DP, PPP talks on parliamentary committee formation end in stalemate ahead of plenary meeting

The ruling and main opposition parties failed to reach an agreement on the formation of the parliamentary standing committees for the second half of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) unilaterally recommended 11 parliamentary committee chiefs, including the chair of the legislation and judiciary committee, ahead of a plenary session set for later in the day.

In response, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said it filed a document with parliament in protest of Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik's appointment of PPP lawmakers as members of the respective committees.

The rival parties have been wrangling for weeks over how to distribute the parliamentary committee chairmanships, with the two sides remaining especially at loggerheads over who should chair the judiciary committee, a key panel that has the power to approve bills before they are put to a plenary vote.

DP floor leader Han Byung-do and his main opposition PPP counterpart, Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig, sat down for last-minute talks earlier in the day but failed to reach a compromise.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jeong stressed that "checks and balances would be undermined" unless the PPP chairs the judiciary committee.

The DP has the majority needed to unilaterally elect standing committee chiefs, as it currently holds 161 out of 300 seats in the Assembly.

Yonhap