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South Korean lawmakers end filibuster over anti-terror bill South Korean lawmakers end filibuster over anti-terror bill
(35 minutes later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Outnumbered South Korean opposition lawmakers have ended more than a week of nonstop speeches in the National Assembly aimed at delaying a vote on the country’s first anti-terror legislation. SEOUL, South Korea — Outnumbered South Korean opposition lawmakers on Wednesday ended more than a week of nonstop speeches in the National Assembly aimed at delaying a vote on the country’s first anti-terror legislation.
The 38 liberal lawmakers say the bill threatens personal freedoms and privacy. They had taken turns speaking in the filibuster since Feb. 23. The 39 liberal lawmakers said the bill threatens personal freedoms and privacy. They took turns speaking for more than 193 hours in the filibuster beginning Feb. 23, reportedly making it one of the longest of its kind in world politics.
They stopped their marathon speeches Wednesday out of concern that a continuation might cause a public backlash ahead of April parliamentary elections. They decided to stop the marathon speeches Wednesday out of concern that a continuation might cause a public backlash ahead of April parliamentary elections.
The assembly is expected to put the anti-terror bill to a vote later Wednesday.The assembly is expected to put the anti-terror bill to a vote later Wednesday.
The filibuster continued for 193 hours, reportedly making it one of the longest of its kind in world politics. Lee Jong Kul of the Minjoo Party, the last speaker, spoke for 12 hours and 35 minutes before leaving the podium in the evening, breaking the record for the country’s longest parliamentary speech that had been set Saturday by fellow opposition legislator Jung Cheong Rae, who spoke for 11 hours and 39 minutes.
Government officials are pushing for the bill’s passage, citing threats from North Korea. President Park Geun-hye’s conservative government has called for the bill’s quick passage, citing threats from North Korea following its recent nuclear test and rocket launch.
Filibusters to block legislative action made a comeback in South Korean politics in 2012 under a law designed to improve parliamentary politics. Before that, partisan strife was so acute that rival lawmakers sometimes engaged in violent shoving matches.
The anti-terror bill would enable the country’s spy agency to wiretap phone conversations and collect the personal information of suspects.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.