Outgoing administration should not wish for more

Will state projects have to be postponed until the next government since the tenure of the incumbent president is approaching its end?

This has become a political hot potato because the ruling Saenuri Party and the government are in a tit-for-tat dispute with less than eight months remaining before the end of President Lee Myung-bak’s single five-year term. Of course, the main opposition Democratic United Party is siding with the governing party in anticipation of a victory in the presidential election in December.

Strategy and Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan said Wednesday that the government will go ahead with its major state projects despite demands from lawmakers to delay making decisions on controversial projects. Bahk made the remarks because lawmakers recently asked the government not to be in a hurry to conclude contentious projects such as the multi-billion-dollar plan to purchase next-generation fighter jets.

In principle, Bahk is right to say the government should do what it can even though it’s in a lame duck period. This seems all the more plausible, given the norm that there must not be a hitch in conducting state affairs. However, the reality is that the government has lost its drive after a string of corruption scandals involving the President’s relatives and confidants and the chaotic state of government affairs recently.

The ruling party’s argument is understandable, taking into account that the projects at issue are explosive enough to shake the Dec. 19 presidential poll. To begin with, the FX fighter project, which aims to arm the Air Force with advanced stealth jets at a cost of 8.3 trillion won, has already raised suspicions ― there may be some reasons behind the government’s fast move.

Also at the center of controversy is the finance ministry’s plan to sell 49 percent of its 100 percent stake in Incheon International Airport. Ministry officials say the stake sale is needed to introduce advanced management and improve the airport’s competitiveness but the plan is facing tough opposition from the Saenuri Party as well as from civic groups and opposition forces.

As things stand now, the government can’t wish for more from the ruling party that has no other choice but to pay close attention to public opinion ahead of the presidential election. If the past is any guide, projects pushed unreasonably near the end of the government’s term always cause serious problems. The previous Roh Mo-hyun administration, for instance, held an inter-Korean summit in late 2007, just four months before his tenure ended, in an apparent bid to take advantage of the talks politically ahead of the presidential election. But none of what was agreed in the summit meeting was implemented following the regime change in South Korea.

In this regard, it would be reasonable for the outgoing administration to focus on completing ongoing projects and leave the contentious issues to the incoming government.