Party Disputes in Judiciary Committee Instead of Plenary Session
"Trick to Block Fast-Track" vs "Obstruction of Investigation"
Joint Special Prosecutor Bill Misses March National Assembly Session
The special prosecutor law regarding the Daejang-dong 5 billion won club incident was submitted to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session on the 30th. Amid the collapse of the March push for the Daejang-dong and Kim Geon-hee 'double special prosecutor' bills due to opposition from the Justice Party, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in fierce debates over the necessity of the special prosecutor.
The special prosecutor laws submitted that day included three bills, such as the 'Special Prosecutor Law for the Truth Investigation of the Hwacheon Daeyu 5 Billion Club Bribery Suspicion Incident' led by Justice Party lawmaker Kang Eun-mi. However, the special prosecutor bill related to suspicions of stock manipulation involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee was not submitted that day.
The Democratic Party strongly opposed the very submission of the agenda to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, calling it a trick to block the fast-track process. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye said in a substitute debate, "If the overwhelming majority of the people demand the truth of the Daejang-dong special prosecutor, but this demand is diluted and further used as a trick to prevent the fast-track process in the plenary session, then all of us here, including the chairpersons of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, will find it difficult to escape historical guilt."
Park Beom-gye: "Trick to Block Fast-Track Is a Historical Guilt"
However, Park Hyung-soo of the People Power Party countered, saying, "The National Assembly adopts a standing committee-centered system," and "It is normal procedure to submit and discuss matters in the standing committee." Park also pointed out, "You want to fast-track it in the plenary session? Isn't that a trick?"
Minister Han also supported the view that the special prosecutor would rather hinder the investigation. Minister Han said, "A special prosecutor is supplementary when there is a lack of investigative ability or will," and added, "The current prosecution is not the same as the one that investigated former lawmaker Kwak in the past." He emphasized, "If the special prosecutor proceeds, there is a high risk that the investigation revealing the essence of the corruption in the early stages will be halted, so even if there is goodwill, it will ultimately be an obstruction."
Jo Jeong-hoon, a member of the Transition Era party and the only member from a non-negotiating group, expressed regret that the plenary session was convened not for the people's livelihood but for the special prosecutor. He said, "I regret that the plenary session was convened for the special prosecutor, not for the people's livelihood," and directly criticized Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, saying, "The clause that only the Democratic Party can recommend is absolutely unacceptable because you are a party with a vested interest."
In response, lawmaker Park Beom-gye said, "The investigation target of the 5 billion won club special prosecutor has nothing to do with Leader Lee," and added, "The purpose is to investigate the 5 billion won club to find out the main issue, but you are already making assumptions and setting guidelines." Minister Han countered, "The person indicted as the key suspect in the breach of trust case is Leader Lee, and the lobbying was done as a legal defense."
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee decided to discuss the special prosecutor bills related to the 5 billion won club suspicions later in the first subcommittee for bill examination.
Democrats: "Double Special Prosecutor Bills to Be Processed in April National Assembly"
The Justice Party remains negative about the fast-track process for the double special prosecutor bills pushed by the Democratic Party. Justice Party floor leader Lee Eun-joo said at the morning executive committee meeting, "A fast-track without purpose will become a 'veto track' leading directly to the president's veto," and added, "We clearly state that the fast-track is the Justice Party's 'last track' toward justice and truth."
In response, Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun declared at the afternoon party meeting, "The Democratic Party will definitely process both special prosecutor bills in the April National Assembly," and said, "If the Legislation and Judiciary Committee does not submit and process the special prosecutor bills by next week, we will again consult with the Justice Party and push the special prosecutor bills through the fast-track until the last moment."
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