Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL4094
2006-11-28 08:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
MORE SIGNS OF ERODING AUTHORITY: PRESIDENT ROH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #4094/01 3320828 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 280828Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1573 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1631 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1723 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 004094
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KS
SUBJECT: MORE SIGNS OF ERODING AUTHORITY: PRESIDENT ROH
WITHDRAWS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT NOMINEE
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 004094
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KS
SUBJECT: MORE SIGNS OF ERODING AUTHORITY: PRESIDENT ROH
WITHDRAWS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT NOMINEE
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: President Roh withdrew the nomination of
Jeon Hyo-seok for Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court
on November 27 amid fierce opposition to the controversial
nomination. After insisting for months Jeon's nomination,
Roh finally backed down when it became clear that unless he
withdrew her name, the National Assembly would not be able to
pass any laws in the crucial month of December.
Unfortunately for Roh, the opposition GNP assumed Jeon would
have to withdraw so, according to Embassy contacts, is not
likely to offer any concessions in return for this fig leaf
offered by Roh. At least in domestic politics, Roh shows all
the signs of being a lame duck. END SUMMARY
2. (C) After a bipartisan meeting on November 26 called by
President Roh to address the growing animosity between the
ruling Uri Party and opposition Grand National Party (GNP)
where Roh suggested the formation of a bipartisan political
consultative channel in the months ahead, Roh accepted Jeon
Hyo-seok's withdrawal of her nomination for Chief Justice of
the Constitutional Court. Even Roh's attempts at compromise
fall flat, as the ruling Uri Party Chairman Kim Geun-tae said
that Roh did not consult with the Uri Party before proposing
the consultative channel.
3. (C) With Roh's support below 10 percent in the latest
polls and the Uri Party's support at a tepid 8.8 percent,
both Roh and the ruling party understand they must introduce
some innovative policy reform legislation in December in
order to boost popular support. Therefore, Roh's desire to
compromise with the GNP, because he would not be able to get
any bills through the National Assembly without making some
concessions. According to Embassy contacts at the Assembly,
the concession by Roh will not lead to compromise as the
opposition seeks to capitalize on Roh's lame duck status and
demand more concessions on nominations, the budget and other
key legislative agenda items.
Current Nominations, Future Nominations
--------------
4. (C) The GNP is now likely to press several other
nominees. Roh appointed a new national security team
following North Korea's October 9 nuclear test. While
Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo has already taken office, the
GNP is now demanding that Roh withdraw his nomination of Lee
Jae-jeong as Unification Minister and Song Min-soon as
Foreign Minister. While GNP contacts admit this will not
happen since there is no process to block the nominees from
taking office, they will push the Blue House to reconsider
its nominations in the wake of the Jeon withdrawal. The GNP
is pushing particularly hard for Lee's nomination to be
withdrawn after Lee, in his confirmation hearings on November
16, replied ambiguously when asked who started the Korean
War, and also said that the evaluation of Kim Il-sung was not
yet complete and should be left to historians. The GNP will
also seek to capitalize on Roh's increased weakness by
pushing for recently appointed KBS Broadcasting Chair Chung
Yun-joo to step down although he began his work at the
state-owned broadcasting service on November 27.
5. (C) Both Unification Minister-designate Lee and
FM-designate Song Min-soon were not approved by the Foreign
Affairs and Unification Committee and a negative report was
submitted to the Blue House after their hearings on November
16. The nominees need not be approved to take office, as the
Blue House can choose to appoint the cabinet ministers within
20 days after receiving the negative reports from the
committee. According to our MOFAT contacts, Song Min-soon is
likely to take office on December 1, but Lee Jae-jeong could
take longer to be in office.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The executive branch retains powers of appointment
with virtually no formal check, but as seen in the case of
Jeon, popular opinion coupled with united opposition from the
National Assembly is enough to erode some of Roh's remaining
powers. As even the most basic authorities evaporate, Roh,
with fifteen months left in office, is fighting a losing
battle against being a lame duck.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KS
SUBJECT: MORE SIGNS OF ERODING AUTHORITY: PRESIDENT ROH
WITHDRAWS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT NOMINEE
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: President Roh withdrew the nomination of
Jeon Hyo-seok for Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court
on November 27 amid fierce opposition to the controversial
nomination. After insisting for months Jeon's nomination,
Roh finally backed down when it became clear that unless he
withdrew her name, the National Assembly would not be able to
pass any laws in the crucial month of December.
Unfortunately for Roh, the opposition GNP assumed Jeon would
have to withdraw so, according to Embassy contacts, is not
likely to offer any concessions in return for this fig leaf
offered by Roh. At least in domestic politics, Roh shows all
the signs of being a lame duck. END SUMMARY
2. (C) After a bipartisan meeting on November 26 called by
President Roh to address the growing animosity between the
ruling Uri Party and opposition Grand National Party (GNP)
where Roh suggested the formation of a bipartisan political
consultative channel in the months ahead, Roh accepted Jeon
Hyo-seok's withdrawal of her nomination for Chief Justice of
the Constitutional Court. Even Roh's attempts at compromise
fall flat, as the ruling Uri Party Chairman Kim Geun-tae said
that Roh did not consult with the Uri Party before proposing
the consultative channel.
3. (C) With Roh's support below 10 percent in the latest
polls and the Uri Party's support at a tepid 8.8 percent,
both Roh and the ruling party understand they must introduce
some innovative policy reform legislation in December in
order to boost popular support. Therefore, Roh's desire to
compromise with the GNP, because he would not be able to get
any bills through the National Assembly without making some
concessions. According to Embassy contacts at the Assembly,
the concession by Roh will not lead to compromise as the
opposition seeks to capitalize on Roh's lame duck status and
demand more concessions on nominations, the budget and other
key legislative agenda items.
Current Nominations, Future Nominations
--------------
4. (C) The GNP is now likely to press several other
nominees. Roh appointed a new national security team
following North Korea's October 9 nuclear test. While
Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo has already taken office, the
GNP is now demanding that Roh withdraw his nomination of Lee
Jae-jeong as Unification Minister and Song Min-soon as
Foreign Minister. While GNP contacts admit this will not
happen since there is no process to block the nominees from
taking office, they will push the Blue House to reconsider
its nominations in the wake of the Jeon withdrawal. The GNP
is pushing particularly hard for Lee's nomination to be
withdrawn after Lee, in his confirmation hearings on November
16, replied ambiguously when asked who started the Korean
War, and also said that the evaluation of Kim Il-sung was not
yet complete and should be left to historians. The GNP will
also seek to capitalize on Roh's increased weakness by
pushing for recently appointed KBS Broadcasting Chair Chung
Yun-joo to step down although he began his work at the
state-owned broadcasting service on November 27.
5. (C) Both Unification Minister-designate Lee and
FM-designate Song Min-soon were not approved by the Foreign
Affairs and Unification Committee and a negative report was
submitted to the Blue House after their hearings on November
16. The nominees need not be approved to take office, as the
Blue House can choose to appoint the cabinet ministers within
20 days after receiving the negative reports from the
committee. According to our MOFAT contacts, Song Min-soon is
likely to take office on December 1, but Lee Jae-jeong could
take longer to be in office.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The executive branch retains powers of appointment
with virtually no formal check, but as seen in the case of
Jeon, popular opinion coupled with united opposition from the
National Assembly is enough to erode some of Roh's remaining
powers. As even the most basic authorities evaporate, Roh,
with fifteen months left in office, is fighting a losing
battle against being a lame duck.
VERSHBOW