강행처리 차단 국회선진화법 두고 여야 설전

여야의 대립으로 정부조직법 개정안의 국회 처리가 지연되면서 여당인 새누리당에서 과거와 같은 강행처리를 원천 차단한 국회 선진화법을 놓고 논란이 벌어지고 있다.

18대 국회 말인 작년 5월 국회를 통과한 국회법 개정안은 국회의장의 직권상정을 대폭 제한하고, 여야가 첨예하게 대립하는 쟁점 법안은 재적의원 5분의 3(180명) 이상이 동의해야 신속처리법안으로 올릴 수 있도록 하는 내용이다.

당시 여당의 법안 일방처리 관행에 제동을 걸며 `폭력국회' 오명을 씻어낼 수 있다는 기대 속에 마련됐지만, 과반을 기본으로 하는 의사결정구조가 흔들리면서  ` 식물국회'가 될 것이라는 반론이 거셌다.

새누리당에서는 7일 국회법 개정 논의가 표면화됐다.

심재철 최고위원은 최고위원회의에서 "선진화라는 거짓말로 분칠된 국회 선진화법 때문에 우려했던 식물국회, 식물정부가 현실화되기 시작했다"며 "한마디로 말해 소수파의 발목잡기를 제도적으로 보장하는 `소수파 발목잡기법'이라고 얘기할 수밖에 없다"고 비판했다.

그는 "결국 국회법은 국회를 식물로 만들고 자승자박하는 법이므로 당연히 개정 돼야 한다"며 "작년에 법 통과할 때 황우여 대표가 원내대표로서 진두지휘했던 만큼 결자해지해야 한다"고 황 대표를 겨냥했다.

6선의 이인제 의원도 평화방송 라디오에서 "선진화법은 아주 잘못된 것이 법으로 다수결의 원리 자체를 봉쇄해버렸다는 점"이라고 비판했다.

이 의원은 "국회 선진화법 때문에 정부조직법안을 표결 처리할 수 없게 됐다"며 "하수구가 없는 부엌과도 같은 상황"이라고 비유했다.

김기현 원내수석부대표도 "국회 선진화법 개정 논의를 추진해야 한다"며  "표결을 반드시 보장하는 제도로 고치지 않으면 안 된다"고 주장했다.

국회 선진화법은 2011년 말 황우여 당시 원내대표와 당내 쇄신파가 주도했다.

쇄신파인 5선의 남경필 의원은 이날 트위터에 올린 글에서 "정부조직법 개정안의 처리를 위해 국회 선진화법 개정이 필요하다는 의견에 동의할 수 없다"며 "현재 여야가 정부조직법 개정안을 합의 처리하지 못하는 이유는 정치력과 협상력의 문제이지 국회 선진화법 제도의 문제가 아니다"라고 반박했다.

그는 "국회 선진화법은 '몸싸움 국회', '폭력국회'를 추방하기 위해 여야가 합의해 도입한 것"이라면서 "제대로 운영해보지도 않고 법을 바꾸자고 해서는 안 된다 "고 반대했다.

특히 "여야가 타협이 안 될 때 직권상정과 단상점거 폭력이라는 구태의 악순환을 다시 하겠다는 것인가"라고 물으면서 "국회 선진화법을 도입할 때의 절박한 마음으로 돌아가 합의를 이룰 때까지 대화하고 타협하자"고 말했다.

황우여 대표도 이날 최고위원회에서 "이 법 앞에서 옷깃을 여미고 혹시라도 오 용, 남용, 악용이 없도록 법 적용 초기에 조심하고 겸허한 마음으로 대해야 할 것"이라며 개정론에 제동을 걸었다.

황 대표는 "국민이 바라는 품위있게 일하는 국회를 만들고자 격상시키는 법으로 국회 선진화법을 만들었다"면서 "국회의 품위와 국회의 권리는 스스로 지켜야 한다"고 말했다.

<관련 영문 기사>

DUP blasts Saenuri plan for Assembly vote on reform bill

By Lee Joo-hee

The war of nerves between the rival parties over President Park Geun-hye’s government reorganization plan persisted Thursday as the opposition Democratic United Party shot down the Saenuri Party’s suggestion to put the bill up for a vote.

As concerns and criticism surged over the drawn-out void in state affairs, Saenuri Party floor leader Lee Hahn-koo proposed having the National Assembly speaker put the contentious bill to a vote “fair and square.”

“Let’s give each lawmaker a chance to cast their vote on what has so far been agreed on in the negotiation. Although the issues related to the Korea Communications Commission have not been fully resolved, let’s make a revision bill focused on other parts that we have so far reached an agreement on,” Lee said at a party meeting.

DUP immediately shut down the suggestion.

“Having the bill put to a vote by (the Assembly speaker) cannot be done without the consensus of the rival parties,” DUP floor leader Park Ki-choon said, adding “I hope it is not some sort of manipulative tactic by the Saenuri Party that has the majority of seats such as to eventually have both the original and revised bills put up to a vote.”

“I, however, do agree to creating a revised version (of the bill) to approve what has already been agreed on except for the issue relating to the KCC.”

Based on the National Assembly Act revised last May, the Assembly speaker’s right to put a bill to a vote has been weakened, now requiring a consensus of the representatives of the negotiating parties.

The leadership of both parties have been slammed for the lagging negotiations as the two sides remain at loggerheads over the last remaining issue of the transferring of some functions of the KCC to the Ministry of Future Planning and Science. President Park’s proposal would see the authority to oversee regulations related to cable network service operators move to the ministry.

The standoff had continued earlier despite the DUP’s compromise offer on Wednesday, which included proposals to raise the bar for prospective executives at public broadcasters, hold a parliamentary hearing on the controversial managements at those companies, and to make joint calls for the investigation and resignation of Kim Jae-chul, the pro-government president of MBC TV.

The Saenuri Party rejected the demands saying they trampled upon the principles of the law, and instead suggested finding alternatives to guarantee the broadcasting companies’ neutrality such as by setting up a special committee if necessary.

The next extraordinary session is set to open Thursday.

President Park, for her part, continued to push for a compromise by the opposition, stating in her speech at a gathering of church leaders early Thursday, “All of the political leaders in our country must reflect upon themselves on what their true duties are.”

“The situation home and abroad is more difficult than ever right now. The public economy is ailing in the midst of a global economic crisis, while the security situation is grave following North Korea’s nuclear test and provocation,” Park said.

“It would be greatly appreciated if politics would trust the president and give a chance to serve the people.”

Park’s government continued to remain in doldrums as she put off the final confirmations for the ministers that have completed the hearing process citing other unfinished business, namely the government reform plan.

The presidential office is also still in disarray with the lineup of presidential secretaries still incomplete.

Controversy has followed some of the questionable changes in designations. For instance, a former candidate to become the secretary on health and welfare was reportedly downgraded to a senior executive administrator without an explanation. Another candidate to become the secretary on public relations has been missing in action reportedly over dissatisfaction with his position, and another candidate is being considered as a replacement.

Cheong Wa Dae has so far refused to officially confirm the appointments of secretaries saying it did not deem the positions to require formal announcement.

For now the state administration vacuum continues in the face of an escalating security threat by North Korea, which again threatened a “nuclear war” on Thursday through its Rodong Shinmum, the official newspaper of its ruling party.

Cheong Wa Dae has explained that due to the crisis situation, it was informally operating the National Security Council, which is designed to be headed by the president and run by the chief of the Presidential Office of National Security Kim Jang-soo. Kim’s appointment remains in the air as his position was newly created in the incoming government plan pending at the Assembly.

The NSC is joined by the prime minister, National Intelligence Service director and ministers of foreign affairs, unification and defense. None of the ministers-designate have been confirmed to their post while defense minister-nominee Kim Byung-kwan, in particular, awaits a tough confirmation hearing on Friday due to allegations of ethical misdeeds in the past.

Cheong Wa Dae, meanwhile, decided to execute projects for which the budget had already been secured regardless of the fate of the government organization bill.

(jhl@heraldcorp.com)