The ruling Uri Party¡¯s leadership under chairman Moon Hee-sang fell on their swords on Friday over the party¡¯s crushing defeat in Wednesday¡¯s by-elections, amid open party defiance of the president¡¯s advice to blame the defeat on him and get on with their job.
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Uri Party chairman Moon Hee-sang (fourth from left) and the ruling party¡¯s Central Committee bow their heads after resigning to take responsibility for the party¡¯s defeat in Wednesday¡¯s National Assembly by-elections, at the Assembly on Friday./ Yonhap
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Their resignation followed a post-mortem meeting where rank-and-file lawmakers blasted President Roh Moo-hun and Cheong Wa Dae for ¡°arrogance¡± in telling them how to react to the rout. Roh said Thursday the defeat was a verdict on his government and asked the party not to be shaken but focus on the parliamentary session ahead.
¡°Why did the presidential office give guidelines to the party?¡± Rep. Yoo Seung-hee demanded. Lawmakers resoundingly rejected the president¡¯s implicit request to maintain the current leadership under Moon for the time being.
Cheong Wa Dae called an emergency meeting under Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-wan on Friday. Presidential spokesman Kim Man-soo said, ¡°Cheong Wa Dae understands the party¡¯s situation. We need some time to come up with solutions since it is a difficult time. But pending issues should be dealt with as scheduled at the parliamentary regular session.¡±
An emergency committee will run the party until it selects a new leadership at a convention next February.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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