[Editorial] The earlier self-renewal, the better for the MDP

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) is engulfed with internal strife and dissension. The MDP members are now debating over the issue of the ruling party¡¯s revamping and self-renewal. Reportedly, the party's caucus members and leader Suh Young-Hoon are also, in general, agreeing with the call for a change.

They are, however, expressing their displeasure with any rash moves for the change, or the voices to blame them by raising the issue of their accountability. We will closely follow what measures, if any, President Kim Dae-Jung, who returns today from his tour of Southeast Asia, will take on this issue of cabinet and party reshuffling that has been raised both from within and outside the party.

All relevant factors taken into consideration, our conclusion on the issue is that the earlier the taking of renewal measures the better it will be for the MDP. It will be the ruling party's right course of action to remove its caucus members from their current party posts as a measure to make them accountable for the party's physical prevention of the impeachment motions against the country's head prosecutors. They may argue that it is not right to shift the blame entirely to them because the prevention was the decision all party lawmakers made at their general assembly. But, this is an excuse that is unbecoming of the ruling party's leaders.

The unlawful, physical exercise to stall the impeachment motion was viewed by the general public as an anti-parliamentary behavior and caused the people to distrust the ruling party. This being the case, it is only natural that the party leaders must assume full responsibility for the incident.

To be sure, the MDP's intra-party dissension and infighting have been a long-standing affair. For a long time, the voices of self-ridicule were aired among the party members lamenting the `three nos' applying to the party -- no principle, no policy alternatives and no competence.

The MDP may have a cause to be proud of the fact that it accomplished the peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party for the first time in a half-century. At the same time, the ruling party can hardly claim that it has demonstrated initiatives and leadership in our party politics as a self-sustaining party with intra-party democracy. Self-critics within the party often branded the party as a second fiddle to Cheong Wa Dae.

The party lost its best opportunity to revamp its image at its general convention last August. President Kim stuck to his stand to retain the current party caucus manned by his right hand men, known as ``Tongkyo-dong confidants.'' Although the 7 members of the party's supreme council were elected in open competition, they are still no more than superficial functionaries. The party did not regain any new vigor and vitality, which gave rise to internal discontent among the party's rank and file.

Against such backdrop, the party's standing advisor, Kim Won-Ki, gave President Kim the painful advise that he must abandon any ambitions, if any, to recapture power next time around. Only this will enable the party to play an initiative role to lead our politics.

If that is the case, there is no need for any dilly-dallying. The MDP must not hesitate in its far-reaching reshuffling, and it is the earlier the better. President Kim's resolute decision is called for here to energize the ruling party. The MDP must be made reborn as a self-sustaining, independent party. This is also an urgent issue that is intractably related to our agenda to resolve our current crisis in the management of our state affairs. President Kim must be able to display the courage to resign from his MDP presidency if this is regarded as a viable alternative to resuscitate his party.