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The ruling Uri Party remains determined to push several key bills including the 2006 budget through the National Assembly before the year is out, despite a boycott by the main opposition party that thwarted a ruling-party attempt to call a plenary session on Wednesday. The Grand National Party decided to continue boycotting parliament until the ruling party voids a revised private school law, but Uri lawmakers count on the minor opposition parties to make up the majority it lacks. If this happens, it will be the first time since 1994 that a ruling party unilaterally passes a budget.
The Uri Party in a general meeting on Wednesday confirmed its decision to pass a real estate bill and extend the mandate of Korean troops in Iraq within this year as well and started talks with the Millennium Democratic and Democratic Labor parties.
GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye said, ˇ°If we return to the National Assembly now, it means we admit defeat and recognize the unilateral passage of the private school reform bill.ˇ± MDP floor leader Lee Nak-yon said the party would wait until Friday but pass the bills without the GNP if it does not return.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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