This undated file image, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows the main chamber of the National Assembly. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The leader of the main opposition party said Tuesday his party would pass the downsized budget bill for next year through a plenary session later in the day, adding that passage of the budget bill could help ease political uncertainties triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law bid.
“We must all put our utmost efforts to ease uncertainty,” Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung said, stressing that the budget is directly tied to people’s livelihoods. “A swift passage of the budget bill will help alleviate the current instability and crisis to some extent.”
Lee also suggested holding an emergency economic review meeting between the government and the ruling and opposition parties to discuss the economic woes in the aftermath of the martial law attempt.
DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said the Assembly can consider additional budget increases in the future in areas necessary for “people’s livelihoods and economic recovery.”
The surprise declaration of martial law Tuesday night came after the DP railroaded the bill in the parliamentary budget committee, and submitted impeachment motions against the chief state auditor and three senior prosecutors over their roles in investigations related to the relocation of the presidential office and first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The current bill proposed by the majority DP puts next year’s budget at 677.4 trillion won (US$485.3 billion), down 4.1 trillion won from the government’s initial proposal, following cuts in the government’s reserve fund and the special activity expenses of the presidential office’s secretariat and national security office, as well as those of the prosecution, the state audit agency and the police.
The DP and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) have wrangled over the budget cut, with the PPP insisting on keeping the government’s proposal.
Later in the day, the National Assembly is set to open a plenary session to vote on a bill mandating a permanent special counsel to investigate treason charges against President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed bid to impose martial law last week.
The bill calls for an investigation into Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who had been named to lead the martial law command, and other officials involved in imposing martial law.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung and Choo Kyung-ho, former floor leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), were also included in a list of those subject to the investigation.
Unlike a regular special counsel probe, the president cannot exercise the right to veto a bill over a permanent special counsel, though he can delay the appointment of the counsel itself.
(Yonhap)
