새누리당은 27일 민주당이 제안한 ‘4인 협의체’를 통한 대선개입 의혹 특검 도입 논의를 수용하지 않는 쪽으로 가닥을 잡았다. 새누리당은 28일 의원총회를 열어 전체 의원의 의견을 모아 수용거부 공식입장을 확정할 예정이다.

민주당 김한길 대표는 이날 최고위원회의에서 “새누리당은 정국 정상화의 기회를 스스로 걷어차지 말고 빠른 응답을 해주길 바란다”며 거듭 촉구했다.

황우여 대표는 이날 최고중진연석회의를 주재한 자리에서 전날 최고위원들의 의견에 이어 중진 의원들의 의견을 수렴했지만 결론을 내리지 못했다. 중진 의원들 역시 특검 논의를 위한 협의체는 받아들일 수 없다는 의견을 황 대표에게 전달했다. 이들은 민주당의 제안을 사실상 ‘특검-특위 일괄 도입’의 변형판으로 해석한 것으로 전해졌다.

황 대표가 회의가 끝난 뒤 기자들과 만나 “주말까지 의견을 모아보겠다”고 했지만, 의총에서도 야당의 제안을 찬성하는 의견이 나올 가능성은 희박한 상황이다. 정치권에서는 새누리당이 28일 본회의에서 2012년도 결산안을 의결해야 하는 만큼 야당의 반발을 의식해 그때까지 결론을 유보한 게 아니냐는 해석도 나온다.

새누리당은 또 본회의에서 강창희 국회의장의 직권상정을 압박해서라도 황찬현 감사원장 후보자의 임명동의안 역시 함께 처리해야 한다는 복안도 갖고 있다.

현역 최다선인 서청원 의원은 4인 협의체 구성에 회의적인 시각을 보이면서 원내 지도부가 주도하는 협상에 힘을 실어줄 것을 주문한 것으로 전해져 주목된다. 당내에서는 친박(친박근혜) 내부의 역학 구도를 들어, 서 의원이 최경환 원내대표의 ‘정치 현안-예산안•법안 분리론’을 지원하면서 황 대표에 대한 견제에 나선 게 아니냐는 설도 나오고 있다.

민주당은 새누리당의 수용거부에 대비해 ‘플랜B’ 마련에 골몰하고 있는 분위기다.

일단 지도부는 현재로선 예산•법안 상정 및 논의에는 임하되, 의결은 해주지 않는 쪽에 무게를 두고 있는 것으로 알려졌다. 원내 지도부도 이 같은 ‘가이드라인’을 각 상임위에 전달했다는 후문이다. 연말까지 특검에 대한 여야 합의가 도출되지 않는 최악의 상황에 대비, 예산•법안 처리를 무기로 삼겠다는 전략이다. 국회선진화법에 따라 새누리당이 일방적으로 예산•법안을 처리하기 어렵다는 점을 염두에 둔 것이다.

지도부 일각에서는 여권이 수용 가능한 추가 제안을 검토해야 한다는 기류도 있지만, 강경파들은 준예산편성을 하더라도 더 강력한 대응을 해야 한다고 반발하고 있다. (백웅기ㆍ이정아 기자)

<관련 영문 기사>

Parties move further from breakthrough

Saenuri likely to shun DP proposal for special committee

By Lee Joo-hee

The main parties on Wednesday moved further from compromise on the opposition’s demand for a special probe into the government’s alleged electioneering. They instead continued their bickering over the “pro-North” controversy set off by an anti-Park Geun-hye campaign by progressive religious leaders.

Party sources said the ruling Saenuri Party was near a decision not to accept the rival Democratic Party’s suggestion to set up a special committee to discuss the special parliamentary probe into the National Intelligence Service and other government and military organizations accused of campaigning online for then-candidate Park last year.

The Saenuri Party, which asked for three or four days to think the proposal through, reportedly agreed that accepting the DP’s committee idea would effectively be the same as opening a special probe -- something it is resolutely against.

“It is not (desirable) for the time being to immediately form a discussion committee. It seems we would have no escape route if we did so,” said Rep. Suh Chung-won, one of the closest associates of President Park.

The party instead decided to convene a general assembly on Thursday to finalize the decision.

Both parties are facing escalating pressure to scale back their political wrangling and concentrate on the pending budget review and major economic bills. They must also deal with the delayed appointment of the Board of Audit and Inspection chief.

They are also reportedly toying with the idea of having former Saenuri Party member and Assembly speaker Kang Chang-hee put the BAI chief approval bill up for a vote using his discretion.

The party, meanwhile, continued to lambaste the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice, amid signs of an anti-Park campaign spreading among other progressive religious groups.

The Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice has placed itself at the center of political dispute following its Mass on Friday, during which senior priest Park Chang-shin made remarks defending North Korea’s deadly attack against a South Korean island in 2010.

“Supporting North Korea’s argument over the Northern Limit Line and claiming there were irregularities in the ballot (for the presidential election) is a violation of the National Security Act and a spreading of false information,” said Saenuri Rep. Kim Jin-tae.

Saenuri secretary-general Rep. Hong Moon-jong demanded a halt to a scheduled rally by Socially Engaged Buddhist Sangha Association, a group of progressive monks belonging to the Jogye Order, to condemn the current government.

“The association that has been showing biased positions such as demanding the abolishment of the National Security Act and withdrawal of the U.S. troops here are planning a declaration.”

He said such moves would prompt conflict and division while defaming the fallen soldiers from the clash with North Korea.

The DP, for its part, struggled for a breakthrough as it faced growing criticism from the conservatives for aligning with allegedly pro-North forces and neglecting livelihood-related matters. As signs indicate the Saenuri Party is likely to turn down its special committee offer, the leadership is seen to have been pushed into a corner.

“If the Saenuri Party rejects our proposal, it is highly likely for the (dispute) to be driven over the edge as (the leadership) loses justification to persuade their staunch members of the party to seek compromise,” a party source said.

The party, nonetheless, continued to lash out at the ruling camp for turning the situation into a war against “pro-North” figures.

“The party, the government and Cheong Wa Dae are working as one to serve the president as if she is queen and are resorting to ignoring and condemning any opposition voices. They are playing their campaign against the ‘pro-North’ as their trump card by provoking conflict and hatred,” said DP floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun.

(jhl@heraldcorp.com)