On Tuesday, lawmakers of the rival political parties were supposed to hold the last plenary session of the 18th National Assembly before its term expires on May 28. Yet the session was canceled due to their differences on a bill aimed at preventing physical clashes between legislators.
The cancellation of the session has put the fate of many important bills in limbo, including those related to people’s livelihoods. They included a bill on making over-the-counter drugs available at non-pharmacy outlets and another on allowing police to trace the locations of people in need of help by tracking their mobile phone.
If the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party had passed the clash-prevention bill and a host of other pending bills, they would have received some applause for fulfilling their duty in the final days of their term.
Yet they have never ceased to disappoint. One testament to the inefficiency of the 18th Assembly is the 6,400 bills that are bound to be consigned to the dustbin, about double the 3,300 bills scrapped in the 17th National Assembly.
Last year, the two parties had agreed to end brawls among lawmakers after months of negotiations. At the time it was hailed as a breakthrough that would reshape the landscape of partisan politics.
The bill was thought to help lawmakers of the two parties pass most bills through consultation. The ruling party agreed to abolish the Assembly speaker’s authority to put a bill to a floor vote without discussion at the relevant standing committee. This was a big concession for the ruling party as it meant relinquishing its right to unilaterally pass bills.
In return, the DUP agreed not to use physical force to stop the ruling party from passing bills; it instead agreed to use filibusters to oppose bills. The DUP also agreed to pass budget bills by the Dec. 2 deadline.
However, the Saenuri Party changed its mind following the April 11 election. Before the election, it was forecast to lose its parliamentary majority. So it was willing to make concessions on the legislative process.
But it managed to retain its majority. This led the party to have second thoughts on the bill. Some of its lawmakers pointed out that it could slow down the legislative process.
This concern is not unfounded, but it does not justify the party’s breach of the agreement. The legislative process can move along quickly if the two parties are determined to enact bills through dialog and compromise. The ruling party needs to either persuade the DUP to accept changes to the bill or pass it as it is before the curtain falls on the 18th Assembly.
