By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President-elect Lee Myung-bak sought a last-minute compromise Tuesday with the leader of the pro-government United National Democratic Party (UNDP) party to have his government downsizing bill passed before he takes the presidential oath on Feb.25.
Unless the compromise is made, Lee is considering appointing ministers before the bill is presented to the National Assembly and Cabinet.
Grand National Party (GNP) chief policymaker Lee Han-koo said the Presidential Transition Committee will have no choice but to name ministers under the current law. He added their placement could take place after the President-elect takes office on Feb. 25.
``Before the parties reach an agreement, we could announce several minister-nominees,'' he said in an interview Tuesday.
Transition committee Chairwoman Lee Kyung-sook expressed her anxiety, saying the next administration might be launched ``without ministers.''
She made the remarks as parties failed to compromise on the downsizing plan.
``Unless the parties agree by Wednesday, the country will possibly face an unprecedented scenario in which the new government will be launched without ministers,'' she said.
Lee argued that economic revival is impossible without making the government smaller. ``The economy will be bullish when regulations are eased. A small and efficient government can push for drastic deregulation.''
``We made every effort in accordance with the President-elect 's commitment to reviving the economy by downsizing the government.''
The UNDP said Chairwoman Lee's statement was unconvincing. ``Her speech seems to be a threat to the UNDP and the people,'' party floor leader Choi Jae-sung said.
In his meeting with transition team members, President-elect Lee said the matter of downsizing the government should be approached with economic logic, not political thinking. ``We cannot gain competitiveness under an over-bloated government when all countries around the world are going toward smaller governments.''
The incoming government plans to drastically reduce the number of civil servants, cutting staff by up to 75 percent in five government ministries that are to be closed under the plan.
During four rounds of talks, parties were unable to iron out differences as the UNDP insisted on keeping the maritime, gender equality, science and technology, and information and communication ministries and the Rural Development Administration.
The GNP refused to accept the proposal, insisting that it has already made a big concession by agreeing to retain the unification ministry instead of merging it with the foreign ministry.