By Oh Young-jin
A senior lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Sunday questioned the leadership of the party’s Chairman Ahn Sang-soo for mishandling the recent resignation of Chung ong-ki as President Lee Myung-bak’s nominee as head of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI).
It was the latest attack by the party stalwart against Rep. Ahn who has been facing a series of scandalous events.
“Chairman Ahn didn’t show the leadership expected of the party’s head,” Huh Tae-yeol said during an exclusive interview with The Korea Times. “Ahn just followed members of the Supreme Council when its members decided to call for Chung to bow out without notifying Cheong Wa Dae.
“Ahn’s failure to handle the matter properly strained the relationship between President Lee and the party,” Huh said. “It also gave the impressions of a lack of coordination.”
Huh is a third-term GNP lawmaker who is in charge of the National Assembly’s policy committee, a fundamental committee that covers all key affairs.
Huh’s attack comes at a time when the party and the presidential office seem to be working to defuse notions of a conflict between the governing party and President Lee.
President Lee was pushing for Chung, his senior secretary for civil affairs, to head the watchdog’s organization with opposition lawmakers casting doubt on his eligibility, citing big salaries he received while working as head of the legal team at Lee’s presidential transition team.
The GNP withdrew its support for Chung, while ignoring Cheong Wa Dae’s request that the party delay its announcement.
Rep. Ahn has been beset by his scandalous behavior. He recently made a sexist remark during his meeting with women reporters. Ahn’s critics argue that the chairman should resign, considering he led a process to expel a young lawmaker for sexist remarks.
He was also entangled in a controversy when he picked up a thermos flask from wreckage after the North Korean shelling during his recent visit to Yeongpyeong Island and called it a shell. Ahn was also exempted from compulsory military service.