23 Uri Lawmakers Leave Home Yesterday
In the end, 23 Uri lawmakers, including former floor leader Kim Han-gil and former chief policymaker Kang Bong-kyun, have left their home in the ruling Uri party. In their news conference at the National Assembly, they announced their rationale, saying “We put a white sheet, take responsibility for being isolated from public attention, and will abandon our priorities to become cornerstones to form a new reform-centered political party.”
Through a statement entitled “Confession and New Launching,” they said that the group is willing to create a new party for constructing advanced Korean society where the middle-and-low-income classes can live better. The political party will be integrated with other forces. Political strategists say that more Uri statesmen are expected to leave the party sooner or later.
They added, “We will start forming a new party with reform-minded forces, while doing political duty at the National Assembly." Ironically, they stated, “We will aid President Roh to manage state affairs until he leaves Chung Wa Dae and cooperate with him, but we strictly refuse his involvement in politics.”
As a flood of exodus continues, the number of Uri party seats in the National Assembly has shrunk to 110 from 133. Until now, a total of 29 Uri lawmakers have left their home. As a result, the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has accounted for the greater number of seats with 127; ruling Uri Party (110); Democratic Party (11); Democratic Labor Party (9).
Uri Spokesman Woo Sang-ho said, “It is not politically desirable to leave home due to different opinions, despite that fact that we agreed to form a new party.”
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 / 입력시간: 2007. 02.08. 09:14
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