[Exclusive] Blue House says ruling party must "speak smoothly in one voice" regarding abolition of supplement investigative rights
The Blue House has urged the ruling party to maintain a united front in discussions about the abolition of supplementary investigative rights amid ongoing reforms in the prosecution system.
The Blue House has confirmed its position on the ruling party's recent declaration regarding the abolition of supplementary investigative rights as part of broader reform efforts in the prosecution system. During a high-level closed meeting, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik emphasized the importance of presenting a unified message between the party and the administration, especially in light of President Lee Jae-myung's prior remarks supporting some exceptional recognition of supplementary investigative rights. The abrupt shift in the Democratic Party's stance — from allowing supplementary investigation rights to issuing only requests for supplementary investigations — has raised concerns about mixed signals and has caused discomfort in the administration.
At the meeting, Kang specifically addressed the issue of prosecutorial reform and pointed out that expressing apparent conflict between the party and the government could be detrimental. He noted that the alterations to the rights of prosecutors concerning supplementary investigations require careful preemptive coordination between the party and the administration. The Democratic Party's firm position against supplementary investigation rights, declared following recent discussions, indicated a departure from prior consensus, particularly troubling following the President's earlier comments promoting the cautious inclusion of these rights for effective governance.
The context of this debate is significant as it shapes the future legislative framework around the prosecution's powers and oversight capabilities. President Lee's remarks from the New Year's press conference emphasized the necessity for some level of supplementary investigative rights to ensure efficient government operations, remarking that exceptions could serve as safety mechanisms. However, the Democratic Party's decision to categorically reject these rights without thorough pre-discussions highlights a challenge in party-government relations, prompting assurance of better communication channels moving forward.