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Fri, March 24, 2023 | 02:19
-------------------------
Ministers accused of violating election law
野 "선거법 위반 발언" 비판에 최경환 "정치공세" 반박
Posted : 2015-08-27 17:50
Updated : 2015-08-27 21:34
Jun Ji-hye
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Reps. Jung Cheong-rae, left, and Park Nam-choon of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy enter the National Election Commission in Seoul, Thursday, to request investigation into whether Financial Minister Choi Kyung-hwan and Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-sup violated their political neutrality in a workshop of the ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday. / Yonhap
Reps. Jung Cheong-rae, left, and Park Nam-choon of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy enter the National Election Commission in Seoul, Thursday, to request investigation into whether Financial Minister Choi Kyung-hwan and Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-sup violated their political neutrality in a workshop of the ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye


Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-sup, and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan have been embroiled in controversy over their alleged violation of political neutrality by speaking in favor of the ruling Saenuri Party.

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) filed a complaint Thursday with the National Election Commission (NEC) against the two for allegedly violating the Public Official Election Act.

Their controversial comments were made Wednesday when they had a meeting with some 70 lawmakers from the governing party.

Other high-ranking government officials, including Hyun Jung-taik, the senior presidential secretary for policy coordination, also attended.

While making a report about economic trends for the second half of the year, Choi said, "The government will seek to raise the rate of economic growth up to the mid-3 percent to help the party in the general election."

Assembly elections will take place in April 2016.

Chong's controversial remarks came when he lifted a glass of beer and proposed a toast to the lawmakers shouting, "Victory in the general election!"

Ruling party lawmakers and government officials repeated the phrase following Chong.

The NPAD argued that both Choi and Chong clearly violated the Public Official Election Act, which stipulates that civil servants must remain neutral with regard to elections.

In its complaint submitted to the NEC, the largest opposition party claimed, "Choi openly spoke that he will link government economic policy to the governing party's political purpose, which severely damages his politically neutrality as a civil servant."

Regarding Chong's remarks, the complaint also argued that, "It was a clear violation of the Election Law."

NPAD spokeswoman Rep. Yoo Eun-hae said, "It was a shock," and urged President Park Geun-hye to sack Chong immediately.

Rep. Kim Sung-ju recalled that the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the Saenuri Party), attempted to impeach then liberal President Roh Moo-hyun in 2003 for making remarks construed as supporting the Uri Party (now the NPAD), urging Choi and Chong to step down from their positions voluntarily.

Rep. Jung Cheong-rae noted that his party will wait for the NEC's evaluation of the party's complaint first, and then decide whether to file a complaint with the prosecution.

Rep. Kim Young-woo, a spokesman of the ruling party, downplayed the NPAD's argument.

He said, "Chong did not support a certain party in front of general voters. He just gave words of blessing to ruling party lawmakers. Strictly speaking, he did not concretely say, ‘Victory for the Saenuri Party.'"

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs have yet to respond to the controversy.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye


野 "선거법 위반 발언" 비판에 최경환 "정치공세" 반박

국회 기재위 전체회의서 연찬회 발언 놓고 공방

국회 기획재정위원회의 27일 전체회의에서는 최경환 경제부총리 겸 기획재정부 장관의 새누리당 의원연찬회 발언을 놓고 여야 의원들이 공방을 벌였다.

최 부총리가 지난 25일 연찬회 특강에서 '당의 총선 일정에 도움이 되겠다'고 언급한 게 공무원의 선거 중립 의무 위반이라는 야당의 주장과 전혀 문제될 게 없다는 여당의 입장이 맞선 것이다.

새정치민주연합 최재성 의원은 '(최 부총리가) '나는 계속 정치개입을 하겠다'고 읽힐 만한 발언을 또 했다'면서 '선거법 위반에 해당하는 발언'이라고 지적했다.

이어 ''(경제를 활성화해) 국민과 나라가 잘 되게 하겠다'고 말했어야지, 왜 '당의 총선 일정에 도움이 되게 하겠다'고 표현했느냐'고 따지면서 '그런 말은 마음속으로만 하라'고 꼬집었다.

같은 당 박광온 의원은 정종섭 행정자치부 장관이 연찬회 건배 구호로 '총선 필승'을 외친 것과 묶어서 '도를 넘은 발언이고, 상식적으로 수용할 수 없는 관권선거'라고 질타했다.

새누리당 의원들은 야당 의원들이 자당의 연찬회를 문제 삼으면서 최 부총리를 압박하자 '방어막'을 쳤다.

정문헌 의원은 '부총리직을 맡고 있지만, 새누리당 당원이자 현역 의원 신분으로서 연찬회에 참여해 발언한 것'이라며 '경제 상황이 굉장히 나쁘면 여당의 선거가 어려운 게 상식이지만, 경제가 좋으면 야당도 불리한 게 아니다'라고 주장했다.

정 의원은 다만 '오해의 소지가 있으니 총선 발언은 좀 안하는게 좋겠다'는 지적을 덧붙였다.

김태흠 의원은 '오늘은 정부의 재정운용에 대해 질의 답변하는데, 최 부총리 발언이 선거법 위반이냐 아니냐를 갖고 진행돼서 유감'이라면서 '선거법 위반도 논리에 맞지 않다'며 새정치연합 의원들의 주장에 맞섰다.

최 부총리는 '경제부총리로서 경제를 살려 국민과 국가에 도움이 되도록 하고, 결과적으로 총선에 도움이 되지 않겠느냐는 취지였다'며 '그 부분은 선거법과 아무 상관이 없다'고 강조했다.

이어 '당원이 정당 행사에 참석하면 솔직히 '모두 당선돼서 돌아오자'는 등 그보다 더 심한 '덕담'도 하지 않느냐'며 '대통령 중심제 하에 당정의 정치적 관계 등을 감안하면 역대 어느 정부에서도 있었던 관행'이라고 해명했다.

최 부총리는 자신의 발언을 새정치연합 의원들이 계속 문제 삼으면서 유감 표명을 요구하자 '일방적 정치 공세'라면서 '유감을 표명할 생각이 전혀 없다'고 강하게 반발했다. 이에 새정치연합 의원들은 '오만하다', '자세를 고치라'라고 목소리를 높여 언쟁이 벌어지기도 했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailjjh@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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