Electioneering grinds to halt

By Chung Min-uck

Rival parties are keeping their political activities as low key as possible following the deadly ferry sinking off Korea’s southwestern coast last Wednesday.

The ruling Saenuri Party said Monday it was suspending all parliamentary activities related to selecting candidates for governors and mayors in the upcoming June 4 local elections.

“The Saenuri Party will halt all election campaigns and party primaries until the situation is under control,” Hong Moon-jong, the party’s secretary general, said. “We wish for a safe return of those who are missing.”

The ruling party earlier ordered its lawmakers to act with restraint and refrain from drinking or playing golf.

The party also set up a special committee to handle the aftermath of the sinking and has notified all local branches across the nation to refrain from wearing the party’s official red jacket.

Observers say the move reflects the Saenuri Party’s anxiety over the tragedy which is stirring up negative sentiment toward the ruling party among voters.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, has also tentatively postponed its local election-related schedule.

“All ongoing election-related activities including handing out name cards to voters and holding debates on election strategies have been stopped as of now,” said the party’s spokesman Park Kwang-on. “The party still sticks to the initial position of halting all those activities.”

Following the rival parties’ suspension of campaigning for the June 4 local elections, some say there could be a postponement of the election date.

But this is unlikely because the National Election Commission told the media that delaying the election is not possible under the Election Law. In order to so, an amendment is necessary, according to the commission.