Prime Minister candidate Han Deok-soo leaves the office of the National Assembly Personnel Hearing Preparation Team at the Korea Productivity Center building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 19th, one day before the National Assembly plenary session votes for the approval of the appointment. [사진 = 연합뉴스]President Yoon Seok-yeol, ministers, the chiefs of the presidential office, and 99 people’s strength lawmakers attended the May 18 Democratization Movement commemoration ceremony in large numbers. However, Han Deok-soo, the new government’s first prime minister candidate, was not present here. This is because the National Assembly approval process was pushed back one day after another, and it was omitted from the invitation for the government-sponsored commemorative ceremony. In the end, one candidate had to go to Gwangju on the 17th, the day before the commemoration ceremony, as an individual, and visit the May 18th National Cemetery alone.
Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho is acting on behalf of one candidate, such as exercising the right to propose a minister, but this is only temporary. It is absolutely undesirable for the prime minister to take a longer vacancy with tasks that need to be resolved urgently at home and abroad. With that much difficulty, the vote to approve the Prime Minister at the National Assembly plenary session on the 20th is an important watershed in state affairs.
It makes sense for the Democratic Party, the majority party, to approve the Prime Minister’s approval and help the new government launch. A candidate who served as prime minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration is from Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, a garden of progressive camps, and is a cooperative card that can communicate with the Democratic Party. Democrats have no reason to reject it. Although there are some controversies such as courtesy, it is difficult to see it as a reason for disqualification enough to refuse approval.
Also, will the people agree if I say that I am going to reject the Prime Minister’s approval as a way of angering me about the appointment of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, who was selected as the 0th priority? It has no choice but to be seen as a mere grabbing of the government’s ankles.
After allowing the new government to work, it is normal to check and criticize policies. Former National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said, “It is more in line with the basics to give the Prime Minister’s approval.” Jeong Dae-cheol, a standing adviser, also said, “You have to do what the Democratic Party can do for you.”
Even Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the general election committee, said, “It is necessary to consider that the president is the first step in the process.” This is common sense. The president also needs to raise the Democratic Party’s face and open a way out by withdrawing the approval of Chung Ho-young for Minister of Health and Welfare, which falls short of the public’s expectations.
Although the principle of “no political dealings” is good, the president must keep in mind that it can be accepted as self-righteousness and self-righteousness. Making small concessions to each other for the sake of the national interest is the starting point for going beyond the politics of conflict and division.
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