Impeachment of Prosecutor General Shin Dispelled… Political Situation Rapidly Cooled

The impeachment motion against the Prosecutor General Shin Seung-Nam was dispelled on 8th after the discussion on whether New Millennium Democratic Party (NMDP) avoids the supervision over the count of the vote. Grand National Party (GNP) demanded for the apology of President Kim Dae-Jung, resignation of NMDP leaders, and the dismissal of Prosecutor General Shin, freezing the partisan relationship.

Since the plenary session (by 8th) was over without deliberating important bills such as budget bill for 2002, additional session will be called as soon as possible. But further strife between the ruling and the opposition parties will influence even on the deliberation of the budget bill.

At a press conference on 9th, the GNP floor leader Lee Jae-Oh said ,"The motion to impeach the Prosecutor General Shin was, in fact, approved since 138 lawmakers participated in the session. President Kim should dismiss Prosecutor General Shin right after he returns, or Shin should resign by himself for his own sake."

But floor leader Lee alluded that GNP would separately respond to the impeachment matter and the convocation of additional session to deal with the public welfare bills, saying, "Issues related to the additional session will be discussed in the presidential meeting on 10th." Lee Sang-Soo the floor leader of MDP said, "the budget bill will be deliberated by 18th by the subcommittee for figures adjustment in the special Committee on Budget and Accounts in the National Assembly."

In the plenary session on 8th, the vote for the impeachment motion against the Prosecutor General Shin was carried out, but there was no vote counting because NMPD didn’t participated in the supervision, insisting the motion was illegal. The Assembly Speaker Lee Man-Sup said, "because the vote counting cannot be proceeded, the ballet and nameplate boxes will be sealed, and will be open when the people and lawmakers want to unseal it." And he declared the closing of the meeting, the bill may be automatically scrapped by the deadline (72 hours after the sealing) of National Assembly law.

In the vote, all 136 members of GNP, Kang Sook-Ja of the Democratic People`s Party and independent Chung Mong-Joon participated. Lawmakers of NMDP attended the plenary chamber, but abstained from voting, and the members of the United Liberal Democrats left the chamber as soon as the vote began.

Song In-Soo issong@donga.com