Political shockwaves from ballot shortage crisis

Democratic Party calls for thorough investigation, accountability

Broad opposition bloc warns of special prosecutor bill if ruling party rejects parliamentary probe

People Power Party lawmaker Yun Sang-hyun speaks at a forum he organized at the National Assembly on Friday, titled "Evaluating and Reflecting on the June 3 Local Elections — What Conservatives Lost and What They Must Reclaim." [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Yun Sang-hyun speaks at a forum he organized at the National Assembly on Friday, titled "Evaluating and Reflecting on the June 3 Local Elections — What Conservatives Lost and What They Must Reclaim." [Yonhap]

Political fallout from an unprecedented ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections is intensifying. The Democratic Party of Korea has signaled a forceful push to hold the National Election Commission accountable while pushing back against the People Power Party's calls for a re-vote. The broader opposition bloc is raising the stakes further, warning that a special prosecutor may be necessary. Political circles said Friday that the Democratic Party urged the PPP to clarify its position after the ruling party had initially demanded a halt to vote counting and a re-vote early in the tabulation process.

Jeon Yong-gi, the Democratic Party's senior floor spokesman for communications, raised the issue at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly on Thursday. "At first they demanded a halt to counting and a re-vote — so what do they have to say now, after the Seoul mayoral race result is in? We expect them to state their position clearly," he said. "We will be watching to see whether they try to quietly back away." He also condemned what he called a grave failure of election administration. "We strongly denounce the NEC's fatal mismanagement exposed in this election," he said. "Responsibility must be clearly established through a thorough and rigorous investigation."

Democratic Party Secretary-General Jo Seung-rae also took aim at Heo Cheol-hun, the NEC secretary-general and the commission's top administrative official, saying he "should be reflecting on whether he can remain in his post."

The opposition bloc, meanwhile, proposed that the Democratic Party pursue an emergency parliamentary investigation, and said it would actively consider introducing a special prosecutor act if the ruling party refuses to cooperate.

PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog told a general assembly of PPP lawmakers on Thursday that the NEC had committed what he called "three illegal crimes": the voting delays caused by the ballot shortage, the simultaneous conduct of voting and counting in clear violation of the law, and dereliction of duty by the central commission. "A sweeping audit and reform of the NEC's entire operations is unavoidable," he said.

Song also urged the National Assembly to launch a parliamentary investigation into the NEC and to pass legislation strengthening election administration. "The budget was clearly secured to print ballots accounting for the number of eligible voters plus a surplus. Submit immediately the records showing how that budget was spent," he said.

Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok also weighed in on Facebook. "Who among the public can accept that an agency whose sole job is to manage elections failed to properly forecast and manage even the number of ballots?" he wrote. "If it was intentional, people must be held accountable. If it was a systemic failure, the organization's very existence must be called into question."


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