Agreement Reached on Major Crimes Investigation Agency; Plenary Session Vote Set for 19th

The Democratic Party, the government, and the presidential office reached a final agreement on the 17th to establish a Major Crimes Investigation Agency (MCIA) and a Prosecution Agency. The Democratic Party confirmed the final versions of the MCIA and Prosecution Agency bills as party consensus through an emergency press conference and a party caucus the same day. These bills, which block prosecutors' investigative interference and strengthen the MCIA's independence, are scheduled to be processed in the National Assembly's plenary session on the 19th.

This agreement aims to reorganize the prosecution's existing power structure. It includes the abolition of key prosecutorial powers that would have allowed Prosecution Agency prosecutors to intervene in MCIA investigations, such as police command and supervision, warrant-related command, investigation suspension rights, and requests for job exclusion. Furthermore, it clarifies the prosecution's status as part of the executive branch, applying personnel and disciplinary principles similar to those for general public officials to prosecutors. The authority of the Prosecutor General will also be decentralized to regional Prosecution Agency chiefs, mitigating concentrated power.

The MCIA, to be newly established under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will investigate six major crime categories: corruption, economic crimes, drug offenses, defense procurement crimes, national security crimes, and cybercrimes, as well as crimes committed by investigative and judicial officials while in office.