We begin with the dramatic day at Korea′s National Assembly... over the confirmation hearing of the nation′s new prime minister nominee.
After some heavy confrontation... rival parties agreed to put off the plenary session until next Monday... to dodge a head-on conflict over a vote for the president′s pick.
Our Park Ji-won has more.
The country′s two main rival parties have agreed to postpone a vote on the confirmation of prime minister nominee Lee Wan-koo after a contentious afternoon that led them to call off the session until next Monday.
Earlier in the day, lawmakers from the main opposition party boycotted parliamentary activities.
They were protesting the confirmation of the nominee in committee this Thursday afternoon,... with only lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party unilaterally voting to move the vote on to the full Assembly.
"In the name of the people, we urge the resignation of the nominee Lee Wan-koo We condemn the unilateral action by the Saenuri Party "
Earlier in the morning, the ruling Saenuri Party had urged the opposition party to cooperate and allow the vote to proceed as scheduled... in order to avoid a vacuum in state affairs.
"Even long before I was elected floor leader,... when the nominee was still the floor leader of the party,... both parties had agreed that the full Assembly would vote on the nominee... following the two-day confirmation hearing."
However, the main opposition party said it hoped to delay the vote to sometime later this month,... given the various allegations surrounding the nominee′s past.
"Since I have worked with the nominee, who was my previous counterpart, on many issues at the Assembly,... I really wanted him to come through the confirmation hearing well. Unfortunately, and very regrettably,... he has fallen short of people′s expectations."
The ruling Saenuri Party holds a majority in the assembly,... and if it wanted to, it could go ahead with the vote on its own.
However experts say it′s not likely,... as the Presidential Office has already been criticized for its lack of compromise and communication,... especially with personnel matters.... The burden of pushing through the confirmation might be too heavy for the administration... and potentially cripple future assembly sessions.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
