[EDITORIALS]Ruling Party Sinks Deeper

The recent moves in the ruling party after its crushing defeat in the Oct. 25 local by-elections make the public doubt the governing party's understanding of the current situation. Although the ruling party said that estranged public support was the main reason for its dismal failure in the elections, the party seemed to focus on patching up the wounds and breaking a political deadlock.

If the ruling party agrees that it was defeated in the recent elections because of arrogant politics without principles, partisanship, repeated scandals and the economic crisis caused by misgovernment, the party should have come up with measures to improve such missteps. However, it has failed to do so. Even the ruling party spokesperson deplored that the leadership of the governing party seemed incapable of regaining power in the next presidential election.

If the ruling party really want to remodel the ruling camp completely as was expressed by themselves recently, it should carry out radical reshuffling in the government and the party, which will enable a genuine restructuring of the government management. However, it was reported that after the ordinary sessions of the National Assembly, the prime minister and some economic ministers would be replaced. There is still no mention about issues of public concern such as rectifying unbalanced personnel appointments. The timing of the reshuffle is reported to be immediately before or after the year's end. How can the new ministers do their jobs properly at a time when the presidential election is approaching? Despite what the president said about reforming the government and the party last December, several chances to do that came to nothing.

The ruling party showed no will to clear up the recent scandals; it only talked about policies to support middle classes in order to win the upcoming elections. They are only concerned with internal matters, such as narrowing the presidential candidate earlier than its plan or President Kim's resignation from the party chairmanship. They should not produce topics that hinder national governance only to divert the people's attention from the problems. The opposition should also mull over what is the politics for the country, so that the ruling party will not make any unreasonable moves.