Lee meets with GNP leaders to call for stronger president-party relationship


President Lee Myung-bak’s conservative party is in dispute over whether the parliament should revise the country’s decades-old Constitution within Lee’s term, a move that could change the political landscape ahead of big elections.

The ruling Grand National Party said Monday it will hold a three-day all members’ meeting early next month to “hear everyone’s view” on when and how the nation’s Constitution should be redrawn. The general meeting will be Feb. 7-9, right after the lunar New Year holidays next week, a GNP spokesperson said.

Legislators are generally unified on the need to change the Constitution, created in 1987, by redrawing electoral and administrative districts, and thereby overcoming the longstanding regionally skewed voting patterns.

But they are largely divided over ways to replace the current single five-year term of the president with a four-year term and the chance of re-election, as the move could immediately influence the power balance for rival political forces ahead of the presidential election next year. 

Ruling party lawmakers who support President Lee emphasized the need to immediately revise the law, claiming the current presidential system must be changed on Lee’s watch to avoid the state leader being seen as a lame duck.

Although the changed laws will only begin to take effect after Lee leaves office, the incumbent leader is likely to be able to wield influence over the direction of the amendment.

A rival ruling party faction supporting Park Geun-hye, a former GNP chairwoman considered as the strongest contender the 2012 presidential race, argues the Constitution should be revised under the incoming government. It suspects Lee supporters of wanting to increase political influence ahead of the parliamentary and presidential elections.

Park, daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, campaigned against Lee for the ruling party’s ticket to run in the 2007 presidential race, and is a rare political figure who enjoys steady support from different age and provincial groups. She currently leads a third of the ruling party lawmakers.

Amid the party friction, Lee met with party leaders, including Chairman Ahn Sang-soo and floor leader Kim Moo-sung, for dinner over the weekend, calling for stronger president-party ties.

Many political observers had viewed the conflict as a sign of Lee entering lame duck status.

“The president and party members agreed to continue working together closely until another conservative administration successfully takes power,” GNP leader Ahn said in a party meeting Monday, emphasizing there was “no friction” with the president.

Opposition parties, including the progressive Democratic Party, are also against immediately revising the Constitution, accusing the ruling party of trying to shift the parliamentary agenda from welfare and other pending issues.

“We are already running out of time,” said Chung Mong-joon, former GNP chairman and one of Lee’s staunchest supporters. “We don’t need to rush to the conclusion and can postpone issues that are politically sensitive. We merely have to begin discussing the issue in earnest.”

Supporters of Park said they would not take part in the upcoming party meeting.

“The Lee Myung-bak government should neatly round off its reform goals and pass over the Constitutional amendment to the incoming administration,” said Rep. Lee Sung-hun.

“I believe most of the party members agree it is meaningless to discuss the issue at a timing the general public does not approve of.”

Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition DP, has also been outspoken in criticizing Lee supporters’ move to redraw the Constitution.

“I cannot help but think they are more interested in distracting the general public to avoid more important discussions,” he said.

Constitutional revision can be put to a national referendum after more than two-thirds of the National Assembly members approve the bill.

The governing GNP currently controls 171 seats in the 299-member unicameral parliament.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldcorp.com)