Opinion of the Blue House Turns to “Conditional Veto”

The Blue House, in regards to whether or not the president will exercise a veto on a special investigation law for the scandals of the presidential aides, replied on November 23 that a final decision has not been made, but the president will make a conclusion after discussing with the state ministers at a cabinet meeting to be held on November 25.

However, the inner atmosphere of the Blue House seems to be inclined towards an execution of veto. As President Roh Moo-hyun has expressed several times earlier, accepting the special prosecution would be complicated based on the reason that the prosecution’s investigation is currently under way. Inside the Blue House, now that the prosecution’s search on the scandal of the presidential aides, including former secretary for general affairs Choi Do-sul, is at the end, a plan of exercising a veto on the special prosecution law while waiting for a conclusion from the prosecutors’ investigation and request for resolution, a “conditional” veto, is being reviewed as the most probable alternative.

The Blue House’s immediate and strong reaction against a press conference of the Chairman of the Grand National Party (GNP) Choe Byung-yul on November 23 also implies the inner opinion of the president’s office.

In a briefing, a spokesman of the Blue House, Yoon Tae-young, criticized, “It seems that the GNP is really pressing. If the GNP has the public and the nation in its mind, it is advisable that the party itself should first respect the constitutional law and protect the legislation order, although only in an urgent situation.” The spokesman even used a coarse expression of “collective tease” when he referred to the GNP leader’s remarks of “an overall struggle against the president.” Yoon reportedly made an announcement after having discussed with President Roh.

Chun Ho-sun, an aide for state affairs planning, said that Rep. Choe’s interview was meant to intentionally freeze the political situation and manipulate uncooperative surroundings against the prosecution’s investigation on the presidential election fund case. Chun said, “We have a choice to either reconsider the plan of special prosecution or to make a revision, but the GNP is threatening the citizens by behaving in such a way.”

Another official of the Blue House said, “Who would believe that we will be intimidated with such a threat?”

Jeong-Hun Kim Young-Hae Choi jnghn@donga.com yhchoi65@donga.com