여야 대립 격화, 정기국회 파행

Published : Sept 9, 2013 - 17:41 Updated : Sept 10, 2013 - 15:14

(연합뉴스)

새누리당과 민주당이 서로에 대한 공세 수위를 높이면서 대립하는 가운데, 정기국회 파행이 장기화될 가능성이 보이고 있다.

여야는 9일, 각각 이석기 통합진보당 의원의 내란 음모 의혹과 국정원의 대선 개입 의혹을 놓고 서로를 비판하며 거친 설전을 이어갔다.

새누리당은 이번 내란 의혹에 대한 책임을 민주당에 돌리며 종북의 ‘숙주’로 지칭했고, 반면 민주당은 역사적 과오를 책임지고 사과한 독일 앙겔라 메르켈 총리에 예를 들며 박근혜 대통령이 국가정보원 대선 개입 의혹에 대해 사과할 것을 촉구했다.

여당 황우여 대표는 이날 최고위원회의에서 “민주당은 민주주의 훼손세력과 무분별하게 연대해 자유민주주의에 기생한 종북세력의 숙주노력을 하지 않았는지, 또 지금도 비호하고 있지 않은지 반성해야 한다”면서 통합진보당 이석기 의원 사건과 관련해 민주당을 비판했다.

이에 민주당 김한길 대표는 “(독일의) 메르켈 총리가 나치 만행에 거듭 사죄하는 이 유는 그가 독일의 국가수반이기 때문”이라면서 “메르켈 총리는 ‘나는 직접 책임질 일이 없으니 사과할 것 없다’고 말하지 않는다. 박 대통령도 참고할 부분이 있을 것”이라고 말해, 사실상 국정원의 대선 개입 의혹에 대해 박 대통령의 사과를 요구했다.

박 대통령은 “지난 대선 당시 국정원으로부터 어떤 도움도 받지 않았다”고 주장하며 야당의 사과 요구를 거부한 바 있다.

한편 새누리당은 9월 정기국회가 일주일째 파행상태를 이어가는 가운데 전날, 의사일정 합의 실패시 10일부터 정기국회 단독운영을 강행할 것을 선언한 바 있다.

최경환 원내대표는 “야당은 정기국회 의사일정 협의를 대여 압박•협박 수단 또는 대통령에 대한 협박 도구로 사용한다”고 주장하면서 “우선 상임위를 내일부터 열도록 하겠다”고 밝혔다.

이에 대해 민주당 김관영 대변인은 “제1야당을 종북몰이 대상으로 언급하는 것은 대화와 상생의 국회를 그만하고 파국을 선언하는 점이 될 수 있다”고 비판했다. (코리아헤럴드)

<관련 영문 기사>

Saenuri-DP feud deepens

By Choi He-suk

The feud between the Saenuri Party and Democratic Party is deepening over the intelligence agency’s alleged meddling in the election after the two parties ended a brief union to consent to the arrest of a leftist lawmaker charged with plotting a rebellion.

Amid escalating wrangling between the two sides, the National Assembly has remained idle though the 100-day regular session that began on Sept. 2.

As the DP continues the campaign to pressure President Park Geun-hye into meeting with its chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil, the ruling party has declared that it will push ahead with the regular session without the main opposition party.

Since August, the DP has been operating a makeshift headquarters in Seoul Plaza over the National Intelligence Service’s alleged attempt to influence last year’s presidential election.

On Monday, Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea implied that the DP had a hand in allowing anti-democratic forces to grow in Korea.

“There must be consideration into whether forming alliances indiscriminately with forces that damage democracy provided a host for pro-North Korean forces that have parasitized liberal democracy,” Hwang said at Saenuri Party’s supreme council meeting on Monday.

The Saenuri Party and other conservative organizations have accused the DP of providing the left-leaning Unified Progressive Party a route into the National Assembly by forming an alliance during last year’s general elections.

The investigation into Rep. Lee Seok-ki over allegations of plotting an armed revolt has since expanded with a number of UPP lawmakers and party members being implicated.

Hwang went on to imply that the DP was taking anti-democracy actions by preventing the regular session of the National Assembly to proceed.

“It must be remembered that any actions or words that hinder the smooth operations of the National Assembly are also damaging parliamentary democracy.”

The barbed remarks from the usually reserved Hwang is thought to be a response to DP chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil’s comments on Sunday regarding the ruling party’s connection to past dictators.

During a visit to the cemetery for those who died during the democracy movement of April 19, 1960, on Sunday, Kim accused former President Lee Myung-bak and President Park Geun-hye’s administrations of damaging democracy in South Korea.

“The Saenuri Party continues the pulse of Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo,” Kim said. Rhee was the first president of South Korea who was ousted after attempting to hold office for life, while Park and Chun took power in coups. Roh was Chun’s handpicked predecessor.

“Because the Saenuri Party has its roots in the military coups of dictatorial regimes, it denies the history of democracy and leans on McCarthyism and accusations of being pro-North Korean.”

The DP chairman continued his barrage on Monday, comparing the actions of Park and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

Citing Merkel’s recent visit to a former Nazi prison camp, Kim said that Park could learn from the German chancellor’s actions and from other leaders she met during the G20 summit in Russia.

“Chancellor Merkel does not say, ‘I have nothing to apologize for as there isn’t anything I have to take personal responsibility for,’” Kim said.

“If President Park discussed with the leaders of advanced nations about what the actions of a president should be when a country’s intelligence agency interfered with presidential election, it will be of great value for the development of our politics.”

(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)