South Korea opposition rejects president’s offer

SOUTH Korean opposition parties yesterday rejected President Park Geunhye’s offer to share power to overcome a crippling crisis, calling in effect for a caretaker government.

In a major climbdown forced by a crippling corruption scandal, Park had agreed to dump her nominee for prime minister, and accept one chosen by the opposition-controlled parliament.

But opposition parties said Park’s offer was too “ambiguous”, urging her to guarantee the new prime minister would be given a free hand in selecting cabinet ministers, handling state affairs and functioning without interference.

“It’s not even worth consideration”, the country’s three opposition parties said.

Park has come under mounting pressure to step down over the scandal involving a close friend, Choi Soon-sil, who has been arrested on charges of fraud and abuse of power.

The charges relate to allegations that Choi leveraged her personal relationship with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung to nonprofit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain.

She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, including in the nomination of senior officials.

Lurid reports of the unhealthy influence Choi wielded over Park have sent the president’s approval ratings plunging to record lows and triggered mass street protests calling on her to resign.

In a bid to restore public trust, Park reshuffled her advisers and senior cabinet members, and nominated a liberal candidate for prime minister from outside her conservative Saenuri Party.

But opposition parties had vowed to block her nominee on the grounds they were not properly consulted.

Park Jie-won, president of the country’s second opposition party,the People’s Party, said the president is resort- ing to a divide-and-rule tactic, sowing seeds of discord among her opponents and letting them fight among themselves over who should be the next prime minister.

“We’ve already fallen into the trap set by the president”, the veteran politician told journalists.

“This is also a delaying tactic intended to earn time”.

The presidential Blue House said yesterday that the president is sincere in her offer to share power with opposition parties, calling for a meeting with heads of both ruling and opposition parties to discuss details.