Government Recommends Presidential Veto on Labor Union Act and Broadcasting Act
Democrats Say "Isn't a 5-Year President Too Reckless?"
Justice Party Mentions 'Jeon Du-hwan' Saying "Hell Will Repeat"
The opposition parties have collectively reacted against the government's recommendation on the 1st to President Yoon Seok-yeol to exercise the right of reconsideration (veto) on the 'Yellow Envelope Act' and the 'Broadcasting 3 Acts.' The opposition criticized, mentioning even 'Jeon Du-hwan,' saying that "the National Assembly and judiciary have been made into puppets," while the People Power Party defended it as "a natural outcome for laws that the public is concerned about." With the legal deadline for budget approval just a day away and personnel hearings following the cabinet reshuffle ahead, the year-end political climate is expected to become even colder.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, saying, "The exercise of the veto is not right," and added, "There is a high level of national consensus and a strong need to amend the bills, so exercising the veto for political reasons is not an attitude the government and ruling party responsible for state affairs should take." Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also warned, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government has chosen the path of arrogance and self-righteousness," and said, "The floor leadership and related standing committee members will go to Yongsan (Presidential Office) after the Supreme Council meeting to hold a protest demonstration."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Jeong Cheong-rae, Supreme Council member, criticized, saying, "The constitutional spirit is being broken, and the veto is exercised as if it were a routine matter," and asked, "Isn't a five-year president too fearless?" He added, "He might become a president rejected by the people," and said, "You reap what you sow." Seo Young-kyo, Supreme Council member, pointed out, "The president ignored the will of the workers and the passage of the bill by the National Assembly that followed that will," and said, "Is there any president who succeeds by trampling on farmers, nurses, workers, and freedom of the press like this? The veto is extremely arrogant."
The Democratic Party's Special Committee on Media Freedom also issued a statement, calling it "a declaration of war against the people who will not stop the takeover of broadcasting," and condemned, "President Yoon, who is taking over broadcasting by putting forward Lee Dong-gwan as chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, ignored the people's urgent demands and exercised the veto." They added, "The legitimacy of impeaching Chairman Lee Dong-gwan has become clearer," and warned, "By abusing the veto on bills passed by the National Assembly, the basic values of separation of powers and democracy are being shaken. President Yoon's abuse of the veto will be judged by the people."
The Justice Party also joined in. Bae Jin-kyo, floor leader, issued a statement saying, "President Yoon Seok-yeol has made the National Assembly and judiciary puppets in an instant," and criticized, "What is the use of the National Assembly making laws by gathering the voices of the people, debating, and passing them?" He added, "Using the military for violent suppression like Jeon Du-hwan is not the only form of massacre and human rights oppression," and criticized, "A hellish scene will be repeated where workers' daily lives collapse under hundreds of billions in damages, falling from cranes, and self-immolation."
Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Earlier that day, the government, at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Deok-su, resolved to request reconsideration on the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting 3 Acts. The Yellow Envelope Act refers to the amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, and the Broadcasting 3 Acts refer to amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, respectively. Prime Minister Han pointed out problems such as the Yellow Envelope Act "encouraging illegal strikes" and the Broadcasting 3 Acts "regressing the independence of public broadcasting." If President Yoon exercises the veto on these bills, it will be the third veto after the Grain Management Act and the Nursing Act.
The ruling party holds the position that such a veto is a legitimate judgment. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the party's floor countermeasure meeting that morning, "(The Yellow Envelope Act and Broadcasting 3 Acts) are laws that raise serious concerns about social conflict," and pointed out, "There are many problems with the content of the Broadcasting 3 Acts from the perspective of broadcasting fairness." He added, "The public is very worried, and our party has consistently pointed out the problems," and said, "Since we have clearly expressed opposition even before the bills were forcibly passed, this is a natural conclusion."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
