Cheong Wa Dae publicly demanded Chung Ui-hwa, chairman of the National Assembly to bring up controversial bills including the five labor-related bills, economy-related legislation, and the Terrorism Prevention Act. Hyun Ki-hwan, senior secretary for political affairs said he met with Chung at the National Assembly yesterday and delivered Cheong Wa Dae's position. Article 40 of the Constitution stipulates that the legislative power belongs to the National Assembly. Cheong Wa Dae pressuring the head of the legislative branch to table a bill is unconstitutional and it undermines the separation of powers.
Hyun said he visited the National Assembly after hearing a report that Chung was considering to propose, ex officio, the Public Official Election Act concerning the yet to be defined constituencies. He said, "The government finds it difficult to understand that the lawmakers could actually pass the election bill only (ex officio) while neglecting the labor reform bills, the basic act for the development of the service industry, and the Terrorism Prevention Act." He even presented a "guideline" that the lawmakers should first pass the controversial bills if they were to pass the election bill or that they should pass all the bills together.
The National Assembly operates on the basis of agreement between bargaining groups. The chairman proposing a bill ex officio is, in principle, not to be welcomed. That is why the National Assembly Advancement Act strictly limits the conditions for such a proposal to natural catastrophes, war or an equivalent national emergency situation, and when the floor leaders of the bargaining groups reach an agreement. Labor and economic legislation do not fulfill these conditions no matter from what perspective one approaches the issue. Nevertheless, the Saenuri Party claims we are on the brink of a "national emergency situation" and talks of submitting a resolution for Chung's resignation. Why? The answer lies in Hyun's statement. "When listening to the president during a cabinet meeting or a meeting of senior secretaries, I don't know what to do because there's so much frustration and urgency in her words." What is urgent to these people is not the people's financial situation, but the president's feelings.
Recently, President Park Geun-hye repeatedly made comments like, "I cannot help but ask why the National Assembly exists?" "We have an election to hold next year, but will they (the lawmakers) be able to look in the mirror?" "If the National Assembly neglects the bills (labor and economic bills) and they are automatically discarded, then the people will never forgive them." Earlier, at the time of the National Assembly Act amendments, Cheong Wa Dae denied the legislative branch's right to keep the administrative branch in check and rooted out the representative of the ruling party lawmakers by framing him as a traitor. The president is acting as if she "rises above the Constitution" while ignoring the separation of powers. But lawmakers are not yes-men following the orders of Cheong Wa Dae, and the chairman of the National Assembly is not a scarecrow who just bangs the gavel. Chairman Chung should not give in to the threats of Cheong Wa Dae and should keep guarding the authority of the National Assembly.
Hyun said he visited the National Assembly after hearing a report that Chung was considering to propose, ex officio, the Public Official Election Act concerning the yet to be defined constituencies. He said, "The government finds it difficult to understand that the lawmakers could actually pass the election bill only (ex officio) while neglecting the labor reform bills, the basic act for the development of the service industry, and the Terrorism Prevention Act." He even presented a "guideline" that the lawmakers should first pass the controversial bills if they were to pass the election bill or that they should pass all the bills together.
The National Assembly operates on the basis of agreement between bargaining groups. The chairman proposing a bill ex officio is, in principle, not to be welcomed. That is why the National Assembly Advancement Act strictly limits the conditions for such a proposal to natural catastrophes, war or an equivalent national emergency situation, and when the floor leaders of the bargaining groups reach an agreement. Labor and economic legislation do not fulfill these conditions no matter from what perspective one approaches the issue. Nevertheless, the Saenuri Party claims we are on the brink of a "national emergency situation" and talks of submitting a resolution for Chung's resignation. Why? The answer lies in Hyun's statement. "When listening to the president during a cabinet meeting or a meeting of senior secretaries, I don't know what to do because there's so much frustration and urgency in her words." What is urgent to these people is not the people's financial situation, but the president's feelings.
Recently, President Park Geun-hye repeatedly made comments like, "I cannot help but ask why the National Assembly exists?" "We have an election to hold next year, but will they (the lawmakers) be able to look in the mirror?" "If the National Assembly neglects the bills (labor and economic bills) and they are automatically discarded, then the people will never forgive them." Earlier, at the time of the National Assembly Act amendments, Cheong Wa Dae denied the legislative branch's right to keep the administrative branch in check and rooted out the representative of the ruling party lawmakers by framing him as a traitor. The president is acting as if she "rises above the Constitution" while ignoring the separation of powers. But lawmakers are not yes-men following the orders of Cheong Wa Dae, and the chairman of the National Assembly is not a scarecrow who just bangs the gavel. Chairman Chung should not give in to the threats of Cheong Wa Dae and should keep guarding the authority of the National Assembly.
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