 ▲ 홍철호 대통령실 정무수석이 4월 25일 용산 대통령실 청사에서 영수회담 의제·시점 등 조율 2차 실무회동 관련 브리핑을 하고 있다. © 뉴시스 |
대통령실이 3일 전날 더불어민주당 단독 표결로 강행 처리돼 국회 본회의를 통과한 '채상병 특검법'에 거듭 거부권(재의요구권) 행사 의지를 내비쳤다.
홍철호 대통령실 정무수석은 이날 오전 MBC 라디오 프로그램에 출연해 '채상병 특검법' 관련 질의에 "기본적 입장은 사법절차에 상당히 어긋나는 어떻게 보면 입법 폭거"라며 "대통령은 아마 이것에 대해 자연스레 받아들이시기 어려울 것"이라고 말했다.
앞서 정진석 대통령 비서실장도 전날 오후 해당 법안의 국회 본회의 통과 직후 용산 대통령실 브리핑에서 "민주당의 특검 강행은 채상병의 안타까운 죽음을 이용해 정치적으로 악용하려는 나쁜 정치"라며 거부권 행사를 시사한 바 있다.
그러면서 "'이태원 특별법'은 이미 경찰·검찰 수사가 다 끝나고 국정조사까지 해 기소됐고 그래도 조사가 부족하다 해 여야가 합의했으나 채상병 건은 다르다"며 "경찰·공수처가 수사 중인 사건이니 대통령실에선 절차가 끝나는 걸 기다려봐야 합법적이라 보는 것"이라고 설명했다.
또 "결국 대통령께서 이걸 받아들이시면 나쁜 선례를 남기는 거고 나아가 직무유기가 될 수 있다 본다"며 "여야 합의가 안 됐고 (채상병 사건은) 사법 절차가 진행 중"이라고 말했다.
이어 "문재인 정부때 군 사고를 군인이 직접 수사하다 보니 믿지 못하겠다 해 군사법원법을 개정했다"며 "경찰이 수사하도록 하자는 게 법 취지인데 박정훈 대령이 정면으로 것을 거부했다"고 지적했다.
더불어 "민주당서 검찰을 못 믿겠다 해 공수처를 만들었다. 공수처도 못 믿겠다는 거면 공수처도 없애야 한다"며 "대통령이 법을 초월해 여야 합의도 없고 사법절차가 진행 중인 상황서 특검을 받아들일 순 없는 것으로 가슴 따뜻하고 안 따뜻하고 문제는 아니다"고 말했다.
홍 수석은 '윤석열 대통령이 '채상병 특검법' 거부권 행사시 10번째가 되는 만큼 부담될 수 있지 않느냐'란 질의엔 "21대 국회가 여소야대다 보니 민주당서 정치 쟁점화할 수 있는 것들을 거부권 행사할 수밖에 없게끔 밀어붙인 것도 분명 있다"며 "건수가 중요한 게 아닌 내용이 중요하다"고 말했다.
그러면서 "우리는 묵묵하게 소통하고 신뢰를 구축하고 협치하자는 생각을 아직은 견지하고 있다"고 말했다.
이어 다음주 신설될 걸로 예상되는 민정수석실 관련해선 "방향성은 맞다"며 "명칭을 '민정' '민생' '민정소통' 등 몇 가지 버전을 두고 검토 중인데 대통령이 최종 결심할 것"이라고 말했다.
또 윤 대통령 취임 2주년 기자회견 경우 "취임일(5월 10일)은 안 넘기는 쪽으로 준비하고 있는 걸로 안다"고 했다. 더불어 국민의 힘 원내대표 선거서 '친윤'(친윤석열) 핵심으로 꼽히는 이철규 의원 출마 여부를 둘러싼 논란 관련해선 "(대통령께서) 의심 살 일은 하지 마라 분명하게 말했다"며 "이건 제 업무인데 결단코 (개입은) 없다"고 말했다.
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.
President's Office "President Yoon Seok-yeol will not accept the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor's Law', which will set a bad precedent."
Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, "If the President accepts it, he will be setting a bad precedent and could even become a dereliction of duty. The ruling and opposition parties have not reached an agreement and the judicial process is ongoing."
-kihong Kim reporter
The President's Office repeatedly signaled its intention to exercise its right to veto (request for reconsideration) the 'Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act', which passed the plenary session of the National Assembly after being passed by the Democratic Party of Korea's sole vote the day before on the 3rd.
Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs, appeared on MBC's radio program this morning and responded to a question about the 'Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act' by saying, "The basic position is quite contrary to judicial procedures and is, in some ways, a legislative outrage," adding, "It will probably be difficult for the President to naturally accept this." He said.
Previously, Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok also hinted at exercising his veto at a briefing in the Presidential Office in Yongsan immediately after the passage of the bill in the plenary session of the National Assembly the afternoon before, saying, "The Democratic Party's push for a special investigation is bad politics aimed at exploiting Chae Sang-byeong's unfortunate death for political purposes."
At the same time, he said, "The 'Itaewon Special Act' has already been indicted after the police and prosecutors' investigation has been completed, and the ruling and opposition parties have agreed that the investigation is insufficient, but the Chae Sang-byeong case is different." He added, "Since it is a case being investigated by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office, the President's Office is following the procedures." “You have to wait until it ends to see it as legal,” he explained.
He also said, "Ultimately, if the president accepts this, I think he will be setting a bad precedent and could even become a dereliction of duty."
He then pointed out, “During the Moon Jae-in administration, the Military Court Act was revised because it was said that soldiers would not be trusted when military accidents were investigated directly,” and “The purpose of the law is to allow the police to investigate, but Colonel Park Jeong-hoon directly refused to do so.”
In addition, he said, “The Democratic Party said they could not trust the prosecution, so they created the Corruption Investigation Office. If they say they cannot trust the Corruption Investigation Office, then the Corruption Investigation Office should also be abolished.” He added, “The President is exceeding the law, there is no agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, and a special prosecution cannot be accepted in a situation where judicial procedures are in progress.” “It’s not a problem whether your heart is warm or not,” he said.
When asked, "Wouldn't President Yoon Seok-yeol be burdened as he becomes the 10th person to veto the 'Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong Act'?" Chief Hong responded, "As the 21st National Assembly is divided between ruling and opposition parties, the Democratic Party will have no choice but to exercise its veto on things that can become political issues." “There are definitely things that have been added,” he said. “It is not the number of cases that is important, but the content that is important.”
He said, “We still maintain the idea of silently communicating, building trust, and cooperating.”
Regarding the Office of Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs, which is expected to be established next week, he said, “The direction is right,” and added, “We are considering several versions of the name, including ‘Civil Administration,’ ‘People’s Livelihood,’ and ‘Civil Administration Communication.’ The president will make the final decision.”
Also, in the case of the press conference on the second anniversary of President Yoon's inauguration, he said, "I understand that they are preparing to not miss the inauguration date (May 10)." In addition, regarding the controversy surrounding the candidacy of Representative Lee Cheol-gyu, who is considered the key 'pro-yoon' (pro-yoon Seok-yeol) candidate in the People Power Party floor leader election, he said, "(The President) clearly said not to do anything that would raise suspicion," and "This is my job, and I will never (intervene) in it." “There is none,” he said.
