By Jun Ji-hye
The Saenuri Party is stepping up its offensive against the opposition following the dissolution of the minor pro-North Korea Unified Progressive Party (UPP).
The opposition is making a counterattack, claiming that the governing party was seeking a distraction to enable an exit strategy from the “memogate” scandal.
The Saenuri Party has become more vocal since Sunday when President Park Geun-hye praised the Constitutional Court’s ruling ordering the UPP to disband and stripping its five lawmakers of their seats. Park described the ruling as “a historic decision” that defended the nation’s liberal democracy.
The governing camp, including President Park in particular, appears to be making the most of the court’s ruling as an opportunity to turn the tables in its favor.
Park has been suffering setbacks since late last month amid a controversy over memoranda leaked from Cheong Wa Dae, which suggested a power struggle taking place involving her younger brother Park Ji-man and her former confidant Jeong Yun-hoe.
Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung urged the country’s “progressive forces” to abandon their pro-North Korea leanings and show the public their “healthy progressive” side.
He also attempted to link the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) with the UPP.
“The NPAD once formed an alliance with the UPP in previous elections. It must declare the termination of its ties with the UPP that supported the North Korean system while neglecting the Constitution,” said Kim during a party meeting, Monday.
Floor leader Rep. Lee Wan-koo cited the fact that the NPAD has questioned whether the court’s decision was fair, with some claiming that the judiciary overstepped its authority against the legislative body.
“Arguments against the court’s decision are nothing short of protesting the constitutional order. That is no better than denying the Republic of Korea, which will throw the nation into chaos,” he said.
The ruling party also criticized the UPP for having held rallies against the order of the court.
“I urge the government to strongly block the unlawful rallies conducted by the UPP members,” said Chairman Kim.
As part of legislative efforts, ruling party lawmakers called for an amendment of the Public Official Election Act to prevent members of a disbanded party standing for elections.
When making this proposal Monday, Rep. Ha Tae-keung said, “UPP lawmakers who have lost their seats are able to stand for elections under current laws. Our party should draw up a unified bill on the matter in combination with those previously submitted.”
In response, the NPAD vowed to call in presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and other presidential secretaries for questioning at the National Assembly over the scandal involving the leak of internal memoranda.
“We need to get the real picture of the alleged inappropriate intervention in state affairs by former and incumbent presidential aides without fail,” NPAD floor leader Rep. Woo Yoon-keun said.
In September and November last year, respectively, Reps. Kim Jin-tae and Lee No-gun of the governing camp submitted revisions to the election law to restrict lawmakers, councilors and local government chiefs of a dissolved party from running for election for 10 years from the date of the ruling.
The submission came after Lee Seok-ki, who lost his parliamentary seat following the court’s latest decision, was charged with plotting an armed insurrection in August 2013.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye