World | Other World Stories
South Korea kicks off campaign for parliamentary elections
South Korea officially kicked off campaigning on Thursday for its April 9 parliamentary election that the party of the new conservative President Lee Myung-bak hopes would allow it take back control of the assembly.
- Reuters
- Published: 12:42 March 27, 2008
Seoul: South Korea officially kicked off campaigning on Thursday for its April 9 parliamentary election that the party of the new conservative President Lee Myung-bak hopes would allow it take back control of the assembly.
But analysts said what should have been a landslide victory for Lee's Grand National Party (GNP) could be just a razor-thin majority due to dwindling popularity caused by infighting and bungled policy implementation.
If the GNP wins control, it should be able to push through Lee's ambitious economic reform measures, which include tax cuts across the economy, as well as approve a sweeping free trade deal reached last year with the United States, analysts said.
Some party officials are concerned that chances for even a slim majority in the single-chamber assembly might have been jeopardised due to the fallout from a GNP candidate being expelled this week for trying to pay cash for votes.
"Only a majority will ensure the government is fully changed," party chief Kang Jae-sup told followers.
Lee, who took office in February, won a commanding victory in the December presidential election with pledges to streamline government and roll back regulations he feels stifle business.
The margin of victory for the former construction boss was the largest since the country had its first open presidential election 20 years ago and left the main left-of-centre party in disarray after 10 years in the presidential Blue House.
Opinion polls showed GNP candidates in some traditional party strongholds struggling to keep their lead, with some nominees trailing breakaway former members or opposition candidates.
The National Assembly has 299 seats. Voters will chose MPs in 245 constituencies, with the remainder of the seats allotted by proportional representation.
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
King Tut's tomb set for project
Observers note strange brown spots marring lavish wall paintings
-
Thieves caught with Dh6m in gold
Twenty-five gold bars were stolen from the luggage of a Malaysian tradesman
-
What to expect at the Dubai Airshow
We preview what types of aircraft to expect at the Dubai Airshow
