Delay in Special Prosecutor Bill Submission to Cabinet Meeting Despite Opposition Pressure
Korea: "Ruling and Opposition Parties, Please Collaborate to Find a Compromise"
Attention on Consultative Body... Opposition Even Mentions Impeachment
Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo has returned the conclusion on the special investigation laws for the internal rebellion and for Mrs. Kim Geon-hee back to the National Assembly. With the ruling and opposition parties running on parallel tracks and shifting all responsibility to the government, he urged the political circles to come together and discuss the matter, delivering a candid statement. Although the Democratic Party has announced plans to initiate impeachment proceedings, the government still holds the justification as the legally guaranteed deadline for reconsideration remains.
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News
On the morning of the 24th, Acting Prime Minister Han held a Cabinet meeting at the Government Seoul Office and stated, "There are clear limits to what the government can do alone without cooperation from the political circles and understanding from the public," adding, "The essence of politics lies in reconciling differences and uniting the people." The Democratic Party had pressured that if the two special investigation laws were not promulgated by that day, they would proceed to impeach Acting Prime Minister Han, but the government did not even submit the bills to the Cabinet meeting.
Acting Prime Minister Han pointed out, "To wisely handle contentious issues where legal interpretations and political views clash, such as the processing of special investigation laws or the appointment of Constitutional Court justices, it is above all necessary for the ruling and opposition parties to come together." He continued, "We must start with the ruling and opposition parties discussing and negotiating a compromise on how to ensure that the promotion and appointment of special investigations are carried out without any bias according to the Constitution and laws, so that the majority of the public can accept it."
Compared to the government's previous reserved stance, likening the handling of the special investigation laws to a 'complex equation,' Acting Prime Minister Han's remarks have become considerably stronger. By even mentioning the essence of the National Assembly, it is interpreted as a subtle criticism that the ruling and opposition parties are failing to fulfill their roles properly. The deadline for reconsideration of the special investigation laws for the internal rebellion and Mrs. Kim Geon-hee is January 1 of next year, and considering the regular Cabinet meeting schedule, the conclusion must effectively be reached by the 31st of this month.
Speaker Woo Won-shik is taking a commemorative photo with the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
Since the transition to the acting leadership system, the government has consistently emphasized cooperation with the National Assembly. The intention was that contentious issues between the ruling and opposition parties should be coordinated through the 'Ruling-Opposition Council.' Although the Democratic Party immediately initiated impeachment proceedings, the conclusion on the two special investigation laws depends on the first meeting of the council scheduled for the 26th. However, as of two days before the meeting, the People Power Party and the Democratic Party have yet to finalize the agenda.
If no consensus is reached, the 'paralysis of the Cabinet meeting' could become a reality. Some opposition members are even considering impeaching Acting Prime Minister Han and five other Cabinet members in succession. The aim is to create a quorum shortfall, which would prevent the Cabinet meeting from convening and make the exercise of veto power impossible. A senior government official said, "It is hard to believe that they seriously consider such a state as responsible political parties."
Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister Han appointed an Ambassador for International Financial Cooperation on the same day and plans to appoint an Ambassador for International Investment Cooperation soon. This is part of efforts to manage Korea's external credibility and resolve economic uncertainties.
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