The escalating factional rift is plunging the ruling Saenuri Party into a deeper quagmire, prompting speculation that the warring factions may not stay together under one roof.
The latest development surrounds the cancellation Tuesday of the national committee -- believed to have been orchestrated by the loyalists of President Park Geun-hye -- which otherwise would have endorsed the launch of an “emergency” leadership panel and a reform panel.
The pro-Park members effectively boycotted the national committee, arguing that the two panels were dominated by members who were antagonistic toward them. In fact, a majority of the members of the caretaker leadership panel were taken up by people close to critics of the president and another non-Park member was to take the chair of the reform panel.
There is some grounds to the argument that Chung, who was elected with the backing of the Park loyalists, should have been wise enough to balance the appointments between the pro-Parks and non-Parks.
Nevertheless, the move against Chung -- now the Park loyalists press him to resign -- and what is described as an act of sabotage against the national committee has dashed the remaining hope that the party will change itself, end its internal strife and restore public confidence.
Voters relegated the ruling party to the No. 2 place in terms of the number of lawmakers. It was a fair verdict against Park and her associates in the party, who tampered with candidate nominations to get more of their people elected. So the first step to restore public trust should be for the pro-Parks to acknowledge their wrongdoings and keep a low profile. The current turmoil shows that they are not willing to do so.
It is more pitiful than outrageous to see those who caused the nomination debacle and the election defeat defying the voters’ wishes, instead of engaging in soul-searching and self-reflection.
What is obvious is that the leadership vacuum will continue to grip the ruling party, and hamper the early operation of the 20th National Assembly, which is to open in 10 days. The party is doing the public a disservice in many respects.
