Park Geun-hye seeks to change presidential term

Rep. Moon Jae-in, center, presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic United Party, chats with independent contender Ahn Cheol-soo during an event organized by a fisheries organization at Seoul Plaza, Tuesday, while Park Geun-hye, left, candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, looks pensive. The event took place just hours before Moon and Ahn met for talks on a single candidacy. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

The Saenuri Party’s presidential candidate Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that if elected she would look to amend the Constitution to allow future presidents to serve for four years for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

“I will push ahead with changing the current five-year single-term presidency,” she said during a news conference on her political reforms at the party headquarters in Seoul.

However, she refused to discuss the matter in detail, saying it shouldn’t become a campaign issue.

“I don’t think it is desirable to approach the issue with a politically motivation,” she said.

The 60-year-old ruling party candidate tried to shift focus to the economy, which has repeatedly been confirmed as a top priority for voters.

“The global economic crisis is threatening people’s livelihoods and survival. I will implement policies to deal with these as a priority,” she said.

The economy is feared to contract in the fourth quarter or in the first of next year because of the lack of domestic spending at a time when the United States and Europe, key importers of Korean goods, are facing stagnation.

Meanwhile, Park’s reference to changing the presidential term is interpreted as a two-prong approach — first putting the issue as part of her agenda while trying to prevent it from becoming a campaign issue that may distract her focus.

Her remarks demonstrated her willpower to undertake a comprehensive constitutional amendment to help improve people’s fundamental human rights.

Ahn Dae-hee, who chairs the Saenuri Party’s political reform committee said, “The president has a right to table a bill for a constitutional amendment. Any time the nation wants and thinks it is needed, discussion concerning constitutional changes can be made.”

The daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee also vowed to establish a law forcing parties to pick candidates at least four months before the presidential election and two months before general elections.

She explained this was to guarantee the people’s right to know more about the candidates before they vote.

The standard bearer of the ruling party also pledged to introduce bottom to top nominations to drum up grassroots support and eliminate backroom dealing among party stalwarts.

Under her plan, she also promised to systematize open primaries when choosing candidates to run for the National Assembly as well as those running for local government.

Regarding reform of the National Assembly she said, “I will severely restrict the privilege of exemption from liability that members of National Assembly have. I will also push ahead with abolishing their immunity from arrest.”

She also revealed measures to reduce presidential power. “In my administration, I will guarantee the prime minister’s right to recommend Cabinet members, which has so far proved to be a dead issue.”

The 60-year-old conservative stressed that the aim of political overhaul was not to kill it but to restore it to its proper role.