[Editorial] Second Term of Administration Not a Great Start

Second Term of Administration, Fumbling from the Start

After the dismissal of the impeachment bill, President Roh Moo-hyun emphasized the national security during his talk to the people. It was a promise to push forward the national problems of revitalizing public welfare and the economy through his role as an unwavering supervisor of national administration. However, with no sight of keeping such an oath, the national administration is fumbling from the beginning of the second term of his administration.

The system of acting prime minister taking place soon after the end of the acting president system reflects this symbolically. On top of this system, even with the advanced warning to reshuffle three offices, there is the irritating situation in which the newly appointed minister has been delayed in starting his post for over a month. If there is no way an ordinance can be issued by the minister, who is soon to leave his post, it is inevitable for the organization to fumble along. Citizens who expected a fresh start after the dismissal of the impeachment bill are left troubled and disappointed.

President Roh is largely responsible for this. Isn’t this the outcome caused by his unreasonable reshuffling of the Cabinet by violating the law and principle? In particular, President Roh’s strong tenacity for the “management of the governing power” in the next term runs counter to his principle of separating party from politics that he has continually emphasized. President Roh should look back to see whether his anxiety to assume power after his impeachment dismissal made him push forward too hard, leading to too many irrationalities that, in the end, caused confusion in the national administration.

The Uri Party, which holds a majority within the institution, is a pathetic sight as well. Instead of steadily leading the national administration, it seems that the party is engaged in a power struggle connected to the sovereignty power’s next term. It is also sad to see them bring up “public welfare” or “revolution” and fight over how to prioritize the national administration. Is there a national affair more pressing than struggling to make ends meet daily?

Politics should be predictable. President Roh and the government party should reflect on displaying a disheveled image from the starting point of the second term of administration and make an effort to sow trust in the national security to the people. Don’t you think national administration needs to be stable for the economy to be revitalized?