Opposition Wants Broader Coalition

Home > National > Politics

print dictionary print

Opposition Wants Broader Coalition

Opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang called for a "pan-national people's coalition" to tackle what he called the crises wrought by three years of Kim Dae-jung's rule. Mr. Lee spoke before the National Assembly Tuesday.

"From public welfare to the health care system to education to inter-Korean relations, the general state of the government is in crisis. Through a pan-national people's coalition, I will seek to overhaul the current state of governance," said Mr. Lee, president of the opposition Grand National Party.

He was the first leader of the three parliamentary negotiating bodies to take the podium at the 220th extra session of the assembly.

Mr. Lee refrained from directly attacking the imminent political realignment sought by the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, but his proposal for a coalition is a contrast to the three-way coalition formed by the ruling party, the United Liberal Democrats and the Democratic People's Party.

"The 'strong government' pushed by President Kim cannot be a choice for the people," Mr. Lee said.

He labeled the ongoing tax audit into national media companies a "political tool to muzzle the press."

Mr. Lee also urged the Bush administration to heed Seoul's opinion in forming its North Korean policy.




by Noh Jae-hyun

Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)