President’s Move Set to Deepen Political Crisis

By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday vetoed the National Assembly-approved special prosecutor bill for investigating corruption charges involving his three confidants.

``It is inappropriate to accept the bill because the relevant cases are being investigated by the prosecution,’’ Roh said during a Cabinet meeting convened to discuss the matter at Chong Wa Dae.

Roh said he would accept the bill, initiated by the majority opposition Grand National Party (GNP), if the prosecution ended their probes inconclusively and unsatisfactorily.

In response, GNP vowed it would take all possible means against Roh’s decision including boycotting parliamentary schedules, impeaching Roh and quitting its Assembly seats en masse.

``The prosecution investigation is the government’s sole authority guaranteed by the Constitution and the independent counsel is supposed to be allowed only when the investigation ends unsatisfactorily,’’ Roh said.

``I came to ask the National Assembly to review the matter honoring the Constitutional spirit and principle (of the bill), though there will be political burden and inconveniences,’’ Roh added.

Roh went on to say that his decision is very significant given the need to avoid setting bad precedence in state administration and legal affairs.

Roh criticized the GNP for attempting to impeach him in connection with his veto of the special bill, describing it as political blackmail.

He vowed the administration will present its own special prosecutor bill in accordance with the general principle and procedures of the independent counsel bill if the Assembly fails to re-approve the bill and should the prosecution fail to decisively conclude its investigation.

``And with the conclusion of the matter, I will also take measures regarding my responsibility as head of state,’’ Roh said, indicating he would press ahead for the national plebiscite to ask the public about their confidence in his ability as president.

But sources said Roh’s remark should be taken as a revelation he would not seek the special bill again, urging the prosecution to speed up the ongoing investigation into campaign slush funds raising during the presidential election last year.

The pro-government Uri Party, mostly comprising supporters of Roh, welcomed the decision, saying it was necessary to protect the national Constitution.

But the second-largest Millennium Democratic Party decried Roh as having rejected the will of the people by refusing to accept the special bill. It also denounced the GNP of employing an extreme anti-government struggle, which it said was an outdated form of political maneuvering.


jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr