The current National Assembly session is half over. Only half a session is left for legislators to agree on a budget, establish the basis for economic recovery, and prepare a foundation for national unity. The Assembly's membership has wasted precious time on exhausting infighting over who gets the upper hand in the political atmosphere. Starting Tuesday it has to review issues relating to the welfare of the people and matters of the state, including the new budget, follow-up legislation to the August 31 Real Estate Measures, revising the private school law, and many others. We hope legislators do not do what they do every year, which is fight each other until the session comes to an end.
The ruling and opposition camps have been reorganizing themselves since last week's by-elections. That is seen as an effort, regardless of who won and lost, to overcome the serious disapproval the people have for the National Assembly. The key to restoring the people's confidence is doing away with the wasteful infighting and restoring productive politics that works for the people's welfare. The ruling Uri Party is moving away from the lottery-style get-lucky-quick schemes and clearly defining for itself policies and a platform that work towards things like reducing social disparities. The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is moving away from the wasteful arguments about political identity and pledging to compete more over policy. One hopes to see productive competition.
Those pledges will be acted on and implemented during the Assembly's ordinary session. Parliamentary activities relating to major issues such as tax reduction and abolishing or revising the National Security Law (NSL) and the private school law are later evaluated. Assembly members must not stubbornly oppose bills or delay them because of pressure from people who have an interest in the legislation. The work has to be done in a way that maintains their responsibility to the people, through democratic procedures such as debate, compromise, and working towards mutual agreement. Each party's performance will be judged through the results of next year's local government elections and other votes.
One worries about the ruling party. It is the party most responsible for Assembly operations and yet its leadership is in trouble, and there are signs of conflict within the party and between it and Cheong Wa Dae. One hopes to see the ruling camp quickly find its balance again, because you worry about a failure to attend to the people's welfare and government affairs.
The Hankyoreh, 31 October 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Compete with Productive Politics for the People |
