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Dec. 2 was the deadline set by the Constitution for the National Assembly to ratify the government¡¯s proposed budget. But work was paralyzed on Tuesday. The opposition, including the Democratic and Liberty Forward parties, has been boycotting passage of the budget since last week, and among the standing committees, those for planning and finance and education, science and technology have yet to finalize even budget consultations with related ministries, which should have been completed a while ago.
Since 2003, the National Assembly has set a record for failing to meet the Constitutional deadline for the budget for the sixth-straight year. The previous record was from 1998 to 2001. For a legislative body such as the National Assembly to ignore the Constitution is tantamount to denying the reason for its own existence.
This year¡¯s budget is more important than in previous years because it will play a key role in overcoming the economic crisis. It contains W4.6 trillion (US$1=W1,467) to boost job creation by providing social service projects and internships for young Koreans, W3.4716 trillion to support the jobless, W1 trillion to help people open their own businesses, W270 billion in assistance funding for small and mid-sized exporters, and other economic stimulus measures.
The reason the Constitution set Dec. 2 as the deadline for the passage of the budget is because it takes 30 days to execute the bill, including announcing it, coming up with quarterly and monthly plans and a Cabinet vote. At the end of last year, when the main opposition Democratic Party was the ruling political camp, then prime minister Han Duck-soo said 250,000 Koreans could lose their jobs if the budget is not ratified on time. That number is expected to rise to 340,000 this year.
The opposition parties say they cannot accept the government¡¯s budget proposal since it is based on the flawed projection that Korea¡¯s economy will grow 4 percent next year, while various tax reduction measures are feared to lead to a massive W17.6 trillion fiscal deficit. The opposition parties are waiting until their demands for a new budget proposal is met.
The DP may be boycotting ratification in order to protect the rights of middle and low-income Koreans. But its claims are full of holes. It would be better to make proper demands in the process of reviewing the budget to win the support of the public. And the ruling Grand National Party should not simply pressure the opposition parties but demonstrate the leadership that can win over lawmakers on the other side.
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