The by-election of April 30 ended with a crushing defeat for the ruling Uri Party and an overwhelming victory for the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP). It was the harsh judgment of the ruling party's failure at reform and incompetence at government affairs. For the GNP the results also become a heavy responsibility as a political alternative. The membership of the National Assembly must see the meaning of the results for what it is.
Some say the direct reason the ruling party was defeated was the Russian oilfield development scandal and problems in the candidate selection process. The authorities are still figuring out who needs to be held responsible for "oilfield-gate," and the ruling party's loss was a national phenomenon including National Assembly seats and local governments, so those reasons do not explain it all. The reason the ruling party lost is more fundamental.
In last year's National Assembly election Uri election the people wanted to see political and social reform, but despite the fact that Uri received a majority of seats and would have had the support of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) it failed to accomplish that. It actually turned back on reform legislation, giving in to offensives from the old establishment and pursuing a pragmatic line that engaged in self-censorship. This past weekend's election was a referendum on the reform that stopped at being nothing more than slogans. The unprincipled candidate selection and the money envelope affair reflect that loss of its identity as the party of reform. About the North Korean nuclear issue and intra-Korean relations as well, there was much talk but never any real action. Uri said that economic recovery depends on resolving the economic disparity in Korean society, and yet it was incompetent for failing to produce a prescription for reviving the common people's' economy. Put simply it did not move the people's hearts by providing them with a clear vision and leadership.
Uri needs to return to its original state of mind and commence on self-reform with an urgent sense of resolve in the area of personnel management and policy. The results of this election are a warning that unless there is a great awakening popular sentiment could rapidly turn against it. The ruling party is now a minority. That means that in the running of government affairs, both keeping the GNP in check and cooperating with it will be more important in the future. Now more than ever before the GNP needs to approach the issues with the attitude that it is competing to achieve reform, instead of trying to tie the ruling party down at every turn.
The Hankyoreh, 2 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
A Vote About Uri's Reform Failures and Incompetence |
