Junior Legislators Reiterate Call for Ouster of Top Brass

Home > National > Politics

print dictionary print

Junior Legislators Reiterate Call for Ouster of Top Brass

The twelve junior ruling party lawmakers who led a revolt against the leadership of the Millennium Democratic Party last week again called on President Kim Dae-jung to fire senior party and Blue House officials to take responsibility for a recent series of policy and management failures.

The group held a meeting Tuesday morning and asked that their demand be included in the blueprint for changes within the party, which President Kim plans to unveil on June 13 at a news conference.

The move by the junior lawmakers follows Mr. Kim's request on Monday for an "orderly debate through official party organs."

The president also asked that the personnel issue be left to him. He said the power to appoint officials is reserved for the president by the constitution.

Im Jong-seok, one of the junior lawmakers, said that he and his colleagues believe that "a majority of the party and the Korean people want a change in leadership."

He added that while it may be appropriate to voice opinions through established channels, it is also reasonable to express views directly to the people through the media.

Mr. Im and his colleagues had been criticized within the party for not following proper procedure in airing their differences with the leadership.

One senior ruling party official expressed his concern over the public nature of the battle saying, "They may get attention if they go their own way, but it puts too much of a burden on the president."

The group of junior lawmakers said it has secured the support of 20 other Millennium Democrats and that it will mull over its next move should the president refuse to take their demands into account.



by Lee Jung-min

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)