with party leaders
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak has decided to delay a meeting
with political leaders scheduled for Wednesday until the main opposition chairman
accepts his invitation, officials said.
President Lee had earlier invited the heads of three parliamentary negotiating
groups to have lunch on Wednesday, hoping to convince opposition party leaders to
cooperate in prompt settlement of several pending bills, including the 2009
budget.
Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), declined
the invitation, accusing the president of attempting to coax parties into an
agreement while ignoring earlier promises and opposition parties' requests to
alter the president's economic and diplomatic initiatives.
"The presidential office has decided to delay the meeting as it would have
meaning only when all three party leaders are there," ruling party leader Park
Hee-tae told reporters Wednesday. "We are deeply disappointed by the opposition
party's stubborn attitude, especially when bipartisan efforts are necessary to
overcome the economic difficulties."
Lee's Grand National Party and its main opponent are currently at odds over the
2009 budget plan, which must pass the National Assembly by the year's end to
prevent financial losses and social disruption.
The liberal DP wants the conservative Lee government to revise the spending plan,
which calls for sizable tax cuts and assumes a 4 percent annual economic growth.
The party claims the planned tax cuts will widen the income gap by mostly
benefiting the rich and argues analysts have forecast that South Korea's economy
will grow by only 2 percent next year amid a global credit crunch.
The president-party leaders meeting will be rescheduled after the main opposition
party chairman changes his mind, officials said.
DP leader Chung had said last week it was "not a good time" to meet the
president, especially because none of the agreements made during their September
meeting have been realized.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
with political leaders scheduled for Wednesday until the main opposition chairman
accepts his invitation, officials said.
President Lee had earlier invited the heads of three parliamentary negotiating
groups to have lunch on Wednesday, hoping to convince opposition party leaders to
cooperate in prompt settlement of several pending bills, including the 2009
budget.
Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), declined
the invitation, accusing the president of attempting to coax parties into an
agreement while ignoring earlier promises and opposition parties' requests to
alter the president's economic and diplomatic initiatives.
"The presidential office has decided to delay the meeting as it would have
meaning only when all three party leaders are there," ruling party leader Park
Hee-tae told reporters Wednesday. "We are deeply disappointed by the opposition
party's stubborn attitude, especially when bipartisan efforts are necessary to
overcome the economic difficulties."
Lee's Grand National Party and its main opponent are currently at odds over the
2009 budget plan, which must pass the National Assembly by the year's end to
prevent financial losses and social disruption.
The liberal DP wants the conservative Lee government to revise the spending plan,
which calls for sizable tax cuts and assumes a 4 percent annual economic growth.
The party claims the planned tax cuts will widen the income gap by mostly
benefiting the rich and argues analysts have forecast that South Korea's economy
will grow by only 2 percent next year amid a global credit crunch.
The president-party leaders meeting will be rescheduled after the main opposition
party chairman changes his mind, officials said.
DP leader Chung had said last week it was "not a good time" to meet the
president, especially because none of the agreements made during their September
meeting have been realized.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
