Rival political parties on Monday remained divided over President Park Geun-hye’s speech to the National Assembly.
The ruling Saenuri Party hailed her position to “unconditionally respect the decision” of both parties as a gesture of goodwill to break the political deadlock, as her initial stance had been more adamant against discussing the opposition’s demands relevant to the on-going prosecutorial probes.
“President Park clarified that she would respect and accept all issues upon agreement by the rival parties. This is perceived as (Park’s) acceptance of much of the opposition’s demands and the Assembly must now focus on our discussion,” said Saenuri spokesman Rep. Yoo Il-ho.
The opposition Democratic Party, on the other hand, snubbed Park’s message as insufficient and immediately stepped up its offensive.
“The president said a lot, but there was no right answer,” said DP chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil.
“We cannot cook rice with lukewarm water,” he added, indicating Park’s position fell short of breaking the standoff at the Assembly. The spat is expected to reassert itself during the government interpellation sessions this week, and the 2012 budget settlement and 2014 budget approval.
Kim, however, added that he paid attention to how Park said she would respect the agreement between the parties, saying that, regarding the DP’s demands, “A change in the Saenuri Party’s attitude must follow in order to secure sincerity in Park’s response.”
The DP has demanded Park accept a special investigation into the suspected interference of state agencies in last year’s presidential election via negative online campaigning against the opposition contender, and to create a special committee for the reform of the National Intelligence Service.
The party decided to submit petitions Tuesday for the dismissal of Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, National Intelligence Service chief Nam Jae-joon and Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Sung-choon.
Hwang has been accused of interfering in the probe into the NIS by prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol. Yoon headed the investigation until he was taken off the case for ignoring protocol.
The DP claims that the NIS chief’s decision to reveal parts of the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript to Saenuri Party lawmakers was illegal.
In addition, the party is seeking the removal of Park after the ministry was found to have used booklets that branded progressive politicians ― including late presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun ― as pro-North Korea.
The ruing and opposition parties are also clashing over the delayed appointments of key government posts, including the chiefs of the Board of Audit and Inspection and the Welfare Ministry.
“It is incredibly disappointing as (her speech) showed how she perceives the grave situation of today,” said DP’s senior spokesman Rep. Kim Kwan-young.
“Even though she is the person responsible for having stoked the disarray through a series of illegal actions by the state organizations such as the NIS and the Justice Ministry since her term began, Park has effectively shifted all responsibility to politics without even a minimal indication of apology.”
Standing committee meetings that had been scheduled for after Park’s speech were canceled one by one as tension between the rival parties escalated.
By Lee Joo-hee ()
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
