President Park Geun-hye is standing at the front line of politics as she celebrates the third anniversary of her presidential victory (Dec. 19). This is indeed different from the first half of her term, when she stayed relatively far away from Yeouido. President Park personally mentioned the general elections scheduled for next April and continued to call for sweeping changes among the ruling and opposition candidates. She even urged the leaders of the ruling party and the chairman of the National Assembly to hurry and pass controversial bills giving off the impression of a president who also holds the seat of governor of the ruling party, something of the past. She may be trying to maintain her grip of state affairs in the second half of her term, but the opposition is criticizing the president for "bullying."
Above all, the president is leading public opinion calling for changes to the ruling and opposition party candidates, and some experts believe she is trying to turn next year's general elections into "her" election. President Park asked the lawmakers "We have an election to hold next year, but could they (the opposition party) actually look in the mirror?" and argued, "They are immersed in internal problems and neglecting the public and their financial problems." She also criticized the opposition party for "dereliction of duty" and continued to launch attack after attack saying, "I cannot but ask the reason for their existence." The president said she made a "desperate appeal" to pass the bills that are still pending, but her words hinted at an intention to highlight, "judgment on the opposition party."
Within the ruling party, sweeping changes to candidate nominations led by Cheong Wa Dae and the pro-Park members are becoming a reality. In particular, at a cabinet meeting on November 10, the president said, "I ask that you make sure that only honest people can be selected," triggering a heated debate over the "true" pro-Park members and "false" pro-Park members within the party. At the time, the pro-Park members had reignited a debate on new figures and the president's words were viewed as an attempt to support the debate. The pro-Park members virtually neutralized the open primary, which the party leader Kim Moo-sung had publicly announced.
In the ruling party, some politicians claim, "President Park is like a governor." In the past, the president was also the governor of the ruling party, giving orders on key issues to the party's senior members and also exercising one's influence in candidate nominations. The politician’s words reflect the reality in which the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae find themselves once again in a hierarchical relationship.
President Park used powerful words to urge the passing of the bills at the cabinet meeting and at the meeting with her senior secretaries. It is becoming more common for the president to summon Kim Moo-sung and the senior members of the party to Cheong Wa Dae and give them orders to pass bills. There are even rumors that the "honest people" President Park mentioned has become the criterion in receiving the ruling party's nomination in next year's general elections.
As Cheong Wa Dae's presence increases, the party's supreme council weakens. The cabinet meeting and the meeting of senior secretaries chaired by the president are acting as the control tower of the ruling party. One party official said, "Who would turn to the supreme council these days? On Mondays and Tuesdays, we are all nervous with our ears on the cabinet meeting or meeting of senior secretaries chaired by the president." Cheong Wa Dae stirred controversy over the "violation of the separation of power," and pressured the chairman of the National Assembly, head of the legislative branch, to bring up the five labor-related bills and the economic stimulus bill ex officio, and some experts believe this is a sign of the resurrection of the president as party governor.
Above all, the president is leading public opinion calling for changes to the ruling and opposition party candidates, and some experts believe she is trying to turn next year's general elections into "her" election. President Park asked the lawmakers "We have an election to hold next year, but could they (the opposition party) actually look in the mirror?" and argued, "They are immersed in internal problems and neglecting the public and their financial problems." She also criticized the opposition party for "dereliction of duty" and continued to launch attack after attack saying, "I cannot but ask the reason for their existence." The president said she made a "desperate appeal" to pass the bills that are still pending, but her words hinted at an intention to highlight, "judgment on the opposition party."
Within the ruling party, sweeping changes to candidate nominations led by Cheong Wa Dae and the pro-Park members are becoming a reality. In particular, at a cabinet meeting on November 10, the president said, "I ask that you make sure that only honest people can be selected," triggering a heated debate over the "true" pro-Park members and "false" pro-Park members within the party. At the time, the pro-Park members had reignited a debate on new figures and the president's words were viewed as an attempt to support the debate. The pro-Park members virtually neutralized the open primary, which the party leader Kim Moo-sung had publicly announced.
In the ruling party, some politicians claim, "President Park is like a governor." In the past, the president was also the governor of the ruling party, giving orders on key issues to the party's senior members and also exercising one's influence in candidate nominations. The politician’s words reflect the reality in which the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae find themselves once again in a hierarchical relationship.
President Park used powerful words to urge the passing of the bills at the cabinet meeting and at the meeting with her senior secretaries. It is becoming more common for the president to summon Kim Moo-sung and the senior members of the party to Cheong Wa Dae and give them orders to pass bills. There are even rumors that the "honest people" President Park mentioned has become the criterion in receiving the ruling party's nomination in next year's general elections.
As Cheong Wa Dae's presence increases, the party's supreme council weakens. The cabinet meeting and the meeting of senior secretaries chaired by the president are acting as the control tower of the ruling party. One party official said, "Who would turn to the supreme council these days? On Mondays and Tuesdays, we are all nervous with our ears on the cabinet meeting or meeting of senior secretaries chaired by the president." Cheong Wa Dae stirred controversy over the "violation of the separation of power," and pressured the chairman of the National Assembly, head of the legislative branch, to bring up the five labor-related bills and the economic stimulus bill ex officio, and some experts believe this is a sign of the resurrection of the president as party governor.
No comments:
Post a Comment