[Editorial] Do They Intend to Get Votes by Spreading Crisis Rumors?

It is very regrettable that the mood of the seventeenth general election is going in the wrong direction of what crises we can avoid. Both the Open Uri Party, which is expected to secure a majority of seats in the National Assembly, and the Grand National Party seem to be blackmailing voters by raising crises. It cannot be anything but a political attack to betray the voters who are trying to make a wise decision in choosing a right candidate by comparing the public pledges and candidates of each party.

Open Uri Party leader Jung Dong-young, who retired from the chairmanship of the Election Campaign Committee and entered into a fast strike, said that he “will deter the seizing of the National Assembly by the impeachment forces,” saying that “the change in parliamentary power which has been monopolized for 40 years is about to burst like a bubble, and our wish for the unification of people and political reforms are also on the verge of vanishing like the mist.” In response to this, Grand National Party leader Park Keun-hye insisted that “a mammoth ruling party is expected to emerge. If so, our country will be in a difficult situation for the next four years.” In the people’s point of view, whatever party they choose, is a crisis unavoidable?

When the Open Uri Party linked the general election with the passage of the impeachment motion by emphasizing the crisis, they are liable to lead to misunderstanding in that they disregarded the constitutional procedures which require the observance of the decision of the Constitutional Court. Great concerns are expected about the aftermath of the elections. If Chairman Jung said that he would retire because of his controversial remarks disparaging old people, he would give people a good impression by assuming his responsibility.

It is also irresponsible that the Grand National Party, which has disappointed the people for the last four years as the first majority party, considered the advent of a great ruling party as a crisis. Is there any persuasion in the remarks that if the GNP becomes a majority party we will face stability, and if the ruling party becomes a majority party, we will face instability?

There will be no voters who cast their ballots to the parties instigating the rumors of crisis openly. The leadership of the GNP and the Open Uri Party should collect their minds. It is a good stance that they should present blueprints on how to overcome the crisis rather than shifting the responsibility of it to the other party.