Marine Corps Special Prosecutor Act and Local Currency Act Reconsideration Requested Together
Han Deok-su "Geo-ya, Forcing Legislation Divides Public Opinion"
Yoon, If Vetoes All 3 Bills, Total 24 Cases
The government has passed a request for reconsideration on three contentious bills, including the so-called 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' forcibly passed by the opposition party. President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to exercise his veto power on these bills.
On the morning of the 30th, the government held a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and passed the request for reconsideration on the ▲Special Prosecutor Act for First Lady Kim Geon-hee ▲Special Prosecutor Act for the Marine Corps Death Incident ▲Local Currency Act. These bills were unilaterally passed by the opposition party on the 19th. If President Yoon approves the request for reconsideration, the bills will return to the National Assembly for a re-deliberation process. The deadline for President Yoon to exercise his reconsideration right (veto) is until the 4th of next month.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is attending and speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 30th. At the meeting, the Cabinet is scheduled to review and decide on the right to request reconsideration (veto) of three bills, including the 'Special Investigation Act on Mrs. Kim Geon-hee' and the 'Special Investigation Act on Marine Corps Corporal Chae,' which the opposition party forcibly passed in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Han said, "The ruling by the major opposition party continues unabated," adding, "The unprecedented abuse of legislative power is ongoing, causing politics to disappear and threatening the constitutional order of separation of powers." He continued, "Concerns are growing daily that the National Assembly is dividing public opinion by prioritizing partisan interests over representing the people's interests."
Prime Minister Han explained that the opposition party had already requested reconsideration of the special prosecutor bills forcibly passed again, citing violations of the constitutional principle of separation of powers and the principles of subsidiarity and exceptionality of the special prosecutor system, and that all were rejected and discarded after re-deliberation. He pointed out, "The opposition party has once again unilaterally passed bills whose unconstitutionality has not been resolved at all."
Regarding the 'Local Currency Act,' he expressed concern that "it undermines the foundation of local government autonomy and may infringe on the government's budgetary authority granted by the Constitution," and warned that "it will cause a 'rich get richer, poor get poorer' phenomenon where more national resources are invested in local governments with sufficient financial capacity."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is attending and speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 30th. At the meeting, the Cabinet is scheduled to review and decide on the right to request reconsideration (veto) of three bills, including the 'Special Investigation Act on Mrs. Kim Keon-hee' and the 'Special Investigation Act on Marine Corps Corporal Chae,' which were forcibly passed by the opposition party in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
The 'Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Truth Investigation into the Stock Price Manipulation Case Involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee,' which was passed for reconsideration on this day, defines eight allegations, including the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case in which First Lady Kim is suspected to be involved, as subjects of investigation.
The 'Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Truth Investigation into the Obstruction of Investigation and Cover-up of the Death of a Marine' aims to uncover the truth behind allegations of undue external pressure during the investigation of the case where Corporal Chae went missing and died while searching for missing persons at a flood disaster site in July last year.
The 'Amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Use of Local Love Gift Certificates' focuses on changing the financial support necessary for the operation of local love gift certificates for the government and local governments from a discretionary nature to an obligatory one.
The Presidential Office has previously announced its intention to exercise veto power on these bills, calling them "unconstitutional bills." If President Yoon approves the request for reconsideration, the number of bills vetoed since his inauguration will increase to 24.
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