'If Ruling and Opposition Agree, Veto Power Minimized?' Asked
"Saying We'll Accept It Unconditionally If Agreed Violates Constitution"
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaking to reporters at the Sejong Government Complex on the 18th. Photo by Song Seung-seop
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on the 18th, "The president's right to request reconsideration (veto power) is a sacred authority, and if it is not properly exercised, I believe it constitutes a serious constitutional violation."
On the same day, Prime Minister Han made this remark during a meeting with reporters at the Government Complex Sejong when asked, "Are you willing to minimize the use of veto power on bills agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties, including the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act?"
President Yoon Suk-yeol returned the "Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Investigation of Obstruction and Concealment of the Death of a Marine in the Line of Duty" (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act), which the opposition party passed unilaterally in the National Assembly on the 9th, back to the legislature. This is the eighth time President Yoon has exercised his right to request reconsideration since taking office, involving a total of 15 bills.
Prime Minister Han explained, "From the executive branch's perspective, working with the ruling party means that bipartisan agreement is an important factor in the exercise of veto power," but added, "The executive and legislative branches must maintain checks and balances, and our constitution does not stipulate that we must accept a bill just because it has bipartisan agreement."
He also emphasized, "It has been rare for important laws to be passed unilaterally until now," and "In particular, the special prosecutor system, which is a significant exception to the existing judicial order, has never been accepted after being passed by the sole decision of one party."
Regarding resident doctors who have not returned to work, he appealed again, saying, "Please make the right decision by September after careful consideration." Prime Minister Han stated, "Resident doctors who have not returned to work now are very important members of our medical community," and added, "The Minister of Health and Welfare and the Deputy Minister of Education have proposed several flexible measures to accommodate the convenience of resident doctors."
He continued, "I reflect on the fact that our government has not been able to take measures for doctors, nurses, and trainees working within the medical system," and appealed, "We have a strong will to create a sustainable medical system, and I hope the resident doctors and students who are away from hospitals will understand."
Meanwhile, regarding his future position, Prime Minister Han said, "I am waiting for the president's decision." Although he expressed his intention to resign after the general election in April, he remains in office. He said, "The president's request is to ensure that there is no disruption to the entire state affairs," and added, "There have been no additional remarks recently."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
