Leading Lawmaker Stuck in Election Quagmire

Lawmaker Lee Jae-oh of the pro-government Grand National Party faces a political quagmire due to opposition from President Lee Myung-bak and an uncertain future in lawmaker Lee’s constituency.

Lee Jae-oh had planned to withdraw his candidacy for the April 9 general elections but yesterday changed his mind after a series of events that did not go his way.

He made his decision to drop out Sunday morning and mobilized party forces to urge Lee Sang-deuk, the president’s brother and vice parliamentary speaker, to quit the elections over the allegation that he is senile.

Seven lawmakers close to Lee Jae-oh met at the party’s Yeouido office in Seoul 2 p.m. Sunday to discuss the withdrawal plan of Lee’s candidacy. Around 4 p.m., pro-president lawmakers urged Lee Sang-deuk to drop out of the elections, saying 55 pro-Lee (Jae-oh) lawmakers otherwise would withdraw candidacy. Until that time, Lee Sang-deuk’s withdrawal had been considered a fait accompli, with the lawmakers believing that President Lee’s brother would cave in to the mounting calls to quit.

Things did not work out that way, however. In a meeting Sunday night, Lee Jae-oh said he would drop out of the race, but President Lee scolded him for making the decision so late.

Lee Sang-deuk also told a news conference that he will run as scheduled. “Doing our best to attract votes from the electorate in the upcoming elections is our responsibility and duty for the nation and the party,” he said. “I will stay in Pohang, my home turf, until the elections end.”

Lee Jae-oh and other lawmakers later discussed measures late at night, but failed to produce visible results. Lee Jae-oh is said to have reversed his decision to drop out after phone talks with many key lawmakers Monday morning, including members of his alliance, and meetings with his constituency campaign managers.

In other words, most lawmakers and experts he talked to dissuaded him from resigning. One influential lawmaker said, “I got a call from Lee [Jae-oh] around eight in the morning asking for advice. So I told him there is no point at this moment when you alone make such attempt.”

An alliance source told the Dong-A Ilbo in a phone interview, “Had Lee alone dropped out of the race and persuaded Lee Sang-deuk to do the same, and it would have made little difference in the elections. It might have been seen as Lee Jae-oh’s escape from the possibility of losing his district.”

Lee Jae-oh will run for Seoul’s Eunpyeong district, but is behind Creative Korea Party leader Moon Kook-hyun by 15 percentage points in the polls, with the gap growing. Other lawmakers of Lee Jae-oh’s alliance said a ruling party lawmaker might find it hard to defy the president’s will, adding Lee Jae-oh must show a firm determination to advance the party even if he loses in the elections.

Other lawmakers, however, remain skeptical of Lee Jae-oh’s decision to enter the elections. One legislator said, “He could suffer a fatal blow to his political career if he loses, making it hard for him to run again.”

sunshade@donga.com