A New Lesser Majority, Greater Minority Party Expected

The National Assembly held a plenary session on September 3 and approved the Grand National Party`s motion for the dismissal of Minister of Unification, Lim Dong-Won.

As a result, there is a good possibility that the DJP alliance between President Kim Dae Jung and United Liberal Democrats Honorary Chairman Kim Jong-Pil will end, and the present political situation of `2 ruling party, 1 minority party` may shift to a `1 ruling party, 2 minority party` situation.

267 of 271 Assembly members cast their votes with 148 yea votes and 119 nay votes.

When the motion for dismissal passed, the defector members in the ULD, Representatives Chang Jae-Sik, Bae Ki-Sun, Song Suk-Chan held a press conference and announced their secession from the ULD. As a result, the ULD lost its collective bargaining advantage in the Assembly.

However, Kim Jong-Pil stated before the plenary meeting, `The vote and the alliance are two separate things`, leading some to think that the end of the alliance after the dismissal is not a certainty.

After the motion passed, Senior Press Secretary to the President, Park Joon-Young stated, ``We see the DJP alliance as having ended.`` while the Democratic Party spokesperson, Chun Yong-Hak announced, ``ULD`s breaking the alliance and vote for the dismissal is a violation of political morals. We will, therefore, abandon the allied management of the nation`s affairs.``

However, the Grand National Party spokesperson, Kwon Churl-Hyun expressed, ``The passage of the dismissal is not a joint victory of the GNP and ULD, but the victory of the people who desired to correct a misguided North Korea policy.`` The ULD spokesperson, Byun Woong-Chun said, ``It is regrettable that we had to reach a point where voting on the motion was necessary.``

The National Assembly plenary session also approved the administration`s proposed budget of 5 billion 555 million won for the Fall, and passed two financial crime prevention laws, the `Criminal Earnings Concealment Regulation and Prosecution Law` and `Specific Financial Transaction Information Report Use Law`.

The session passed the bill for GNP member Choi Don-Woong`s resignation with 141 yeas, 93 nays, 4 in absentia, and 3 null votes.

Moon Chul fullmoon@donga.com