By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter

Two opposition parties on Thursday told President Roh Moo-hyun to stop his illegal pre-election campaigning for the pro-government Uri Party or face impeachment.

Following election authorities’ ruling that Roh violated election laws by making an official pitch for the Uri Party, the Grand National Party (GNP) and the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) demanded Roh make an official apology.

``We’ve already got the legal basis and found that President Roh has violated many laws, setting aside the election laws,’’ GNP floor leader Hong Sa-duk said. ``The only thing left now is a political decision. But the decision should come after an in-depth discussion with other opposition parties.’’

The National Election Commission (NEC) ruled Wednesday that the president violated Article 9 of the election law, which requires government officials to maintain political neutrality and refrain from making any comments that could influence voters. It was the first time for the NEC, established in 1963, to acknowledge that a president had violated election laws.

At a media conference late last month, Roh said he would like to do everything within the boundaries of the law to help the pro-government Uri Party win the April 15 general elections.

The opposition parties’ demand for an apology is considered a preparatory maneuver to the impeachment procedure, which they think will give them a good chance to regain the initiative over the Uri Party ahead of the polls.

Meanwhile, the Uri Party argued that the threats by the MDP and GNP are foul play. ``It’s regretful that the NEC’s judgment was somewhat forced by the opposition parties,’’ party chairman Chung Dong-young said. ``I don’t think the president’s remarks were an intrusion into the elections because the president’s free expression of his opinion came while fielding questions from the media.’’

If the president violates the Constitution or other laws in his performance of official duties, the National Assembly may pass an impeachment motion. No South Korean president has ever been impeached.

A majority in the Assembly is required to propose the motion and two-thirds of its members are needed to pass it. If the motion is passed, the president is suspended from performing his duties until the nine-member Constitutional Court rules on the case.

The GNP and the MDP could join forces to compose the required two-thirds majority as the two opposition parties occupy 77 percent of the 273-seat unicameral Assembly.

im@koreatimes.co.kr