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Emergency council stresses economic justice, downplays N.K. rights
The ruling Grand National Party revised its party platform on Monday in a bid to shake off its image as a rich-friendly party and raise its approval rating ahead of the general election slated for April.
The party’s emergency leadership council passed a new platform with 10 pledges, among which social welfare and employment were placed as top priorities.
The platform also stressed economic justice, a fair distribution of wealth and measures against conglomerates’ abuse of power.
The move was a remarkable change for the party, which had previously favored smaller government and the free market.
The conservative party also removed articles urging North Korea to improve its human rights and change its communist system, displaying a reconciliatory stance towards the communist nation.
It instead pledged to help North Korea’s reform and to support it in becoming a member of the international community.
The current government and the ruling party have recently faced blame over confrontational inter-Korean relations, especially following the death of North Korea leader Kim Jong-il.
“The party shall undergo significant changes, based on the new platform,” said Rep. Park Geun-hye, the party’s interim leader and presidential hopeful.
“This is the day when the GNP effectively changes its direction.”
The conservative party took power in 2008 amid high expectations of strong economic growth but has lost much of its support recently along with dissatisfaction with the Lee Myung-bak administration.
The term “conservative” is to remain but the expressions “development” and “populism” will be eliminated from the GNP platform.
Amid its efforts to get closer to the public, the ruling party is also scheduled to change its official name within the week, for the first time since its establishment in 1997.
The GNP has been grappling with falling poll numbers, especially after a recent series of scandals. The latest involves parliamentary speaker and former GNP leader Park Hee-tae, who is accused of offering cash to party members for votes prior to a leadership election in 2008.
By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)
The ruling Grand National Party revised its party platform on Monday in a bid to shake off its image as a rich-friendly party and raise its approval rating ahead of the general election slated for April.
The party’s emergency leadership council passed a new platform with 10 pledges, among which social welfare and employment were placed as top priorities.
The platform also stressed economic justice, a fair distribution of wealth and measures against conglomerates’ abuse of power.
The move was a remarkable change for the party, which had previously favored smaller government and the free market.
The conservative party also removed articles urging North Korea to improve its human rights and change its communist system, displaying a reconciliatory stance towards the communist nation.
It instead pledged to help North Korea’s reform and to support it in becoming a member of the international community.
The current government and the ruling party have recently faced blame over confrontational inter-Korean relations, especially following the death of North Korea leader Kim Jong-il.
“The party shall undergo significant changes, based on the new platform,” said Rep. Park Geun-hye, the party’s interim leader and presidential hopeful.
“This is the day when the GNP effectively changes its direction.”
The conservative party took power in 2008 amid high expectations of strong economic growth but has lost much of its support recently along with dissatisfaction with the Lee Myung-bak administration.
The term “conservative” is to remain but the expressions “development” and “populism” will be eliminated from the GNP platform.
Amid its efforts to get closer to the public, the ruling party is also scheduled to change its official name within the week, for the first time since its establishment in 1997.
The GNP has been grappling with falling poll numbers, especially after a recent series of scandals. The latest involves parliamentary speaker and former GNP leader Park Hee-tae, who is accused of offering cash to party members for votes prior to a leadership election in 2008.
By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)
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Articles by Korea Herald
