박근혜 대통령은 26일 정홍원 국무총리가 낸 사의를 60일만에 반려하고, 유임시키기로 전격 결정했다.
사의표명을 했던 총리가 유임조치되기는 헌정 사상 이번이 처음이다.
윤두현 청와대 홍보수석은 춘추관에서 한 브리핑에서 “정홍원 총리의 사의를 반려하고 총리로서 사명감을 갖고 계속 헌신해줄 것을 당부했다”고 발표했다.
그는 “박 대통령은 세월호 사고 이후 국민께 국가개조를 이루고 국민안전시스템을 만든다는 약속을 드렸다. 이를 위해 시급히 추진해야 할 국정과제가 산적해 있다”며 “하지만 청문회 과정에서 노출된 여러 문제들로 인해 국정공백과 국론분열이 매우 큰 상황인데 이런 상황을 더이상 방치할 수 없어 고심끝에 오늘 정 총리의 사의를 반려했다”고 설명했다.
(onlinenews@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 뉴스>
Park retains incumbent prime minister
President Park Geun-hye has decided to retain incumbent Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, after a series of nomination debacles that dealt a heavy blow to her approval ratings.
“To prevent causing a further vacuum in state management, President Park has turned down Prime Minister Chung Hong-won’s offer to resign but asked him to stay in his post,” said senior press secretary Yoon Doo-hyun.
The announcement came two days after Moon Chang-keuk, former nominee for prime minister, withdrew his nomination over mounting criticism over controversial remarks he made. Moon was Park’s second choice. Before Moon, Ahn Dae-hee, a former prosecutor, also dropped the nomination amid spiraling allegations that he received favors from his prosecutorial network.
Chung offered to resign in late April holding himself responsible for the ferry disaster that killed nearly 300.
Park tried to placate the public criticism by announcing a series of reform measures to eradicate wrongdoings in public office and improve safety standards. She wanted a new prime minister to lead her reform drive.
By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)
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