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| ▲ Together with the Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yeon. The photo shows a greeting at the 2020 Local Government Excellence Policy-Local Assembly Excellence Ordinance Awards ceremony held at the National Assembly on the morning of December 22, 2020. | |
| Ⓒ Joint coverage photo |
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From the New Year of 2021, Yeouido has turned upside down. This is because Lee Nak-yeon, representative of the Democratic Party, said that he would suggest the amnesty of two former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, who are currently in prison, to “President Moon Jae-in at the appropriate time.”
Representative Lee emphasized national unity in this year’s New Year’s speech. he is <연합뉴스> <뉴시스> In an interview, I brought out the story of pardon as a method of’integrative politics’. However, he added, “We cannot tell in advance (the timing), and we have to consider various things such as the legal status and timing (during the Newsis interview).”
The’legal status’ he referred to means that in the case of former President Park Geun-hye, the ruling of Gukjeong Nongdan must be confirmed. Former President Park will be sentenced to a reconsideration on the 14th due to the Samsung bribery and blacklist cases. It is highly likely that the 20-year imprisonment, 18 billion won in fines, and 3.5 billion won in additional fines, sentenced by the Tribunal for Destruction and Recall in July of last year, will remain. Meanwhile, on October 29, Lee Myung-bak was sentenced to 17 years in prison, a fine of 13 billion won, and an additional fine of 5,780 million won.
No discussion within the Democratic Party…
However, there are criticisms that the former President Park Geun-hye is still undecided, and that it is too hasty for the ruling party representative to get a pardon first.
In a Facebook post on the 1st, Kim Jong-cheol, CEO of Justice Party, said, “I do not know why (CEO Nak-yeon Lee) suddenly says this,” and said, “I am very sorry.” He said, “There are countless citizens who suffered from crimes during the tenure of the two former presidents. Unrighteous is unrighteous,” he said. “I hope Lee will withdraw his position.”
Moreover, there is not enough discussion within the Democratic Party. Immediately there was opposition to the public.
Rep. Woo Sang-ho, who led the impeachment proceedings for former President Park Geun-hye during the 2016 in-house declaration, said on Facebook that “the two former presidents’ pardons are not appropriate in terms of time and content.” In the case of Park Geun-hye, the judicial judgment is not over.” Congressman Chung Cheong-rae said, “It’s still time to clear up the redemption, and the candlelight people haven’t even thought of forgiving (two),” he said, “I’m the opposite.”
Democratic leadership officials <오마이뉴스>In a phone call with him, he said, “There was no special talk (in advance).” However, he said, “I have to talk about the politics of unification in a different way than (the two former presidents) amnesty and rehabilitation, but the opposition party is too compelling, so it seems that emergency means have been used,” he said. “There will be a lot of controversy over whether it is appropriate or not.”
One Democratic Party member also regretted, “I don’t know what kind of public debate Lee said was made,” and “I think it was appropriate as a New Year message.” He said, “(Without specifying the timing, etc.) we can say in a very fundamental story. As a politician, we can argue,” he said. “It is not an issue that can be suggested (to the president) as a representative.” He said, “The presidential term is three months left,” he said. “Is it possible to gather public opinion from the party and make an official request to the president within three months? It will not be easy.”
Other lawmakers also evaluated Lee Nak-yeon’s suggestion of pardon as “self-policing.” However, he said, “Even though presidential candidate Lee Nak-yeon can do so, this is bound to be a fierce debate within us,” he said. “It is not an issue that the party representative alone (to the president) suggests.” He said, “I don’t know if the opposition party buys it first and then Lee can help, but in my view (to Lee) it hurts.”
‘Lee Nak-yeon style’? Pro-Park Gye welcomes, Kim Jong-in and Ahn Chul-soo
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| ▲ Candidate Geun-hye Park and Candidate Lee Myung-bak sit side by side and listen to the speeches of other candidates at the Gyeongnam joint speech for the GNP presidential candidate election held at the Changwon Indoor Gymnasium in Gyeongnam on August 6, 2007. | |
| Ⓒ Kwon Woo-seong |
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Representative Lee Nak-yeon explained, “It wasn’t discussed with us either, but I usually had a lot of worries (about Lee’s amnesty issue).” He predicted that “President Moon did not clearly express the conditions, but (the two former presidents) have mentioned the amnesty issue all the time,” he said. “In the short term, it will be negative (to Lee), but in the long run it may not be.” One Democratic Party official also said, “It can be said that the (internal) communication process was lacking, but I think I spoke based on Lee’s own philosophy and values.”
The reaction of the conservative opposition was also subtly divided. Kim Jong-in, chairman of the People’s Power Emergency Response Committee, responded to the reporter’s question after visiting the Hyeonchungwon on the 1st, saying, “(Representative Nak-yeon Lee’s suggestion for pardoning two former presidents) is the first time I heard.” Ahn Cheol-soo, the head of the National Assembly Party, said, “It is important to have consensus with the whole people. It is unacceptable if you try to use it for the election.”
Republican Representative Cho Won-jin said, “I welcome the suggestion of Lee Nak-yeon, although it was late,” and insisted, “We must admit the mistake of illegal impeachment and release former President Park right now.” Yoo Seung-min, a former member of the Future Integration Party, who was the core of the pro-Park system, but was in favor of the impeachment, said, “In order for the Republic of Korea to clear the past and move toward the future, the former presidential issue must now be resolved.” I look forward to the president’s prompt decision to pardon.”