Clearer vision for political reform needed
Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo has unveiled his first package of policy ideas for state affairs to shed light on his vision for political reform.
The measures are belated but welcome, given that voters have felt uncomfortable over a lack of concrete policies outlining his philosophy since the software mogul-turned-professor-turned-politician announced his bid for the presidency in mid-September.
As part of his efforts to push ahead with political reform, Ahn said he would limit the powers of the president, noting that the absolute power of the head of state has been the root cause of corruption. Specifically, he said the number of presidential appointees will be cut to fewer than 1,000 from the current 10,000 and the presidential mansion of Cheong Wa Dae will be relocated to a place in Seoul with greater public access.
According to the package, the National Assembly will be given the right to nominate the chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) and an independent agency will be created to investigate corruption cases implicating the president’s family members, close confidants and high-ranking officials. Presidential pardons would be granted only after approval by the National Assembly.
Ahn, 50, pledged to expand the government’s unit for small- and medium-sized companies and stop building new nuclear power plants. In acute contrast to President Lee Myung-bak’s hard-line policy toward North Korea, he promised closer cooperation and dialogue with Pyongyang. He also spoke on foreign policy, labor, welfare and education.
His first policy pledges drew mixed reactions depending on whether the appraisers were conservative or liberal but in general, they are judged to be lacking in substance and action plans. For example, what substantial effects could people expect from merely moving Cheong Wa Dae to another location in Seoul? Analysts said the move would just result in wasting taxpayers’ money.
Of course, it is encouraging that he raised the need to reduce the president’s powers, considering that the “imperial presidential system’’ has often been blamed for a lot of past wrongdoings involving presidents and their relatives. But it’s disappointing that his vision for new politics was devoid of concrete measures to reform the political parties, which form the backbone of the representative democracy system. Taking into consideration that he is an independent candidate with no party affiliation, this is all the more worrisome.
Most problematic is that his concept of political reform or new politics is still abstract. The main opposition Democratic United Party’s comment is quite suggestive: “(Ahn’s package) is still theoretical and remains at the level of embracing people’s desire abstractly.’’
It would be irresponsible if Ahn and his supporters brand the existing political system as old and outmoded, then cash in on the blind distrust of voters and their disappointment with the political establishment.
With less than 70 days before the December presidential election, Ahn should come up with a clearer vision for political reform and other agendas and this should be illustrated in the form of substantial policies and legislative bills.
Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo has unveiled his first package of policy ideas for state affairs to shed light on his vision for political reform.
The measures are belated but welcome, given that voters have felt uncomfortable over a lack of concrete policies outlining his philosophy since the software mogul-turned-professor-turned-politician announced his bid for the presidency in mid-September.
As part of his efforts to push ahead with political reform, Ahn said he would limit the powers of the president, noting that the absolute power of the head of state has been the root cause of corruption. Specifically, he said the number of presidential appointees will be cut to fewer than 1,000 from the current 10,000 and the presidential mansion of Cheong Wa Dae will be relocated to a place in Seoul with greater public access.
According to the package, the National Assembly will be given the right to nominate the chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) and an independent agency will be created to investigate corruption cases implicating the president’s family members, close confidants and high-ranking officials. Presidential pardons would be granted only after approval by the National Assembly.
Ahn, 50, pledged to expand the government’s unit for small- and medium-sized companies and stop building new nuclear power plants. In acute contrast to President Lee Myung-bak’s hard-line policy toward North Korea, he promised closer cooperation and dialogue with Pyongyang. He also spoke on foreign policy, labor, welfare and education.
His first policy pledges drew mixed reactions depending on whether the appraisers were conservative or liberal but in general, they are judged to be lacking in substance and action plans. For example, what substantial effects could people expect from merely moving Cheong Wa Dae to another location in Seoul? Analysts said the move would just result in wasting taxpayers’ money.
Of course, it is encouraging that he raised the need to reduce the president’s powers, considering that the “imperial presidential system’’ has often been blamed for a lot of past wrongdoings involving presidents and their relatives. But it’s disappointing that his vision for new politics was devoid of concrete measures to reform the political parties, which form the backbone of the representative democracy system. Taking into consideration that he is an independent candidate with no party affiliation, this is all the more worrisome.
Most problematic is that his concept of political reform or new politics is still abstract. The main opposition Democratic United Party’s comment is quite suggestive: “(Ahn’s package) is still theoretical and remains at the level of embracing people’s desire abstractly.’’
It would be irresponsible if Ahn and his supporters brand the existing political system as old and outmoded, then cash in on the blind distrust of voters and their disappointment with the political establishment.
With less than 70 days before the December presidential election, Ahn should come up with a clearer vision for political reform and other agendas and this should be illustrated in the form of substantial policies and legislative bills.
No comments:
Post a Comment