Discord and Suspicion Between Leading Parties

As suspicions mount that the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) intervened in and obstructed inspections of April 13 general election campaign funds, the antagonism between the ruling and the opposition party is worsening as the opening of the National Assembly ordinary session, September 1, looms.

MDP Chairman Suh Young-hoon has apologized to the Prosecutor's Office and the National Election Commission (NEC). The opposition Grand National Party (GNP), however, is not satisfied. They are demanding a public apology from President Kim Dae-jung, the dismissal of Public Prosecutor General Park Soon-yong, and the resignation of NEC chairman Yoo Ji-dam.

"They destroyed the election system, the basis of democracy," complained GNP President Lee Hoi-chang. "They shook the foundation of the nation; unless this problem is settled, the GNP might not join the National Assembly ordinary session."

The GNP has demanded a disclosure of the list of the 10 MDP members who evidently avoided indictments thanks to MDP pressure on the prosecutors office. They also want the conversation between MDP officials (Floor Leader Chung Kyun-hwan, Secretary General Kim Ok-doo, and Vice Secretary General Yoon Chul-sang) and the prosecutors or NEC officials to be revealed. The GNP has requested a parliamentary investigation and a special prosecutor system for the case.

MDP Chairman Suh countered, "The MDP regrets to have caused a scandal, though some of the charges are groundless or exaggerated; in this society, so changed from the past, how can we manipulate the prosecutors office or the National Election Commission?"

Suh rejects the GNP's demands. "It's just a political offense," he rationalized.

by Chun Young-gi