ID :
79215
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 09:05
Auther :
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https://www.oananews.org//node/79215
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President signals new, improved ties with ruling party
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak met with the new leadership of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Wednesday in a clear sign of efforts to renew his parliamentary ties ahead of an expected drive for political reform that could include a constitutional amendment.
The president also agreed to more regularly meet party leaders and lawmakers in
response to a request from new GNP chief Rep. Chung Mong-joon, according to GNP
spokesman Rep. Cho Hae-jin.
Wednesday's meeting came two days after Chung, also the largest shareholder in
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., took the top GNP post, vacated by his Park Hee-tae,
who is running for a parliamentary seat in the Oct. 28 by-elections.
It also came amid apparent efforts by Lee to strengthen his influence over the
ruling party following his recent call to change the country's election system, a
move that could require changing the Constitution.
The president named three GNP legislators to Cabinet posts in a recent reshuffle
that affected the prime minister and six Cabinet ministers, despite his
longstanding opposition to hiring incumbent lawmakers to government posts.
Park Sun-kyoo, a spokesman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae,
acknowledged the president was trying to improve his relations with lawmakers,
but said the efforts were not limited to only ruling party legislators.
"The president is trying to forge an amicable relationship with lawmakers. He is
looking for anyone, either from ruling or opposition parties, who has anything to
say and anyone he can talk to," Park said.
The president congratulated the new 51-year-old chief of the GNP, saying the
party seemed to be "full of energy," according to the GNP spokesman.
"I will do my utmost to help improve cooperation between the party, government
and Cheong Wa Dae and to improve communication between the ruling and opposition
parties," Chung was quoted as telling the president.
Lee also met with a group of GNP lawmakers, mostly members heading National
Assembly committees, later Wednesday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak met with the new leadership of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Wednesday in a clear sign of efforts to renew his parliamentary ties ahead of an expected drive for political reform that could include a constitutional amendment.
The president also agreed to more regularly meet party leaders and lawmakers in
response to a request from new GNP chief Rep. Chung Mong-joon, according to GNP
spokesman Rep. Cho Hae-jin.
Wednesday's meeting came two days after Chung, also the largest shareholder in
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., took the top GNP post, vacated by his Park Hee-tae,
who is running for a parliamentary seat in the Oct. 28 by-elections.
It also came amid apparent efforts by Lee to strengthen his influence over the
ruling party following his recent call to change the country's election system, a
move that could require changing the Constitution.
The president named three GNP legislators to Cabinet posts in a recent reshuffle
that affected the prime minister and six Cabinet ministers, despite his
longstanding opposition to hiring incumbent lawmakers to government posts.
Park Sun-kyoo, a spokesman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae,
acknowledged the president was trying to improve his relations with lawmakers,
but said the efforts were not limited to only ruling party legislators.
"The president is trying to forge an amicable relationship with lawmakers. He is
looking for anyone, either from ruling or opposition parties, who has anything to
say and anyone he can talk to," Park said.
The president congratulated the new 51-year-old chief of the GNP, saying the
party seemed to be "full of energy," according to the GNP spokesman.
"I will do my utmost to help improve cooperation between the party, government
and Cheong Wa Dae and to improve communication between the ruling and opposition
parties," Chung was quoted as telling the president.
Lee also met with a group of GNP lawmakers, mostly members heading National
Assembly committees, later Wednesday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
