Extraordinary Action Expected from GNP If President Uses Veto Power

President Roh Moo-hyun said that he would delay his decision on whether to exercise his veto power on the no-confidence motion on Home Affairs Minister Kim Doo-hwan, which passed the National Assembly on Wednesday. In response, the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is threatening to take strong measures if the president vetoes the motion it sponsored, heightening tensions in the political community.

At a senior presidential secretaries’ meeting on Thursday, the president said, "This case should not cause conflict and political disorder, thereby making the people feel insecure. I will reflect on the issue at length before consulting with the ruling and opposition parties and the public. Only then will I decide on whether to exercise my veto or not."

However, the president reiterated that the passage of the resolution itself is inappropriate, saying that if a minister is dismissed without justification, national administration could not progress smoothly.

Presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young explained that the president has decided to take his time before making a decision over the resolution, adding his final decision will not be made until next week.

On the same day, chairman of the GNP Choe Byung-yul said, "That the Constitution provides the legislature with the right to suggest dismissal of cabinet ministers means to allow for a no-confidence motion while observing checks and balances. If Mr. Roh, who was a lawyer, interprets the Constitution in a different way, then it constitutes a revision of the Constitution by interpretation."

The GNP chairman warned that the GNP has no choice but to take extraordinary action in order to protect the Constitution if Mr. Roh vetoes the parliamentary resolution.

He also added that the GNP would expand the existing four special committees to investigate corruption scandals involving those in positions of power: corruption and irregularities involving the president’s relatives, former presidential personal secretary Yang Gil-seung, Kwon Ro-kap, a former advisor to the MDP, and Park Jie-won, former president Kim Dae-jung’s chief of staff, as well as the Goodmorning City case.

Yeon-Wook Jung Jeong-Hun Kim jyw11@donga.com jnghn@donga.com