Roh and Jung Agreed on the Constitutional Amendment for a Dual Executive System.

The Millennium Democratic Party and the National Alliance 21 official reached an agreement on the proposal on the constitution amendment for a dual executive system to the 17th National Assembly sessions right after the 2004 general elections and agreed to launch bilateral operations for the upcoming presidential election.

On 29, the two parties held a meeting of policy coordination at a VIP room of Chung Wa Dae, the presidential mansion and reached an agreement. They said in the agreement if Rho Moo-hyun, the presidential candidate of the MDP, wins the presidential election, the two parties will promote a proposal for a constitutional amendment to change the problematic current presidential government system to a dual executive system to achieve national unity. And also they agreed to present the proposal for the constitutional amendment as campaign pledges in 2004 general elections and will promote a bill for the amendment in the 17th National Assembly.

In addition, on the same day, the two parties held a meeting of bilateral coordination committee for the presidential election in accordance with the agreement which states, “Roh Moo-hyun, the presidential candidate and Jung Mong-jun, the president of the National Alliance 21 agreed to try to do their best to win the election.” During the meeting, delegates from the two parties came up with a plan for bilateral cooperation, by agreeing that Jung Mong-jun will take the job of the chairman of the committee and put the same number of delegates from the two parties on the committee.

As a result, Mr. Rho and Mr. Jung will meet to sign the agreement soon or later and then will discuss the details of their cooperation to win the election.

Leem Chae-gung, the director of the policy making body of the committee, promised to push forward their agreement, saying that, “The agreement on the constitutional amendment for a dual executive system is a promise with the nation.” Not only that, Chun Sung-chul, the head of the policy committee at the National Alliance 21 said, “The proposal will also include the moving of the Board of Audit and Inspection into the building of the National Assembly and other plans for the division of governments’ power along with the change of he governmental system.”

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com