Elections turn ugly

More scandals regarding the selection of nominees for the local elections are tainting the image of rival parties as the day for a showdown is fast approaching. Fair play and clean elections are proving to be nothing but empty promises.

One case in point is the incumbent Jeju governor's recent defection from the main opposition Grand National Party to the ruling Uri Party. He is being called a migratory bird, a derogatory term for a politician hopping from one party to another in pursuit of immediate personal gains.

The governor, who disassociated himself from the opposition party in February when it nominated a former Samsung executive as its candidate to run in the May 31 local elections, recently decided to seek reelection on the ruling party's ticket.

The ruling party, becoming desperate because of its low public approval ratings, wholeheartedly agreed to nominate him as its candidate because he stands a high chance of winning the election, at least according to a local opinion poll. Ideology or loyalty did not seem to count much in the decision- making process.

Another scandal involves the Grand National Party. The prosecution has begun an investigation into yet another allegation that one of its lawmakers took 300 million won from a party member in return for a Promise to help him win a mayoral nomination in Gyeonggi province. Another lawmaker is being investigated for an aborted money-for-nomination deal in Busan.

These latest corruption cases follow earlier scandals involving two senior party members, who were also accused of taking money from hopeful candidates several weeks ago. One of them indicated he would resign as a lawmaker, holding himself responsible for the bribery scandal.

Both the ruling and main opposition parties, and even the minor parties for that matter, will have to hasten to improve their flawed nomination process. Otherwise, voters could choose to take the matter into their own hands by recalling tainted candidates elected to local public office under a new law on recalls.

2006.05.06