[Editorial] New floor leaders

Rep. Choi kyung-hwan, the new floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, and his opposition Democratic Party counterpart, Rep. Jun Byung-hun, have much to do in shaping new strategies and directing activities on the floor.

They will have to fiercely compete against each other to win the hearts and minds of the electorate. At the same time, they will have to cooperate closely with each other to ensure the smooth operation of the National Assembly over the next year.

If deliberations on the floor are disrupted with the use of violence, as has often been the case in the past, their parties will be discredited by a disillusioned electorate at a time when a popular independent lawmaker, Ahn Cheol-soo, vows to organize like-minded reformist political hopefuls into a new party.

Rep. Choi, who was chief secretary to Park when she was the party’s presidential nominee, promises to make his party a force to reckon with when it comes to relations with the presidential office. He is referring to an accusation that the party has failed to make itself heard since Park was inaugurated in late February.

Given his close relations with Park, he apparently believes that the party under his leadership will be able to push for its policy when it is in conflict with one promoted by senior presidential secretaries and advisers. But he should be aware of skepticism voiced by his detractors, who demand he avoid a situation in which he does nothing but run errands to the main opposition party for Park, as he did during the period of transition from the previous administration.

The task demanded of Rep. Jun, though different, is no less challenging. The main opposition party, which has not come out of defeatism since it lost the presidential race in December, will have to revitalize itself and win over the electorate under his leadership. That is an urgent task, given that Rep. Ahn is planning to field those close to him in the next parliamentary by-election, scheduled for October, in a prelude to the creation of his own party.

Rep. Jun will also have to steer his party away from the temptation to oppose the administration and its party for the sake of opposition. In this regard, he promises to cooperate with the ruling bloc if it is willing to make compromises with the opposition, instead of attempting to ram their bills through the National Assembly.

Both cooperation and fair competition will be demanded of the two floor leaders. The first test of their mettle will come when the National Assembly opens an extraordinary session next month.