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박근혜 대통령이 2일 청와대에서 김진태 검찰총장, 문형표 보건복지부장관 후보자와 황찬현 감사원장을 공식 임명했다.
박 대통령은 지난달 28일 황 감사원장 후보자의 인준안이 국회에서 여당 단독으로 처리된 뒤 경색된 국회 상황 등을 고려해 세 사람의 공식 임명을 미뤄왔다.
하지만 감사원과 검찰 조직의 안정, 기초연금 파동 수습 등 국정운영의 정상화를 위해 더이상 임명을 미룰 수 없다고 판단한 것으로 풀이된다.
특히 국회가 예산안 법정처리 시한인 이날을 넘기며 대치하는 상황에서 감사원과 검찰 등 사정라인과 내각의 공백을 하루빨리 메워 국정혼란을 줄여야 한다는게 청와대의 판단이었던 것으로 알려졌다.
이정현 청와대 홍보수석은 이번 임명이 4자회담에 미칠 여파에 대해 "일단 정치적인 고려는 없다. 국정을 미 룰 수 없는 상황"이라며 "4자회담에 특별히 영향을 줄 것으로 보지않는다"고 말했다.
그러나 민주당이 문 복지장관 후보가 불법 유흥업소에서 법인카드를 사용한 의혹을 받고 있는 것과 관련해 문 후보자의 임명을 반대한데다 국회 정상화를 위한 여야 4자회담이 진행되는 와중에 박 대통령이 임명에 나섬에 따라 야권이 더욱 반발할 가능성을 배제할 수 없다.
민주당은 이날 박 대통령이 야당의 반대에도 임명을 강행한 것에 대해 "오만과 독선, 독기까지 어린 불통과 일방통행에 분노하지 않을 수 없다"고 밝혔다.
정의당은 이번 임명을 두고 "박 대통령의 야당 뒤통수치기"라며 "'여야 합의를 존중하겠다'던 약속은 빈말에 불과한 것이었는지 묻지 않을 수 없다"고 비판했다.
이날 여야 4자회담은 성과없이 종료됐다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Defiant Park appoints top officials
By Choi He-suk
President Park Geun-hye pressed ahead with her controversial appointment of senior officials Monday despite strong objection from opposition parties.
Park formally appointed Hwang Chan-hyon as chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Moon Hyung-pyo as minister of health and welfare and Kim Jin-tae as new prosecutor general Monday.
The move came hours after the leaders of the two main parties met in an unsuccessful bid to find common ground to resolve a political stalemate that includes an opposition boycott of the National Assembly.
Park’s move is likely to add to existing political tension. The DP has opposed Moon’s selection especially, citing irregularities in his use of a corporate credit card while working at the state think-tank the Korea Development Institute.
The DP has dug its heels in, linking Moon’s appointment with that of Hwang, and saying that it would only approve Hwang if the former resigned.
But the ruling Saenuri Party, which holds 155 of the 300 parliamentary seats, processed Hwang’s appointment Thursday, inciting fierce criticism and threats of legal action from the DP.
The development led to a DP boycott of parliamentary processes starting Friday. The move, which Kim Han-gil has declared that he will see to its end, with his chairmanship on the line, has raised concerns about the pasing of the national budget for next year.
In response, the Saenuri Party had planned to put the budget up for review unilaterally until the four-way meeting was agreed to.
The meeting was attended by Saenuri chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea and his DP counterpart Rep. Kim Han-gil met along with their floor leaders, Reps. Choi Kyung-hwan and Jun Byung-hun.
“As the people want the regular session of the National Assembly to have good results, the ruling and opposition parties will try to reach an agreement,” Hwang said.
He added that he and Kim would discuss “all issues with an open-minded.”
Kim, however, took a more aggressive approach, opening with an attack on the Saenuri Party.
“Politics has disappeared. As it is, the future of the country cannot be considered,” Kim said.
He went on to repeat the reason he suggested holding a four-member conference on Nov. 25, accusing the ruling party of ignoring his attempt to normalize Assembly operations. According to Kim’s suggestion, the inter-party conference would focus on issues surrounding the launch of a special counsel investigation into alleged election meddling by state agencies and a special parliamentary committee on reforming the National Intelligence Service.
“Although Hwang requested three or four days to answer, the Saenuri Party answered by rushing through the appointment of the Board of Audit and Inspection chief on the fourth day.”
The meeting, however, produced no results apart from the two sides scheduling another meeting for Tuesday.
As the two sides attempted to find middle ground, the DP continued its protest over the approval of Hwang Chan-hyon’s nomination.
On Monday the DP submitted a resolution calling for National Assembly speaker Rep. Kang Chang-hee’s resignation.
After Hwang Chan-hyon’s nomination was approved, the DP attacked Kang, saying that he violated the National Assembly Act in denying the opposition’s right to filibuster the motion. In addition, DP lawmakers claim that Kang violated their right to vote by declaring the vote complete when they had made it clear that they intended to cast their ballots.
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
Defiant Park appoints top officials
By Choi He-suk
President Park Geun-hye pressed ahead with her controversial appointment of senior officials Monday despite strong objection from opposition parties.
Park formally appointed Hwang Chan-hyon as chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Moon Hyung-pyo as minister of health and welfare and Kim Jin-tae as new prosecutor general Monday.
The move came hours after the leaders of the two main parties met in an unsuccessful bid to find common ground to resolve a political stalemate that includes an opposition boycott of the National Assembly.
Park’s move is likely to add to existing political tension. The DP has opposed Moon’s selection especially, citing irregularities in his use of a corporate credit card while working at the state think-tank the Korea Development Institute.
The DP has dug its heels in, linking Moon’s appointment with that of Hwang, and saying that it would only approve Hwang if the former resigned.
But the ruling Saenuri Party, which holds 155 of the 300 parliamentary seats, processed Hwang’s appointment Thursday, inciting fierce criticism and threats of legal action from the DP.
The development led to a DP boycott of parliamentary processes starting Friday. The move, which Kim Han-gil has declared that he will see to its end, with his chairmanship on the line, has raised concerns about the pasing of the national budget for next year.
In response, the Saenuri Party had planned to put the budget up for review unilaterally until the four-way meeting was agreed to.
The meeting was attended by Saenuri chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea and his DP counterpart Rep. Kim Han-gil met along with their floor leaders, Reps. Choi Kyung-hwan and Jun Byung-hun.
“As the people want the regular session of the National Assembly to have good results, the ruling and opposition parties will try to reach an agreement,” Hwang said.
He added that he and Kim would discuss “all issues with an open-minded.”
Kim, however, took a more aggressive approach, opening with an attack on the Saenuri Party.
“Politics has disappeared. As it is, the future of the country cannot be considered,” Kim said.
He went on to repeat the reason he suggested holding a four-member conference on Nov. 25, accusing the ruling party of ignoring his attempt to normalize Assembly operations. According to Kim’s suggestion, the inter-party conference would focus on issues surrounding the launch of a special counsel investigation into alleged election meddling by state agencies and a special parliamentary committee on reforming the National Intelligence Service.
“Although Hwang requested three or four days to answer, the Saenuri Party answered by rushing through the appointment of the Board of Audit and Inspection chief on the fourth day.”
The meeting, however, produced no results apart from the two sides scheduling another meeting for Tuesday.
As the two sides attempted to find middle ground, the DP continued its protest over the approval of Hwang Chan-hyon’s nomination.
On Monday the DP submitted a resolution calling for National Assembly speaker Rep. Kang Chang-hee’s resignation.
After Hwang Chan-hyon’s nomination was approved, the DP attacked Kang, saying that he violated the National Assembly Act in denying the opposition’s right to filibuster the motion. In addition, DP lawmakers claim that Kang violated their right to vote by declaring the vote complete when they had made it clear that they intended to cast their ballots.
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
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