National Assembly to table vetoed bill next week

SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- National Assembly speaker Chung Eui-hwa said Tuesday he will again table a revised parliamentary bill that would allow more assembly power in reviewing and modifying government enactments at a regular session slated for next week.

The announcement came after President Park Geun-hye, exercising her veto power for the first time since taking office, sent the revision back to the National Assembly for reconsideration last week, saying it was unconstitutional.

"The revision to the National Assembly law will be handled in priority at the regular session on July 6," Chung said in a statement.

Chung added that the National Assembly's regular session, which was originally slated to start on Wednesday, will be postponed for five days.

"The National Assembly should reconsider (the revision) when the president asks," Chung said, citing the Constitution. "It is the duty as an assembly speaker to follow the Constitution."

Following the announcement, the ruling party leader said that the party will participate in the regular session and follow the assembly speaker's decision.

"For now, the party will participate at the regular session," Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung told reporters after a meeting among top party members, without answering a question on whether the party would vote on the bill.

The revised bill on the parliamentary law was passed, with more than two-thirds in favor, through the National Assembly on May 29. The revision would grant lawmakers the right to challenge executive enactments such as the government's enforcement ordinance.

The controversial law drew the ire of Park after she criticized the way the legislature has been dealing with government-proposed bills. She openly criticized lawmakers, even the floor leader of her own party, saying that they only pursed their own political interests.

khj@yna.co.kr
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