(2nd LD) Court rejects ruling party lawmakers' challenge to parliamentary act

(ATTN: ADDS parties' responses in last 4 paras)
By Choi Soo-hyang

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by ruling party lawmakers questioning the constitutionality of a law that toughened the requirements for the "fast-track legislation" of deadlocked bills.

The revised National Assembly Act that went into effect in 2012 stipulates that a bill with contested issues can only be put up for a vote with the approval of more than 60 percent of sitting lawmakers and requires bipartisan agreement for a parliamentary speaker to table the bill, except for natural disasters, war or other national emergencies.

The law was revised as such because speakers' authority to put certain bills to a vote in the past has often resulted in physical brawls between rival lawmakers, which has hurt the image of the legislative branch in the eyes of the general public.

The clauses, however, have been criticized as the main culprits behind paralyzing the 19th National Assembly, as the ruling Saenuri Party argued that it could not send contentious bills to the floor for a vote without the consent of the opposition parties.

In January 2015, 19 lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party filed the petition, saying that the clauses go against the Constitution and simple majority rule.

While declining to make a decision on the constitutionality of the clauses, the court ruled that the act does not violate the lawmakers' right to vote.

The violation of the lawmakers' right to vote can only be realized once the pending bill is put up for a vote, whereas the contentious law does not have a direct impact on restricting their rights, the court said.

Whether or not to table a bill for "fast-track legislation" is an authority held by the parliamentary speaker, and the speaker is not obliged to table the bill even if the conditions are met, it added.

Opposition parties cheered the decision supporting the constitutionality of the controversial law.

"The revised National Assembly Act is established on the will of the people that calls for cooperation of both the ruling and opposition," said Lee Jae-kyoung, a spokesperson of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea.

The People's Party also echoed the view, adding the court's decision is "reasonable," and it will continue efforts to reflect the minor party's voice at the parliament and make the National Assembly more "productive."

Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, said it will respect the decision made by the Constitutional Court.

colin@yna.co.kr

scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)