ID :
27228
Wed, 10/29/2008 - 12:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/27228
The shortlink copeid
Voting begins in local by-elections
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- Voters in 14 precincts in South Korea began going to the polls to elect new local chiefs and councilors on Wednesday, with the elections viewed as a barometer of public sentiment which has been turning increasingly against the conservative administration, pounded by escalating financial woes.
Although the elections are small in scale and do not include any legislative
seats, experts say they will be the first gauge of public sentiment since
President Lee Myung-bak's party was handed an embarrassing defeat in the last
local elections in June.
Up for grabs are two county chief and 12 local legislature positions, which have
been left empty due to officials dying, being forced out due to irregularities or
voluntarily resigning to run for higher positions.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close 14 hours later with the results expected
around 10 p.m., the elections watchdog said.
The ruling Grand National Party, which won only 10 of 52 races during the June
by-elections, appears more determined to secure victory this time. The party is
standing 10 candidates, the largest number among the parties.
Although the ruling party is more optimistic than it was in June, especially
since many races will take place in the southeastern districts that traditionally
support the conservative party, it is worried about President Lee's low approval
ratings.
President Lee's popularity plunged after deciding in April to resume imports of
U.S. beef. Recent polls show that his approval ratings continue to hover around
the 20 percent range, largely due to public distrust of his economic
policymakers.
A recent corruption scandal, involving several high-ranking officials and ruling
party lawmakers who allegedly pilfered state farming subsidies, has also been
eroding the credibility of the eight-month-old Lee government as it strives to
put its reforms back on track.
The snowballing case first made headlines earlier this month, when Lee's vice
health minister was found to have applied for the subsidies by falsely claiming
she farmed rice. The disgraced vice minister was replaced last week as the fourth
Cabinet member to leave office since Lee was inaugurated late February.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds only 83 seats in the
299-member parliament, as opposed to its rival's 172, has been capitalizing on
the Lee administration's unpopular policies, which many view as tailored for the
privileged and wealthy.
Five candidates from the liberal DP will be running, as well as another 9
candidates from three minority parties and 26 running as independents.
SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- Voters in 14 precincts in South Korea began going to the polls to elect new local chiefs and councilors on Wednesday, with the elections viewed as a barometer of public sentiment which has been turning increasingly against the conservative administration, pounded by escalating financial woes.
Although the elections are small in scale and do not include any legislative
seats, experts say they will be the first gauge of public sentiment since
President Lee Myung-bak's party was handed an embarrassing defeat in the last
local elections in June.
Up for grabs are two county chief and 12 local legislature positions, which have
been left empty due to officials dying, being forced out due to irregularities or
voluntarily resigning to run for higher positions.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close 14 hours later with the results expected
around 10 p.m., the elections watchdog said.
The ruling Grand National Party, which won only 10 of 52 races during the June
by-elections, appears more determined to secure victory this time. The party is
standing 10 candidates, the largest number among the parties.
Although the ruling party is more optimistic than it was in June, especially
since many races will take place in the southeastern districts that traditionally
support the conservative party, it is worried about President Lee's low approval
ratings.
President Lee's popularity plunged after deciding in April to resume imports of
U.S. beef. Recent polls show that his approval ratings continue to hover around
the 20 percent range, largely due to public distrust of his economic
policymakers.
A recent corruption scandal, involving several high-ranking officials and ruling
party lawmakers who allegedly pilfered state farming subsidies, has also been
eroding the credibility of the eight-month-old Lee government as it strives to
put its reforms back on track.
The snowballing case first made headlines earlier this month, when Lee's vice
health minister was found to have applied for the subsidies by falsely claiming
she farmed rice. The disgraced vice minister was replaced last week as the fourth
Cabinet member to leave office since Lee was inaugurated late February.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds only 83 seats in the
299-member parliament, as opposed to its rival's 172, has been capitalizing on
the Lee administration's unpopular policies, which many view as tailored for the
privileged and wealthy.
Five candidates from the liberal DP will be running, as well as another 9
candidates from three minority parties and 26 running as independents.
