Political Advantage Fast Eroded by Reaffirmation of Special Prosecutor Bill

By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun now finds himself in a tight spot following the National Assembly’s overturning of his veto of a special prosecutor bill to investigate former presidential aides Thursday.

The Assembly’s second and overriding approval of the bill is all the more ominous for Roh as it means he will now be vulnerable to attacks by the opposition parties for up to 90 days in the lead-up to the general elections next April.

Armed with legal instruments to undermine the head of state, the opposition parties are expected to take the upper hand in their face-off with Roh and the Uri Party in the crucial parliamentary race.

This is in sharp contrast to the situation in recent months, in which Roh had been outmaneuvering the opposition with shock tactics such as his sudden announcement of a national plebiscite on his competency as president.

Roh’s secretary of political affairs, Yoo In-tae, looked dismal in admitting the opposition had forced through the special probe. ``With passage of the bill, the declaration of it as law has become inevitable,’’ he said.

The dilemma for Roh and his staff lies in the fact that irregularities by presidential aides are set to remain the center of media attention during the lead-up to April’s general elections.

The majority opposition Grand National Party (GNP), joining forces with Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and the United Liberal Democrats, is poised to ratchet up the pressure on Roh and the pro-government Uri Party.

But Roh is struggling to find a way out of the worsening situation. Chong Wa Dae has no leverage with the prosecution probe, which may now be overruled by a special prosecutor.

The presidential office expects the alliance of the three opposition parties will not last long and the MDP will, eventually, help Roh. But such aid is unlikely to materialize immediately as the parties put top priority on winning the upcoming elections.

The special investigation’s deadline is set for March and may be extended until April. Given this timeframe, some presidential staff members are proposing measures for Roh to cope with the difficulties.

One proposal calls for Roh to withdraw his earlier decision for the national plebiscite before the end of the year.

Others recommend Roh conduct a major reshuffle of ministers, secretaries and advisors as part of efforts to totally revamp the administration.

Roh has admitted the need to carry out the reorganization at least by the end of the year to allow for prospective ministers and Chong Wa Dae staff to run in the Assembly elections.


jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr