Uri Party Lawmakers Demand Roh Exit

Four lawmaker groups of the Uri Party supporting the establishment of a new integrated party publicly announced Friday that President Roh Moo-hyun should bolt from the ruling Uri Party.

The representatives of the four groups, including the People’s Way and Hope 21, gathered at the National Assembly on Friday morning and announced, “(President Roh) should seriously consider seceding from the party in order to successfully carry out state affairs in the remaining tenure.”

They are, however, virtually asking President Roh to withdraw from the Uri Party.

Although a few individual lawmakers of the Uri Party have claimed that President Roh should secede from the party, this is the first collective action.

“Even if the Uri Party asks President Roh to withdraw from the party, the president will not respond to it,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.

Rep. Jeon Byeong-heon, who announced the conclusion of the gathering, said it is necessary for President Roh to quit the party if the president wants to go ahead with the constitutional revision.

“Although there is a national consensus on the constitutional amendment, its intention is questionable,” Jeon said.

Although the representative of the People’s Solidarity for Democracy and Peace did not participate in the gathering, the organization is also known to share the same view with other four. The five groups have a total of about fifty lawmakers.

The lawmakers of these groups have decided to launch a lawmakers’ council which will help form a new integrated political party and make efforts to make over 80 lawmakers participate in their move.

“We have confirmed once again that the national convention on February 14 should become an occasion where a new integrated party is determined through the constructive dissolution of the party,” Jeon added.

mindy@donga.com