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Wed, August 17, 2022 | 06:39
-------------------------
President chides 2 lawmakers
朴대통령 "도를 넘는 과격발언은 정쟁을 위한 것"
Posted : 2013-12-10 17:14
Updated : 2013-12-10 17:14
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By Jun Ji-hye

President Park Geun-hye scolded two defiant opposition lawmakers at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

"Such extreme remarks crossed the line, and cause political strife and national conflict. That is not for the people and this country," Park said.

Rep. Chang Ha-na of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said she could not accept the result of last year's presidential election, while Rep. Yang Seung-jo, also of the DP, said Park would face a similar fate as her father, the late President Park Chung-hee who was assassinated by his then chief of the intelligence agency.

The governing Saenuri Party submitted a motion to the National Assembly Ethics Committee to deprive the two lawmakers of their seats. Rep. Kim Do-eup submitted it on the behalf of all 115 of the party's lawmakers.

Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, floor leader of the ruling party, said, "Reps. Chang and Yang refused to offer minimal courtesy by making a scathing verbal attack against President Park using the tragic history involving her family."

He added, "The ruling party cannot let it slide this time as the two denied the legitimacy of the Park government and insulted a considerable number of people who voted for her."

Chang has been at the center of a controversy since she declared Sunday that she refused to accept the result of the election, saying it was "unfairly conducted" due to National Intelligence Service (NIS) launching a smear campaign against Park's opponents. She said the President should step down and the next year's local elections should include one to elect a new president.

A day after Chang made the remarks, Yang added fuel to the controversy by saying "if President Park maintains silence regarding the NIS incident, she might follow in footstep of her late father."

Chang and Yang said they have no intention of making an apology.

The former said she cannot acknowledge the election result because civil servants, paid with taxpayers' money, staged election campaigning that favored Park.

"The chances of the expulsion motion being approved are lower than those of President Park voluntarily stepping down, because remarks made by lawmakers are not cause for dismissal," said the first-term lawmaker.

Yang, a member of the DP's Supreme Council, claimed his remarks were distorted by the governing party and Cheong Wa Dae.

"I just wanted to say that Park should get out of her self-righteousness and arrogance, and return to the public as she is the only one who can resolve all the difficulties facing the country," he said, adding that he will not apologize for his "honest advice."

The largest opposition party criticized the ruling party, claiming it was unqualified to attack the two lawmakers as it was the originator of denying election results.

"Ruling party heavyweight Kim Moo-sung said in September 2003 that he would never acknowledge then President late Roh Moo-hyun as head of state. The party eventually submitted a motion to impeach Roh in March 2004," said Rep. Jung Cheong-rae.

Jung said the roots of all the problems are the alleged NIS scandal and the Park government's attempts to interfere in the prosecution's investigation into it.

"One of the most significant rights in a democratic society is the right to speak. The ruling party's move to expel Chang and Yang due to their remarks is just fear politics that the North Korea would play," he said.


朴대통령 "도를 넘는 과격발언은 정쟁을 위한 것"

국무회의서 양승조·장하나 발언 우회 겨냥
'김정은 공포정치로 남북관계 더 불안해질 수 있어'


    박근혜 대통령은 10일 '지금 국론 분열과 갈등을 부추기고 도를 넘는 과격한 발언을 하는 것은 결코 국가와 국민을 위한 것이 아니라 정쟁을 위한 것이리라고 국민께서 판단할 것으로 생각한다'고 말했다.

    박 대통령은 이날 국무회의를 주재하면서 '우리가 여전히 과거에 발목 잡혀서 정쟁으로 치닫고 앞으로 나아가지 못하고 있어 정말 안타깝다'며 이같이 밝혔다.

    이러한 박 대통령의 언급은 박정희 전 대통령 암살사건을 거론하면서 박 대통령이 그런 전철을 밟을 수 있다는 취지의 발언을 한 민주당 양승조 최고위원과 박 대통령의 하야를 요구한 같은 당 장하나 의원의 발언을 겨냥한 것으로 보인다.

    또 '한반도를 비롯한 동북아의 정세가 급변하고 있고 북한의 위협과 정세변화도 긴장을 늦출 수 없는 위중한 상황'이라며 '세계경제의 불확실성도 지속하고 있고 최근 회복기미를 보이는 우리 경제도 지금 이 불씨를 살려가지 못한다면 경제가 다시 가라앉고 국민의 고통이 커질 수밖에 없는 상황'이라고 지적했다.

    이어 박 대통령은 '북한은 현재 김정은의 권력강화를 위해 대대적인 숙청을 감행하면서 공포정치를 하고 있다'며 '앞으로 남북관계가 더욱 불안해질 수 있어 이런 때일수록 국민의 안위와 자유민주주의를 확고히 지키는 것이 국가가 해야할 의무이고 국민을 대신하는 정치권이 해야할 일'이라고 말했다.

    박 대통령은 '이번에 동북아 정세에 큰 문제가 될 수 있었던 방공식별구역 확대 문제도 우리가 차분히 대응하고 깊은 숙의를 통해 이뤄낸 것'이라며 '앞으로도 정부는 원칙을 갖고 모든 문제를 풀어나갈 것이며, 정치논리가 아니라 국민의 삶에 중점을 두고 모든 문제를 해결해나갈 것'이라고 강조했다.
Emailjjh@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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