Presidential veto is not desirable
President Park Geun-hye is reported to be leaning toward vetoing a controversial bill that will enable the National Assembly to hold hearings more frequently.
On Monday, Lee Suk-joon, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, called the bill "very worrisome," noting that it would cripple the operation of the government. The Ministry of Government Legislation began scrutinizing the bill to find out if it reneges on the constitutional separation of legislative, administrative and judiciary powers. The ruling Saenuri Party is also moving to create public opinion favorable to President Park's exercise of veto power.
The revised National Assembly Act, approved last week at the legislature, makes it possible for a parliamentary committee to open hearings on any issue under its jurisdiction with the consent of the majority of its members. This means that the two main opposition parties, which control a majority of seats in the unicameral Assembly, can hold a hearing regardless of whether the governing party opposes it or not. The legislation will go into effect if President Park endorses it by June 7.
The presidential office said nothing has been determined yet concerning the bill. But presidential aides reportedly expressed concerns that the bill would prevent public officials from working according to their convictions, saying that opposition parties will abuse the hearings to mount a political offensive. The officials will also feel it burdensome to prepare for hearings.
If the past is any guide, the government has good reason to worry. One can easily recollect aberrations by lawmakers, especially those from the opposition, at our past parliamentary hearings ― the indiscriminate selection of witnesses, rough words and groundless scolding. It's undeniable that the hearings have been the forum for partisan clashes rather than valuable occasions to dig deeper into an incident.
Even so, it's not proper for the President to reject the bill. More than anything else, checking and watching the administration is the parliament's basic and intrinsic duty. The legislative branch is obliged to scrutinize the government's important policies and administrative service incessantly. It is desirable in this respect that hearings can be held more often.
In fact, there is a strong need for government officials to ask themselves if they have neglected the Assembly while walking on eggshells around Cheong Wa Dae over crucial matters. As was revealed evidently through last month's general election, the public wants the government and the legislature to put their heads together to hammer out the best policies and implement them.
It's none other than the people who put the brakes on the incumbent administration's single-handed operation of state affairs through their votes. So the activation of parliamentary hearings can serve as a catalyst for the presidential office and the Assembly to step up their cooperative governance.
To have frequent hearings take firm root, it's critical for the opposition parties to exercise their self-restraint. If the opposition abuses hearings as a panacea for every bone of contention in the legislature where the opposition holds a majority, the paralysis of state affairs will be inevitable. In that case, the opposition will face a backlash in the run-up to the presidential election slated for late next year.
President Park Geun-hye is reported to be leaning toward vetoing a controversial bill that will enable the National Assembly to hold hearings more frequently.
On Monday, Lee Suk-joon, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, called the bill "very worrisome," noting that it would cripple the operation of the government. The Ministry of Government Legislation began scrutinizing the bill to find out if it reneges on the constitutional separation of legislative, administrative and judiciary powers. The ruling Saenuri Party is also moving to create public opinion favorable to President Park's exercise of veto power.
The revised National Assembly Act, approved last week at the legislature, makes it possible for a parliamentary committee to open hearings on any issue under its jurisdiction with the consent of the majority of its members. This means that the two main opposition parties, which control a majority of seats in the unicameral Assembly, can hold a hearing regardless of whether the governing party opposes it or not. The legislation will go into effect if President Park endorses it by June 7.
The presidential office said nothing has been determined yet concerning the bill. But presidential aides reportedly expressed concerns that the bill would prevent public officials from working according to their convictions, saying that opposition parties will abuse the hearings to mount a political offensive. The officials will also feel it burdensome to prepare for hearings.
If the past is any guide, the government has good reason to worry. One can easily recollect aberrations by lawmakers, especially those from the opposition, at our past parliamentary hearings ― the indiscriminate selection of witnesses, rough words and groundless scolding. It's undeniable that the hearings have been the forum for partisan clashes rather than valuable occasions to dig deeper into an incident.
Even so, it's not proper for the President to reject the bill. More than anything else, checking and watching the administration is the parliament's basic and intrinsic duty. The legislative branch is obliged to scrutinize the government's important policies and administrative service incessantly. It is desirable in this respect that hearings can be held more often.
In fact, there is a strong need for government officials to ask themselves if they have neglected the Assembly while walking on eggshells around Cheong Wa Dae over crucial matters. As was revealed evidently through last month's general election, the public wants the government and the legislature to put their heads together to hammer out the best policies and implement them.
It's none other than the people who put the brakes on the incumbent administration's single-handed operation of state affairs through their votes. So the activation of parliamentary hearings can serve as a catalyst for the presidential office and the Assembly to step up their cooperative governance.
To have frequent hearings take firm root, it's critical for the opposition parties to exercise their self-restraint. If the opposition abuses hearings as a panacea for every bone of contention in the legislature where the opposition holds a majority, the paralysis of state affairs will be inevitable. In that case, the opposition will face a backlash in the run-up to the presidential election slated for late next year.
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