A sassy pres. office, a stubborn opposition, and a weak ruling party

Presidential spokesman Kim Haeng told an emergency news conference at 9 a.m. Sunday, “We sincerely ask the National Assembly to pass the government reorganization bill by March 5, when the provisional session will end.” With this announcement, the presidential office practically pushed parliament to pass the bill by suggesting a deadline before bipartisan negotiations on the bill set for 10 a.m., as well as a 2 p.m. presidential meeting with leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties. On Saturday, presidential chief of staff Huh Tae-yeol called the main opposition Democratic United Party to invite certain members to the presidential office. Presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jun then made an announcement about the meeting before the invitation was accepted.

Because of this ill-mannered announcement, the meeting between President Park Geun-hye and Moon Hee-sang, head of the emergency council of the opposition party, never materialized. The party said the presidential announcement before the other party accepted the offer damaged trust. The discourtesy and incompetence shown by the two presidential spokesmen seem to have gotten in the way of state affairs. Lee Nam-gi, presidential chief of public relations, belatedly said, “It is regrettable that the opposition party did not accept the presidential meeting,” but the presidential office should bear greater responsibility for this mishap.

A week has passed since the new administration took office, but except for the prime minister, no Cabinet minister has been appointed. Given the national security and global economic crisis, the Korean people doubt whether the incomplete government can handle urgent issues. On her government reorganization plan, President Park has apparently failed to win over not only the opposition but also the ruling party. Instead of the president being fully prepared, the situation has sparked criticism that politics has disappeared under the chief executive`s leadership or that she cannot communicate.

President Park is scheduled to talk to the people Monday morning to apologize for the problems so far and announce her principles of administration, but whether this will ease public disappointment and anxiety is uncertain. On the rejection of the new president`s first invitation, the presidential office said, “It is doubtful whether (the Democratic United Party) has accepted the president or not.” President Park, however, should listen to the opinions of the opposition party because the latter might have felt ignored instead of being treated as a political partner.

The opposition party should also see the situation from a broader perspective, accept offers from the presidential office to hold meetings, and work on the government reorganization bill to show to the people that the party has changed. The party might criticize the mistakes of the presidential office vis-a-vis the ill-mannered invitation while speaking to President Park to share their thoughts and negotiate on pending issues. If government reorganization is further stalled, the opposition party will be criticized for hindering state affairs. The people are hardly interested in the bipartisan tug-of-war over the functions of the Korea Communications Commission and the Future Creation and Science Ministry.

The ruling Saenuri Party should also do more than just wait for President Park’s words. Saenuri Rep. Chung Mong-joon said, “Politics being led by the administration is inappropriate. If the Saenuri Party looks to the presidential office, the people will turn their backs on the ruling party. Party leaders must persuade not only the opposition party but also the president.” The Democratic United Party is now pressing the president to make a big decision because the ruling party has failed to do what it needs to do at the proper time.