By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) Thursday criticized the National Election Commission (NEC) for its ruling that President Roh Moo-hyun did not violate the Election Law for a third time.
GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said her party believes that the election watchdog granted the President an amnesty in its review of Roh's latest political comments in ``written'' form.
``We don't understand the ruling,'' she said. ``Roh, who has already been warned by the NEC twice, gained an amnesty.''
Unlike previous cases in which Roh allegedly violated the law by criticizing GNP hopefuls _ Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye _ in speeches in June, he conducted his latest faux pas through a ``written'' statement.
After reviewing the papers to rule whether he violated the law for a third time, the NEC said, ``Unlike the past cases, this latest one cannot be regarded as a violation.''
After the NEC rulings in June that Roh breached the law requiring public officials to stay neutral ahead of elections twice, the presidential office said it would consult with the commission before the President makes any political remarks.
The presidential office conveyed Roh's planned political remarks to the commission in advance on June 29, asking the commission to review whether he would be violating the Election Law if the remarks were made public.
On July 9, the NEC disregarded the move by sending a one-page letter that described the move (consulting before commenting) as ``inappropriate.''
But on July 11, the presidential office made public the contents of the consultations, expressing dissatisfaction over the commission's reply. ``As the contents were revealed, the NEC has no choice but to rule if the remarks go against the Election Law,'' said the NEC secretary general.
In the consultation, the presidential office said the GNP and presidential hopeful Lee are ``deceiving the public with falsehoods and trickery.''
Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon told reporters that Cheong Wa Dae decided to make public the contents, believing the remarks would not be a violation of the law.
The office said Roh will make political remarks according to his conviction and own views, turning from its previous stance of consulting the NEC.