[Editorial] President Should Give up MDP Membership As Soon As Possible

President Roh Moo-hyun renewed his support for the new party led by some deserters of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) during his interview a group of media outlets based in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province at Cheong Wa Dae. In addition, he said his decision to join the new party would be made in accordance with judgment on whether his membership in the MDP is advantageous or not to deal with demanding issues like the ongoing National Assembly inspection of state affairs, the possible dispatch of combat troops to Iraq and coping with the damage by Typhoon Maemi. However, the president’s party membership is not something to be changed in line with a shift in the political climate.

The Dong-a daily once pointed out through this section that it is appropriate not only for the president but also for 7 lawmakers of the national constituency to leave the ruling party. A political party is a place where politicians who share the same political ideas and visions are gathering. In this context, if they do not share the vision and idea of the ruling party any longer, they should give up their MDP membership.

Those lawmakers who have expressed their support for the new party, including Lee Mi-kyung, Lee Jae-jung, Hu Na-woon, Kim Gi-jae, Park Yang-soo, Cho Bae-sook, and Oh Young-sook, should leave the MDP right away. Although they have said that they would maintain their party membership because of the on-going parliamentary audit, their excuse is not persuasive enough. Many Koreans believe that they are maintaining their MDP membership to hold their parliamentary seats.

It is a shame for the seven lawmakers to fear of losing their parliamentary seats as lawmakers of the MDP which they have criticized for doing old politics and acted like they are the vanguard of political reforms. If they are true political reformers, they should give up their vested rights.

Once again, the president and those seven lawmakers should leave the MDP as soon as possible, which will be responsible politics. Their empty voices for political reforms will lead to losing public trust toward politics and politicians as a whole. A possible disruption in dealing with state affairs caused by postponing their decision to leave the MDP will affect the public.