Two Lawmakers Defect to GNP

As Rep. Chun Yong-hak of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and Rep. Lee Wan-gu of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) have joined the Grand National Party(GNP) yesterday, the political landscape is expected to take a new twist with only two months before the presidential election.

The confrontation of the rival parties is rapidly intensifying as the MDP refused the parliamentary interpellation session yesterday, vehemently opposing the defection of the two lawmakers and declared an `all-out war` against the GNP.

In a joint press conference, the two lawmakers said, “We decided to join the GNP because we are confident that the GNP is the only political party that can lead the future of the nation, and Lee Hoi-chang is the only person who can usher in the new era.”

The defection of the two lawmakers is expected to set off a series of similar defections as anti-Roh lawmakers of the MDP and some lawmakers of the ULD are actively seeking ways to break away from their own parties.

Some MDP lawmakers based in the metropolitan area decided to break away from the MDP late this month to further commit themselves to creating a new party.

While some ULD lawmakers are reported to have contacted the GNP to join it, Rep. Kim Hak-won and Rep. Cho Bu-young of the ULD are out to form a new party with independent presidential candidate Chung Mong-jun and former prime minister Lee Han-dong.

In the meantime, the MDP held an emergency meeting yesterday and decided to called for the GNP to offer a detailed explanation about the defection of lawmakers, make an official apology, stop the political maneuvering. The party will hold another meeting today morning to decide whether to refuse the plenary session of the National Assembly.

Roh Mu-hyun, MDP presidential candidate said, “I have nothing to say about the defection since politicians act according to their convictions.”

Lee Nak-yeon, MDP spokesman said in a statement, “Lee Hoi-chang is so hungry for power that he lost his temper and went on to destroy the order in the political sector. He should humbly accept the stern judgement and strong resistance from the public. The lawmakers, who defected to the GNP for their own interest, will also face the stern judgement from the public.”

The ULD did not make an official comment on the defection of Rep. Lee. But as it is expected to strongly react to the GNP`s further effort to recruit lawmakers from other parties, the tension between rival parties with regards to the additional recruiting effort by the GNP is likely to heighten.

With the defection of the two lawmakers, the GNP will assume 142 parliamentary seats, while the MDP and the ULD will hold 111 eats and 13 seats respectively.

Yeon-Wook Jung Yong-Gwan Jung jyw11@donga.com yongari@donga.com