Speaker to put election, prosecution reform bills to vote this week

The National Assembly will vote on fiercely contested fast-tracked bills -- including election and prosecution reforms -- during its plenary session Monday and Tuesday.

But the bills could come to a vote Wednesday, when the parliament convenes a special session, as the main opposition Liberty Korea Party is keen to stage a filibuster to block voting.

On Friday, the floor leaders of the three parties – the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Liberty Korea Party and minor conservative Bareunmirae Party – met together but failed to work out their differences on the bills.

“Speaker Moon Hee-sang wouldn’t have pushed for a vote had the Liberty Korea Party withdrawn its decision to stage a filibuster on all the pending bills,” National Assembly spokesperson Han Min-soo said Friday.

The controversial bills include modifying election rules and decentralizing the prosecution’s powers so police would have greater authority to lead an investigation.

The also include establishing an independent anti-corruption body to probe corruption allegations involving ranking officials. Up until now, prosecutors have taken on the role.

Supporters of the bills argue they will check on the prosecution, while opponents question the unchecked powers of the new agency.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)