Parties shift focus to early presidential vote
Moon Jae-in
By Jun Ji-hye
Political parties are shifting their focus to an early presidential election, which may be inevitable after President Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly, Friday.
Political observers are raising the possibility that the 19th presidential poll may take place in March or April at the earliest, or August at the latest.
It could take place even earlier ― if the scandal-ridden President declares her decision to step down soon, the election could be conducted in early February according to the Constitutio, which stipulates that the election should be held within 60 days of a president’s departure.
The drama of deals and power struggles for the next election has already begun.
According to a Gallup poll on potential presidential candidates, released Friday, Moon Jae-in, former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, tied for first place, garnering 20 percent support.
Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, who has gained popularity among young voters with his street speeches criticizing Park, came third with 18 percent, up 10 percentage points from last month.
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, former leader of second largest opposition People’s Party, took the fourth place with 8 percent, while South Chungcheong Governor Ahn Hee-jung was fifth with 5 percent.
Right until the impeachment vote took place, the ruling Saenuri Party was severely divided between those loyal to the President and those who did not support her. While the anti-Park faction members joined forces with the opposition parties for the vote, Park loyalists made every effort to prevent it.
The tremendous strife in the governing party could lead to it splitting up, observers point out. If this happens, it will mark the first time that two conservative candidates could be running in the presidential poll since 1987.
Given that the opposition bloc is currently divided into three parties ― the DPK, the People’s Party and the minor opposition Justice Party ― there is the possibility that multiple presidential candidates could run in the election.
Members of the anti-Park faction are already talking about disbanding the Saenuri Party.
“The Saenuri Party should take a step toward its dissolution to take responsibility for this mess,” Rep. Choung Byoung-gug said during a radio interview.
Debates on whether and how to amend the Constitution could be another factor in the next presidential election.
Politicians from rival parties mostly agree that the current five-year, single term presidential system, introduced in 1987, should undergo some changes, but their views are different in regard to when and how it should be done.
Some want to begin a national discussion on a constitutional revision now, while others say it is more proper for the next president to push for the revision after being sworn in. The latter noted that what the nation needs now is passing through a crisis sparked by the presidential corruption scandal at the earliest possible date, rather than getting into time-consuming and complicated debates over the constitutional revision.
There are also various opinions on how to change the presidential system _ some are calling for introducing a four-year, two-term presidency, while others are focusing more on a way of decentralizing the president’s power. One option they are demanding is introducing a “semi-presidential” system, under which the president would be responsible for foreign and national security affairs, while the prime minister would be responsible for domestic affairs.
Eyes are also on which choice U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make regarding any possible presidential bid.
Ban, who finishes his term of office, Dec. 31, is known to be planning to return home in mid-January. He repeatedly left open the possibility of a bid, fueling speculation he may run as a pro-Park candidate for the Saenuri Party.
His bid has reportedly been backed by President Park and her supporters in the ruling party, and he had consistently ranked first in various opinion polls about who is the most qualified for the presidency.
But since the corruption scandal involving the President broke out in late October, his popularity has been falling as well in recent polls.
According to sources, Ban may deliver a message to the public upon his return, during which he may try to distance himself from Park.