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President Roh to quit party after internal feud
Wonder if this has anything to do with NKâs threats - see below - possibly hoping this would encourage appeasement?
EFL/FU
South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun yesterday said he will quit the embattled Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) in a move widely expected after a group of parliamentarians loyal to him broke away to form a new party because of internal feuding.
| The party's not big enough to hold their egos, huh? |
âPresident Roh has decided to give up his MDP membership,â his spokesman Yoon Tai Young said, adding that legal steps would be taken soon to formalise Mr Rohâs departure from the party. Though a minority party in the National Assembly, the MDP has been considered the ruling party until now because of the Presidentâs membership. That will no longer be the case, Mr Yoon indicated, saying the party would no longer receive exclusive briefings on policy from the government. âI made up my mind to stop my MDP membership from causing any further political debate,â Mr Roh said through his spokesman, adding that he would stay aloof from party politics and concentrate on state affairs. The spokesman said Mr Roh would stand unaffiliated with any party, at least until the end of the year, although he has expressed sympathy for 37 reformist MDP lawmakers who bolted from the party nine days ago to form their own group. It is scheduled to be launched this week. His loyalists had struggled to reform the MDP, hit by corruption scandals and bitter factional bickering, ahead of parliamentary elections in April next year.
Posted by: Frank G 2003-09-30 |
