GNP Members: Cabinet and President’s Key Aides Should Resign

In the interpellation session on the government June 7, some lawmakers from the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) called upon all Cabinet members including Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan and President Roh Moo-hyun’s key aides to step down. The lawmakers blamed the government on confusion in state affairs in the wake of a recent scandal over a botched oil exploration deal with Russia and suspicions surrounding the Haengdam Island project.

Rep. Yoo Jeong-bok of the GNP argued that “the Cabinet and Cheong Wa Dae should go through reform to bring about innovation even though the government has rejected its responsibility for the current confusion.”

Rep. Park Hyung-jun of the same party said, “The Roh government is already regarded as a lameduck and to relieve this, those who are enthusiastic but not competent or those who have more interest in running for the presidency than running state affairs should be dismissed.”

Uri Party Rep. Chang Young-dal said, “People became so suspicious about the Russian oil field scandal that now they have even turned a deaf ear to the prosecution when it released the temporary results of the investigation.” Rep. Chang inquired, asking “Did the people related to the oil project receive any money?”

Seung-HeonLee ddr@donga.com