Parties' parliamentary committee talks fail again; ruling party proposes 11 chairpersons

Negotiations between South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) over the formation of parliamentary committees have once again ended in failure. The deadlock persists just weeks after the general election, highlighting deep political divisions.

The PPP proposed electing chairpersons for 11 standing committees, including the powerful Legislation and Judiciary Committee. However, the DP has rejected this proposal, demanding that the ruling party concede leadership of key committees, including the aforementioned Legislation and Judiciary Committee, as well as the Steering Committee and the Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee.

This latest breakdown in talks signals a continued struggle for control over the National Assembly's agenda. The DP, having secured a majority in the recent election, is pushing to lead key committees, while the PPP aims to retain influence. The inability to agree on committee chairpersons obstructs the legislative process and raises concerns about the functioning of the new parliament.