South Korea ruling party moves to curb legislative delays
· UPIJuly 28 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's ruling Democratic Party advanced legislation Tuesday that would shorten reviews of fast-tracked bills and impose new requirements on filibusters, intensifying a dispute with the main opposition People Power Party.
The Democratic Party says the changes are needed to prevent the opposition from obstructing legislation and to create a more productive National Assembly.
The People Power Party says the proposals would weaken lawful protections for the parliamentary minority and allow the ruling party to push through disputed bills using its majority.
A National Assembly steering subcommittee approved a revision to the National Assembly Act that would substantially shorten the maximum review period for bills designated for expedited consideration.
Under the current system, a fast-tracked bill may remain before a standing committee for up to 180 days, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for 90 days and the plenary session for 60 days.
The proposed revision would reduce the standing committee period to 60 days and the judiciary committee period to 30 days. The bill would then be placed on the agenda of the first plenary session held after it is formally referred.
The Democratic Party aims to pass the revision during Thursday's plenary session.
Party seeks tighter filibuster requirements
The party also introduced a separate revision Monday that would allow the National Assembly speaker to end a filibuster when fewer than one-fifth of all lawmakers are present in the chamber.
A filibuster allows lawmakers to delay a vote by continuing debate. The proposed rule would require at least 60 members of the 300-seat Assembly to remain present while the debate is underway.
The Democratic Party says the People Power Party has repeatedly used filibusters to delay legislation involving economic concerns and institutional reforms.
"A system established to protect minority opinions is being abused as a means of paralyzing the National Assembly and delaying legislation affecting people's livelihoods," acting Democratic Party leader and floor leader Han Byung-do said Monday.
Additional revisions would allow lawmakers to replace a standing committee chair who refuses to begin reviewing legislation without a legitimate reason.
Another proposal would require a committee meeting to be held within three days of a formal request.
The Democratic Party says several committees led by People Power Party lawmakers during the first half of the current Assembly went extended periods without meeting or reviewing pending bills.
The ruling party says the procedural revisions would accelerate legislative work during the second half of the Assembly's four-year term.
Opposition warns of unchecked majority power
The People Power Party accused the ruling party of attempting to eliminate legitimate tools available to the parliamentary minority.
The opposition says the Democratic Party is using the goal of creating a more productive legislature to justify the unilateral passage of politically contentious bills.
"Rushing disputed bills onto the agenda, denying lawmakers even the time needed for discussion and forcing a majority vote amounts to a declaration that the majority party intends to revive legislative tyranny," People Power Party deputy floor leader Kim Seung-su said Tuesday.
The measures are expected to face further opposition as they move toward consideration by the full National Assembly.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260729010010429