Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, speaks during a meeting at the election office of Democratic Party South Gyeongsang governor candidate Kim Kyoung-soo in Seongsan District, Changwon, South Gyeongsang, on May 20. [YONHAP]
Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party (DP), said Wednesday that the ruling party would ensure the second half of the 22nd National Assembly would function according to the principle of a “working Assembly” and would not allow parliamentary procedures to become tools for obstructing state affairs. Regarding the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, traditionally one of the most contested posts during negotiations over Assembly leadership, Han added that he had “no intention” of yielding the position to the opposition People Power Party.
His remarks followed controversial comments by DP leader Jung Chung-rae, who recently said he had even considered taking all standing committee chairmanships for the ruling party during negotiations over the Assembly’s second-half structure. Han himself had previously made remarks to a similar effect. Meanwhile, Cho Jeong-sik, recently selected as the DP’s candidate for National Assembly speaker, also stirred controversy after saying he would prioritize speed over bipartisan cooperation in passing legislation tied to the government’s agenda.
The DP’s heavy-handed operation of the Assembly is hardly a new phenomenon. Still, such comments emerging even before formal negotiations over committee assignments have begun are deeply concerning. They suggest the ruling party views the opposition not as a partner in dialogue aimed at finding broadly acceptable compromises, but as an obstacle blocking the government’s agenda.
Attempting to exclude the opposition merely because it opposes government policies or legislation is a classic feature of majoritarian dominance. It also conflicts with the parliamentary democratic principle of checks and balances.
Under the National Assembly Act, a party holding a majority of seats can theoretically monopolize all 18 standing committee chairmanships. Yet previous Assemblies distributed those positions between ruling and opposition parties according to seat ratios and often assigned the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship to the opposition. The practice reflected a parliamentary belief that power subject to oversight ultimately benefits both the public and the state.
When political conventions are overturned through numerical strength alone, the harmful consequences of unchecked power inevitably follow. The DP itself recently experienced such backlash when it aggressively pushed a special counsel bill on alleged prosecutorial manipulation, only to face criticism that it was intended to help cancel the president’s criminal indictment. The party was ultimately forced to retreat.
A truly “working National Assembly” begins with recognizing the opposition and engaging in deliberation together. Speed alone cannot justify excluding dissenting voices. One-sided rule and legislative efficiency are not synonymous.
거대 여당의 독주가 ‘일하는 국회’와 동의어 될 순 없다
한병도 더불어민주당 원내대표가 어제 22대 국회 후반기 원 구성 및 상임위원장 배분과 관련, “일하는 국회라는 원칙에 따라 국정 발목잡기용이 되지 않게 하겠다”고 했다. 원 구성 때마다 쟁점인 법사위원장에 대해서는 “국민의힘에 양보할 생각이 없다”고 했다. 앞서 정청래 민주당 대표는 “후반기 원 구성 때 상임위원회를 다 가져올까 하는 생각도 든다”고 발언해 논란이 됐고, 한 원내대표도 같은 취지의 발언을 한 적이 있다. 최근 국회의장 후보에 선출된 조정식 민주당 의원도 “입법에 협치보다 속도를 앞세우겠다”고 했다가 중립성 논란을 일으켰다.
원내 절대다수 의석을 차지한 민주당의 독단적인 국회 운영이 어제오늘의 일이 아니라지만, 야당에서 집권여당이 된 뒤 임하는 첫 원 구성 협상 전부터 이런 말이 나오는 것은 대단히 우려스럽다. 대화의 파트너로 야당을 보는 게 아니라 국정의 발목을 잡는 걸림돌로 보는 인식이 발언의 배경에 깔려 있는 것으로 보이기 때문이다. 정부 정책과 입법에 반대한다는 이유로 야당을 배제하려는 태도는 다수 독재의 전형적인 행태다. 견제와 균형이라는 의회 민주주의의 원칙에도 맞지 않는다.
국회법에 따르면 과반 의석을 확보한 정당이 18개 상임위원장을 독식할 수 있다. 그런데도 역대 국회가 의석수 비율에 따라 여야에 위원장을 배분하고 법사위원장을 야당 몫으로 한 것은 권력이 견제를 받는 게 결국 국민과 국가에 유익하다는 의회주의에 대한 믿음 때문이다. 숫자와 힘으로 관행을 깨면 독재의 해악이 뒤따른다. 민주당이 조작기소 특검법을 밀어붙이다 ‘대통령 공소취소용’이라는 역풍을 맞고 한발 물러선 것도 반대 여론과 숙의 절차를 도외시한 결과였다. 야당을 인정하고 함께 숙의하는 협치의 자세에서 진정한 ‘일하는 국회’가 시작된다. 속도만 앞세우고 야당을 배제하는 독단이 ‘일하는 국회’와 동의어가 될 순 없다.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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