Lee Against Revision of Gov’t Reform Plan

Lee Against Revision of Gov’t Reform Plan. January. 24, 2008 08:52. swpark@donga.com jameshuh@donga.com.

President-elect Lee Myung-bak is known to have asked his Grand National Party to submit his government restructuring bill to the National Assembly without revision.

His request comes as the liberal United New Democratic Party opposes the bill, and President Roh Moo-hyun has hinted at vetoing it. If a breakthrough is not found, the incoming government could be launched on Feb. 25 without government ministers.

▽ No concession

A member of the presidential transition committee said, “Lee does not want to make a concession on the bill and wants to see it passed intact. I also understand that he has shown this intent to his party’s leadership.”

“If necessary, Lee will ask UNDP lawmakers for their help in passing the bill. We will not negotiate with those who talk about a veto even before it is deliberated.”

Lee’s spokesman Joo Ho-young also denied that the new government will be sworn in without ministers if the restructuring plan is rejected.

“Those close to Lee said the idea of starting without ministers is what Lee and his transition team seem to think,” Joo added.

A leading committee member said, “If a cook (president) is changed, he should be able to choose whatever plates (government organization) he wants to use to cook the best food. The cashier (the opposition) or customers should not tell the cook which plate he should choose even before a dish is served. That does not make sense.”

“Lee is angry with certain ministries that are encouraging opposition to the bill or are asking the UNDP to oppose it to ensure their job security.”

Lee also reportedly asked his party’s leadership and members of the Government Administration and Local Autonomy Committee for strong support for the bill.

▽ Gov’t without ministers?

UNDP Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu said President Roh’s hint at a veto is inappropriate but also dismissed the GNP’s request to cooperate for the bill’s passage.

The transition committee said it expects the bill to pass by January 28, but this is highly unlikely.

The committee maintained that without the completion of the reform plan, it cannot announce the new Cabinet even after nominations are done. This is because the reform initiative of downsizing the government to 13 ministries and two agencies needs final approval before ministers are appointed.

If ministers are appointed under the existing system of 18 ministries and four agencies, state reform thereafter will practically impossible.

So Lee and his committee have changed their initial plan to announce ministers and the prime minister nearly at the same time. They will also name the prime minister by the end of the month whether the bill passes or not. and appoint ministers after passage.

At the same time, the GNP will accept the UNDP’s request that 45 bills on the government overhaul be deliberated by standing committees.

The transition committee has apparently accepted the GNP’s request to pass the buck if the reform plan and formation of the Cabinet are delayed. This is because deliberation by each committee rather than a package deliberation by the Government Administration and Local Autonomy Committee can serve as a filibuster.

In the transition committee’s own opinion polls, almost 70 percent support the overhaul. So members have begun interviews and participated in public debates to muster more support.

The GNP is pushing for the bill’s passage in early February, but is worried that it cannot overcome UNDP opposition if the liberal party opposes the bill in the end.

GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said “If the bill doesn’t pass, confirmation hearings for ministers whose ministries are not subject to the reform bill will be carried out. The rest of the ministries will be headed by vice ministers until the next general elections.”

“If requests going against the idea of a small and efficient government persist, we have no other choice but to face emergencies,” he added, referring to a potential situation in which the reform initiative is dealt with after the April general elections.