Tough road ahead for electoral reform bill
- 5 years ago
여야 4당, 선거제 개혁 단일안 도출에도 패스트트랙까지 험로
South Korea's ruling party and three minor opposition blocs agreed on the details of a plan for electoral reform.
But that doesn't mean everything wil be smooth sailing from here.
Kim Min-ji has the latest from parliament. Despite agreeing on a draft plan for electoral reform,... the road from here on looks far from smooth.
The ruling Democratic Party and three minor opposition parties agreed to leave the number of parliamentary seats unchanged at 300,... but to increase the number of proportional representation seats to 75... from the current 47.
A party's final seats will be partly determined by the percentage won in a nationwide party preference vote, along with its wins from single-seat constituencies.
The new system is seen to favor smaller parties that can't field candidates in many districts... or parties that have strong public support.
The four parties are seeking to fast-track the bill since they haven't got support from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party.
If designated, that means the bill can automatically be put to a vote without approval by a relevant standing committee.
Although rival parties met on Monday in hopes of getting the main opposition party on the same page,... they only reaffirmed their differences.
"If you look at the agreement, it's an obvious case of collusion and dividing up power among themselves. We have expressed our objection to it, and if the parties continue to push ahead with it,... they will be criticized for putting their own interests first... and ignoring pending bills that need to be passed."
But it's not just the main opposition party that's against it.
Some members of the minor parties have also criticized the agreement,... as it takes away the constituencies they hold now.
The issue has been a hot potato at the National Assembly,... as parties are required to redraw the electoral map one year prior to general elections.
The ruling party is keeping close tabs on the situation... but says it's a matter than can be solved.
"The issue is of concern to sitting lawmakers,... so there will probably be disagreements within our party as well. But I think this issue can be solved by explaining the situation and persuading them."
More back-and-forth is expected seeing as the issue is not only sparking partisan wrangling but internal tensions as well.
What's worrisome is that any fallout here could put the brakes on bills that need to be passed during the March parliamentary session.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
South Korea's ruling party and three minor opposition blocs agreed on the details of a plan for electoral reform.
But that doesn't mean everything wil be smooth sailing from here.
Kim Min-ji has the latest from parliament. Despite agreeing on a draft plan for electoral reform,... the road from here on looks far from smooth.
The ruling Democratic Party and three minor opposition parties agreed to leave the number of parliamentary seats unchanged at 300,... but to increase the number of proportional representation seats to 75... from the current 47.
A party's final seats will be partly determined by the percentage won in a nationwide party preference vote, along with its wins from single-seat constituencies.
The new system is seen to favor smaller parties that can't field candidates in many districts... or parties that have strong public support.
The four parties are seeking to fast-track the bill since they haven't got support from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party.
If designated, that means the bill can automatically be put to a vote without approval by a relevant standing committee.
Although rival parties met on Monday in hopes of getting the main opposition party on the same page,... they only reaffirmed their differences.
"If you look at the agreement, it's an obvious case of collusion and dividing up power among themselves. We have expressed our objection to it, and if the parties continue to push ahead with it,... they will be criticized for putting their own interests first... and ignoring pending bills that need to be passed."
But it's not just the main opposition party that's against it.
Some members of the minor parties have also criticized the agreement,... as it takes away the constituencies they hold now.
The issue has been a hot potato at the National Assembly,... as parties are required to redraw the electoral map one year prior to general elections.
The ruling party is keeping close tabs on the situation... but says it's a matter than can be solved.
"The issue is of concern to sitting lawmakers,... so there will probably be disagreements within our party as well. But I think this issue can be solved by explaining the situation and persuading them."
More back-and-forth is expected seeing as the issue is not only sparking partisan wrangling but internal tensions as well.
What's worrisome is that any fallout here could put the brakes on bills that need to be passed during the March parliamentary session.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.