President-elect will Name a New Prime Minister Maintaining Stability and Balance

President-elect Roh Moo-hyun mentioned on the formation of a new government on Dec. 23. He said, “I am considering that in the new government, President will push ahead with reformist agenda and Prime Minister will hold things in balance and run the administration stably. In other words, the nation will have a reformist president and a prime minister who can maintain stability and equilibrium.”

On that day, the president-elect participated in a general meeting with senior members of the MDP` election preparation committee and made an opening speech there. In his speech to the participants, “I am planning to form a new government focusing on stability because I am taking into account rising public concerns that there might be various social changes and instability in Korea under the leadership of a reform-minded President.”

On the formation of a new cabinet, he suggested that he would rule members from the MDP out of the appointment of new cabinet posts by saying, “I will help competent MDP members do their utmost to lead the MDP, not by pulling out those competent and capable members of the party which is now facing a lot of critical tasks down the road.”

He also said, “I will adopt a major and medium constituency system in the 17th general elections and deliver my promise to name a prime ministerial post on a majority party or a majority coalition party on the premise of overcoming regionalism. Depending on results of the 17th general elections, the MDP may become a ruling party in deed as well as in name or there may be a French-style co-habitation government in place.”

He continued, “Although the MDP won the presidential election this time, the MDP can be a true party in power only when it has a public mandate by winning the 17th general election. Therefore, it is important to draw up reform plans to win the 2004 general elections.” He reiterated the importance of revamping the party. In addition, “I will commit myself to the principle of preventing the president from intervening in party affairs. I will not intervene until the party`s reform fails and it is drawn into a chaotic situation.”

On the power transition front, he said, “I will form a government transition team which can handle practical affairs and policies so members, who serve on the transition team, can continuously assist and give advices President on polices in the new government.”

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com