Main opposition to boycott Assembly over budget row

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Angered over the ruling party's refusal to compromise
on next year's budget, the main opposition party said Wednesday it will boycott
all remaining parliamentary sessions.
Rival parties have been at odds over the pending 2009 budget plan, which calls
for an increase in fiscal spending of over 10 percent to 283 trillion won (US$193
billion).
Demanding changes in the scope of proposed tax cuts and expenditures, the main
opposition Democratic Party (DP) since Monday has refused to attend the budget
review sessions, causing anxiety for President Lee Myung-bak and his party. The
ruling Grand National Party (GNP) on Wednesday went ahead with the review.
Should the National Assembly fail to ratify the new budget by year's end the
government will be forced to run the country under a temporary budget, which
could cause massive social and financial disruption.
"Our party has patiently waited for the ruling party's reply regarding our
request on adjusting the pending budget plan," said DP spokesman Cho Jeong-sik.
"The party, however, has disappointed us by pushing the plan unilaterally. We had
no other option left."
DP's boycott of the Assembly will not only risk the timely approval of next
year's budget, but could also further hamper the passage of more than 2,000
pending bills. Since the launch of its new four-year-term in May, the ruling
party-led parliament has managed to pass fewer than 10 bills.
"We cannot wait for the stubborn party forever. The budget needs our approval and
people are counting on us to do our work," said ruling party whip Hong Joon-pyo,
asking his party members to "run the parliament in accordance with Assembly law."
The ruling conservative party controls an absolute majority of 172 seats in the
299-member unicameral legislature, enough to pass the budget single-handedly.
The liberal opposition wants the conservative Lee government to revise the
budget, which calls for sizable tax cuts and assumes an annual economic growth of
4 percent, far above analysts estimates.
The party claims the planned tax cuts will widen the income gap by mostly
benefiting the rich and argues that analysts have forecast South Korea's economy
will grow by only 2 percent next year amid a global credit crunch.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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