[Editorial] Is This Respecting the NEC’s Decision?

It is enough to say that Cheong Wa Dae’s attitude toward the National Election Commission (NEC) is beyond its authority. Over the NEC’s decision of President Roh’s violation of election laws, Cheong Wa Dae drove back, “We respect the NEC’s decision but can’t accept it,” and added, “The president is empowered to express a necessary political statement.” Chairman of the Uri Party, Chung Dong-young said, “I feel sorry that the decision has resulted from the pressure of both opposition parties rather than the NEC itself.”

It doesn’t look right making an unnecessary excuse. If Cheong Wa Dae respects the NEC’s decision, they should follow it and act upon on it. This improper attitude keeps attritional arguments continually ongoing, and national affair administration is driven into chaos. The opposition parties are gesturing to impeach the president, saying Cheong Wa Dae lacked a public apology and promise not to repeat the wrongdoings.

The NEC is a constitutional institute that takes charge of administrating overall election affairs and making final judgments over the evasion of the law or unlawful acts. If anyone stands against the NEC’s decision, election order will be inevitably undermined. The side effects afterward the election is obviously foreseeable.

The president’s violation of election laws definitely affects negatively to the law-abiding consciousness of the nation. If we buy the logic of Cheong Wa Dae, local governors, who are members of political parties, should have a right to campaign. Is this plausible? What if any candidate, who was requested not to make illegal campaigns, follow the president and say, “I can’t not accept the NEC’s decision,” ? How should we deal with him or her?

Cheong Wa Dae emphasizes that in this administration, its old vested rights are all given up being different from the previous administrations, and the president’s lawful rights should be protected. It says the president’s right to make political statements should be empowered considering the scrapping of old practices such as mobilizing institutes in high authority. However, violating operative law can not be the right of the president at any stake. If the president respects the NEC’s decision, he should follow the call. He doesn’t need to make any excuse.