In the Press
Leaders of ruling, main opposition parties to hold their 1st official talks Sunday
- Aug 22, 2024
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SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- The leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) will hold talks over the weekend, PPP officials said Monday, in what would be their first official meeting.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon will meet with Lee Jae-myung, who was reelected as the chief of the DP the previous day, at the National Assembly on Sunday afternoon, the ruling party said in a notice to the press.
It marks the first time that they will hold bilateral talks as chiefs of the ruling and main opposition parties. But both sides are still in talks over details of the upcoming meeting, such as agenda items.
Earlier in the day, Han welcomed an offer of talks by Lee, while congratulating Lee on his reelection and voiced hope their envisioned meeting could lead to "substantial progress" on several stalled livelihood-related issues.
"I hope we can set a time and place as soon as possible," Han said.
Lee, who won a second term with a record high share of the vote Sunday, proposed bilateral talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol to address what he called the "most pressing" task of recovering people's livelihoods.
He also offered to hold separate bilateral talks with Han to discuss "pressing issues," most notably a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the death of a young Marine conscript last year during a search for flood victims.
Earlier this month, the rival parties agreed to swiftly deal with bills on livelihood issues that were left aside amid monthslong partisan disputes over other contentious issues, including the special counsel bill.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
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[Photo] This undated file photo shows Han Dong-hoon (R), leader of the ruling People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, chief of the main opposition Democratic Party. (Yonhap)
