 ▲ 용산 대통령실 청사 ©뉴시스 |
대통령실이 28일 여야의 '통일교 특검법' 논의 관련해 "헌법 정신에 따라 수사가 진행될 거란 입장"이라고 밝혔다.
이규연 홍보소통수석은 이날 오후 청와대 브리핑에서 "대통령은 경찰·특검이던 무관하게 성역 없는 수사가 진행될 시 형식은 상관없다는 생각을 갖고 있다"며 이같이 전했다.
그러면서 '통일교 특검 수사 대상에 신천지 포함 여부를 놓고 여야 간 이견' 관련 질의에 "신천지·통일교만을 찍어 대통령실에서 입장내는 건 부적절하다"며 "정치·종교 유착을 금하고 있는 게 헌법 정신이어서 헌법 정신에 따라 수사가 진행될 거란 입장"이라고 답했다.
또 통일교 금품 수수 의혹으로 사퇴한 전재수 전 해양수산부 장관 후임 인선에 대해 "지금 사법 판단이 끝나지도 않았는데 교체·임명 이런 것들은 조금 부적절할 수도 있다는 생각이 든다"며 "조금 시간을 두고 판단토록 하겠다"고 말했다.
더불어 김병기 더불어민주당 원내대표 비위 논란 관련해선 "언급이 어려운 부분이며 부적절하다"고 했다.
현재 여야는 통일교 특검 수사 대상·특검 후보 추천 주체 등을 둘러싼 이견을 좁히지 못하고 있다. 민주당은 대한변협·한국법학교수회·법전원협의회 등 제3자에게 추천권을 부여해야 한다는 입장인 반면 국민의힘은 개혁신당·조국혁신당에 특검 추천권을 부여해야 한다는 입장이다.
또 여야 간 수사 대상 관련 합의도 이뤄지지 않고 있는 가운데 민주당 안은 통일교에 신천지까지 포함해 종교 단체의 정치권 유착 의혹 전반을 수사 대상으로 규정한 반면 국민의힘·개혁신당 안 경우 통일교 의혹으로 수사 대상을 한정했다.
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.
The Office of the President: "The Unification Church special prosecutor will conduct the investigation in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. Formality is irrelevant."
Lee Kyu-yeon stated, "It is inappropriate for the Blue House to issue a statement solely on Shincheonji and the Unification Church. The Constitution prohibits political and religious collusion, and the investigation will proceed in accordance with the Constitution."
-kihong Kim reporter
On the 28th, regarding the ruling and opposition parties' discussions on a "Unification Church Special Prosecutor Act," the Office of the President stated, "Our position is that the investigation will proceed in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution."
Senior Secretary for Public Relations Lee Kyu-yeon stated this during a Blue House briefing that afternoon, "The President believes that as long as an investigation is conducted without sanctuary, regardless of whether it is conducted by the police or a special prosecutor, the form does not matter."
Regarding the disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties over whether to include Shincheonji in the Unification Church special prosecutor's investigation, Lee responded, "It would be inappropriate for the Office of the President to single out Shincheonji and the Unification Church and issue a statement of intent. The Constitution prohibits political and religious collusion, and our position is that the investigation will proceed in accordance with that spirit."
Furthermore, regarding the appointment of a successor to former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Jeon Jae-soo, who resigned amid allegations of bribery by the Unification Church, Lee stated, "I believe that replacements and appointments may be inappropriate before the judicial review is finalized. We will allow some time for a decision."
Regarding the allegations of misconduct against Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki, he stated, "It is difficult to comment and inappropriate."
Currently, the ruling and opposition parties are unable to narrow their differences regarding the subjects of the special prosecutor's investigation into the Unification Church and the body responsible for recommending special prosecutor candidates. The Democratic Party maintains that the right to recommend candidates should be granted to third parties, such as the Korean Bar Association, the Korean Association of Law Professors, and the Korean Council of Legal Aid Associations. The People Power Party, on the other hand, argues that the New Reform Party and the Fatherland Reform Party should be granted that authority.
Furthermore, while the ruling and opposition parties have yet to reach an agreement on the subjects of the investigation, the Democratic Party's proposal targets all allegations of political collusion between religious groups, including the Unification Church and Shincheonji, while the People Power Party and the New Reform Party's proposals limit the investigation solely to the Unification Church.
