국회 교육문화체육관광위원회의 정성근 문화체육관광부 장관 후보자에 대한 인사청문회가 10일 저녁 위증논란을 둘러싸고 야당이 회의 진행을 거부, 더 이상 회의가 열리지 못하는 파행 속에 끝났다고 연합뉴스가 보도했다.
연합에 따르면 이날 새정치민주연합 의원들은 정 후보자의 '위증'을 문제삼으며 청와대 지명철회와 자진사퇴를 동시에 요구하고 나서, 임명 여부를 놓고 박근혜 대통령이 정치적 부담을 안게 될 전망이다.
특히 새정치연합 박영선 원내대표가 이날 청와대에서 박 대통령을 만나 김명수 사회부총리 겸 교육부 장관 후보자와 더불어 정 후보자를 특정해 지명철회를 요구했 다는 점과 맞물려 그의 거취가 주목된다.
국회 교육문화체육관광위원회는 이날 정 후보자에 대한 인사청문회를 열었지만, 일원동 아파트 실거주 문제를 놓고 정 후보자가 발언을 바꾸는데 대해 야당 의원들 이 반발, 청문회 진행이 중단됐다.
새정치연합 교문위원들은 파행 직후 국회 정론관에서 별도 기자회견을 열고 "정 후보자에 대한 인사청문회가 거짓과 위증으로 긴급 중단됐다"면서 "부동산 투기 , 양도세 탈루 의혹, 잦은 음주운전, 자녀 불법 조기 해외유학 등 김명수 교육부 장 관 후보자 못지않은 의혹백화점이었던 정 후보자는 청문 시작부터 위증으로 일관했 다"고 주장했다.
정성근 사과 해명에 네티즌들은 “정성근 음주운전 사과, 석연치 않다”, “정성근 음주운전 사과, 앵커 시절 그렇게 안 봤는데”, “정성근 음주운전 사과, 해명이 납득이 안 간다” 등의 반응을 보였다.
NPAD steps up pressure on Park to cancel nominations
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy raised pressure on President Park Geun-hye Thursday to cancel her ministerial nominations for education and culture, reiterating that the two were unfit for Cabinet posts given the allegations against them.
“I urged President Park to think twice about the two nominees ― Kim Myung-soo and Chung Sung-keun ― while explaining to her our position in detail,” NPAD floor leader Park Young-sun told reporters after meeting with the president at Cheong Wa Dae.
“The president said that she understands (our position) and will think about (our demand).”
Park made the demand during the president’s first meeting with the floor leaders and policy chiefs of the ruling and opposition parties at the presidential office. The Saenuri Party’s floor leader Lee Wan-koo and its policy chief Joo Ho-young, and the NPAD’s floor leader Park and its policy chief Woo Yoon-keun attended.
President Park Geun-hye guides the floor leaders and policy chiefs of the ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy to a table for talks at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. From left, behind the president, are Saenuri floor leader Lee Wan-koo, NPAD floor leader Park Young-sun, NPAD policy chief Woo Yoon-keun and Saenuri policy chief Joo Ho-young. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)
The NPAD has been upping its offensive against Kim and Chung, underscoring the presidential office’s “flawed” system to vet and select nominees for top government posts.
Education Minister nominee Kim has been under intense criticism for burgeoning allegations of plagiarism, illicit applications for research funds and inflation of career credentials during his tenure as a professor at the state-run Korea National University of Education. Kim denies these allegations.
Culture Minister-designate Chung has also come under fire for his 2005 drunk-driving charge and his past remarks on social networking services that were highly critical of the opposition party before the 2012 presidential election. Chung has apologized for his past misdeeds.
During Thursday’s meeting, President Park proposed holding the meeting with the floor leaders of the rival parties at Cheong Wa Dae on a regular basis. She also suggested that the policy chiefs of the two parties join the presidential committee to prepare for national reunification.
Touching on the need to improve inter-Korean relations, which have been strained amid North Korea’s persistent saber-rattling, NPAD floor leader Park proposed lifting the government’s so-called May 24 sanctions against the North to pave the way for inter-Korean dialogue.
The president said, “The government will think about it on the humanitarian grounds and with a view to restoring the homogeneity of Koreans.”
The sanctions that forbid governmental economic exchanges and cooperation were put in place on May 24 after the North torpedoed the South Korean corvette Cheonan, killing 46 sailors in March 2010.
President Park also called for bipartisan parliamentary cooperation to revitalize the economy and enhance people’s livelihoods.
“People will give you a big round of applause if both parties work closely together to create a model of bipartisan cooperation to serve the people,” Park said.
Park stressed joint efforts to emerge from the April 16 ferry disaster, urging the parties to prioritize addressing issues that directly affect people’s day-to-day lives such as stimulating the sluggish real-estate market and enhancing public safety.
“What can we do to rejuvenate the economy? This question has never slipped out of my mind. The economy showed signs of recovering, but in the aftermath of the ferry incident, the recovery has been faltering,” said Park.
“When the economy gets worse, average people are dealt a serious blow. Their stores have less customers and their lives become difficult when our economy loses its impetus.”
By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
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