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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Landslide victory for South Korean conservatives in local elections |
| 2006-06-01 |
| South Korea's main conservative party scored a landslide victory in local elections, official results showed on Thursday, dealing a blow to President Roh Moo-hyun and a key aide tipped as a possible successor. The drubbing for Roh's liberal Uri Party means Roh will likely will have little power to push forward his agenda to implement new tax policy, corporate reform and rules on foreign investment for the little under two years he has left in his term, analysts said. It also puts the main opposition and conservative Grand National Party in the driver's seat ahead of the December 2007 election for South Korea's next president. South Korean media reported on Thursday Chung Dong-young, the leader of the Uri Party and a former cabinet member in the Roh administration, who was seen as a possible presidential contender, may resign his leadership role to take responsibility for the loss. Uri officials were not immediately available for comment. The main opposition Grand National Party won 12 of 16 major races for mayors and provincial governors in the election held on Wednesday, while Roh's progressive Uri Party picked up one seat, the National Election Commission reported. The smaller Democratic Party won two of the major regional races and an independent won the final race, it said. The Grand National Party won the biggest race for the mayor of Seoul, where about one in five South Koreans live. The drubbing for Uri in the vote for nearly 3,900 posts for mayors, governors, city councillors and regional assembly members was unlikely to affect economic and national security policies in the short run, analysts said. But it comes on the heels of Uri suffering two major setbacks in by-elections for seats in parliament over the past year. "The humiliating electoral results for the Uri Party will constrain the president's ability to implement his reform objectives, since he will be increasingly perceived as a lame duck," said Bruce Klingner, an Asia analyst for the U.S.-based Eurasia Group, in an email. Klingner said the results could mean an eventual split for Uri with those who want to see more pragmatic policies on economic reform and foreign policy likely bolting the party, leaving behind supporters for more sweeping reforms. Roh's popularity has steadily eroded -- with support ratings falling below 30 percent in recent polls -- on public perceptions his government has failed to boost the economy and mismanaged foreign affairs. The Grand National Party was also riding a wave of sympathy for its leader who was slashed in the face during the campaign. Roh, a liberal former labor lawyer who narrowly won the 2002 election, has struck an accommodating tone toward North Korea and earlier this year said he was willing to make "many concessions" and give "unconditional assistance" to Pyongyang. He has also had his run-ins with Washington, warning the Bush administration Seoul would not support the United States taking hard-line policies toward Pyongyang. The Grand National Party takes a tough line against its neighbor across the heavily militarised border, an hour's drive north of Seoul. Its leaders have criticized Roh's government for not doing enough to protect human rights in North Korea and said Seoul should attach more strings to the massive aid it gives Pyongyang. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 looks like the US has another 2 years before Roh gets thrown out. Not much time to redeploy and withdraw forces. The US should immediately express regret for inconveniencing farmers in Pyontaek for build the headquarters. Move the headquarters troops south to Taegu and withdraw another brigade and 1/2 the Air Force. Just be sure to announce the move of all units to Japan or the US by 2008 elections. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-06-01 09:37 |