Speaker Kim suggests putting disputed bills to vote

SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Yonhap) -- National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o said Sunday he
may choose to invoke his power as chair to put a number of controversial bills,
including a free trade deal with the U.S., to a vote next month, when rival
parties are to convene a special parliamentary session.
"I will never give up my right as the speaker to introduce disputed bills to the
plenary Assembly session," Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News.
"I will act in accordance with the will of the people. The invocation of the
speaker's right to put bills to a vote is necessary when the will of the majority
is blocked by the minority force. But I want the ruling and opposition parties to
resolve their disputes through dialogue and compromise."
Kim's remarks came just after the National Assembly was normalized after being
paralyzed for weeks by sit-in protests by opposition lawmakers, who were angered
by the ruling Grand National Party's (GNP) attempt to unilaterally push through
scores of controversial bills, including those on a free trade deal with the U.S.
and deregulation of the media and banking industries.
Opposition lawmakers, who are accused of resorting to violence and illegal means
to occupy the Assembly's main facilities, terminated their sit-in after the GNP
promised to handle the disputed bills through compromise.
In this regard, Speaker Kim again made clear his opposition to any use of
violence on parliamentary premises and vowed to amend Assembly regulations to
toughen punishment against violence by lawmakers.
The GNP has a solid majority in parliament, holding 172 seats in the 298-member
unicameral Assembly. Leaders of the 83-seat Democratic Party have vowed not to
stand idly by if the GNP again attempts to unilaterally railroad controversial
bills through without prior discussion.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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