By Kang Seung-woo
Are we hurtling back to the 1970s when a head of state was equivalent to a king or queen endowed with almost unlimited power?
Certainly, President Park Geun-hye, who was elected through a popular vote, was expected to be the last person to emulate such an anachronism.
However, judging by Park's fight with her former loyalist, people could think they are back in an era when democracy was sacrificed for the purpose of economic promotion.
While vetoing a revision bill for the National Assembly Law, Thursday, Park slammed the Saenuri Party leadership — particularly floor leader Rep. Yoo Seong-min — and denounced the bill as unconstitutional. Cheong Wa Dae and Park's followers have been eager to force Yoo out, holding him responsible for the feud between the presidential office and the party.
However, according to a public opinion poll by CBS No-Cut News, which interviewed 1,000 respondents Monday, 53.8 percent said that Yoo should not step down, compared with 38.4 percent who said he should.
In addition, 58.5 percent disagreed with the pro-Park lawmakers' calls for Yoo's resignation for "betraying her," with only 32.9 percent supporting them.
"Cheong Wa Dae has no authority and cause to force the floor leader of the ruling party to quit," said Yun Seong-yi, a professor of political science at Kyung Hee University.
"Amid concerns over the increasing concentration of power in the President's hands, Yoo tried to ease the concentration. However, should Yoo resign due to Cheong Wa Dae's pressure, politics will be back in the past, where parliament served as a yes-man to the President."
Yun added that the presidential office's attempt to force Yoo out will fail to draw public support, describing the current moves as a "misjudgment."
Rep. Moon Jae-in, the chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), echoed Yun, saying Monday that such a move is a breach of the principle of the separation of powers and interferes with the National Assembly.
"In addition, President Park urged Yoo to be judged at next year's general election, so her remarks may have violated the Election Law," Moon said.
Critics said that Park was too emotional in bashing the floor leader, who was once a staunch ally of hers.
"As the head of state, President Park should not have reacted in such a manner although she may lose her grip on the ruling party without any strong countermeasure to the challenge," said Hong Hyeong-sik, the director of Hangil Research.
"Park had been known for controlling her emotions well, but since taking office (in 2013), she has been caught showing her feelings frequently."
Hong added that perhaps Park's traumatic childhood — her father the former President Park Chung-hee was killed by his own intelligence chief — may have influenced her zero tolerance for any betrayal.
Meanwhile, some Saenuri Party members have come forward in an attempt to save the floor leader.
"We will not look on as the floor leader, who we handpicked, is being ousted," Rep. Chung Doo-un said.
"We appear to live in a period of military dictatorship, given that Cheong Wa Dae is trying to force a duly-elected floor leader to quit."
Lee Hye-hoon, a former Saenuri Party Supreme Council member, also said in a radio interview that party members overwhelmingly gave Yoo their confidence during a party meeting Friday and pro-Park lawmakers should follow this.
Are we hurtling back to the 1970s when a head of state was equivalent to a king or queen endowed with almost unlimited power?
Certainly, President Park Geun-hye, who was elected through a popular vote, was expected to be the last person to emulate such an anachronism.
However, judging by Park's fight with her former loyalist, people could think they are back in an era when democracy was sacrificed for the purpose of economic promotion.
While vetoing a revision bill for the National Assembly Law, Thursday, Park slammed the Saenuri Party leadership — particularly floor leader Rep. Yoo Seong-min — and denounced the bill as unconstitutional. Cheong Wa Dae and Park's followers have been eager to force Yoo out, holding him responsible for the feud between the presidential office and the party.
However, according to a public opinion poll by CBS No-Cut News, which interviewed 1,000 respondents Monday, 53.8 percent said that Yoo should not step down, compared with 38.4 percent who said he should.
In addition, 58.5 percent disagreed with the pro-Park lawmakers' calls for Yoo's resignation for "betraying her," with only 32.9 percent supporting them.
"Cheong Wa Dae has no authority and cause to force the floor leader of the ruling party to quit," said Yun Seong-yi, a professor of political science at Kyung Hee University.
"Amid concerns over the increasing concentration of power in the President's hands, Yoo tried to ease the concentration. However, should Yoo resign due to Cheong Wa Dae's pressure, politics will be back in the past, where parliament served as a yes-man to the President."
Yun added that the presidential office's attempt to force Yoo out will fail to draw public support, describing the current moves as a "misjudgment."
Rep. Moon Jae-in, the chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), echoed Yun, saying Monday that such a move is a breach of the principle of the separation of powers and interferes with the National Assembly.
"In addition, President Park urged Yoo to be judged at next year's general election, so her remarks may have violated the Election Law," Moon said.
Critics said that Park was too emotional in bashing the floor leader, who was once a staunch ally of hers.
"As the head of state, President Park should not have reacted in such a manner although she may lose her grip on the ruling party without any strong countermeasure to the challenge," said Hong Hyeong-sik, the director of Hangil Research.
"Park had been known for controlling her emotions well, but since taking office (in 2013), she has been caught showing her feelings frequently."
Hong added that perhaps Park's traumatic childhood — her father the former President Park Chung-hee was killed by his own intelligence chief — may have influenced her zero tolerance for any betrayal.
Meanwhile, some Saenuri Party members have come forward in an attempt to save the floor leader.
"We will not look on as the floor leader, who we handpicked, is being ousted," Rep. Chung Doo-un said.
"We appear to live in a period of military dictatorship, given that Cheong Wa Dae is trying to force a duly-elected floor leader to quit."
Lee Hye-hoon, a former Saenuri Party Supreme Council member, also said in a radio interview that party members overwhelmingly gave Yoo their confidence during a party meeting Friday and pro-Park lawmakers should follow this.
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