ID :
200578
Thu, 08/11/2011 - 08:24
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/200578
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Seoul mayor's political fate depends on free lunch referendum
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Thursday he will announce his future course of action right before the upcoming referendum on the city's free school lunch program, suggesting he may step down depending on its result.
The city government is set to hold a referendum on Aug. 24 to ask residents to choose between free lunches for selected students or for all students. Oh has strongly opposed the free lunch program passed in the opposition-controlled city council, calling it "reckless welfare populism."
Political analysts say the vote could determine the fate of Oh, widely considered a presidential hopeful.
"I will have to announce my position as speculations are rising over my future course of action," Oh said in an interview with Yonhap News. "I haven't made up my mind yet. I will express my position shortly before the referendum."
Prospects for the vote are still uncertain as ballot counting takes place only if one-third of eligible voters among 800,000 residents participate in the vote, the first such poll for Seoul. Opposition parties have urged citizens not to boycott the vote.
If the vote fails to draw enough voters or if citizens support the free-lunch-for-all program, it would be a blow to Oh, who still has three years left in his second term. On the contrary, if the results are in his favor, it would serve as a boon for his presidential ambitions.
Oh said South Korea is at a crossroads between "excessive welfare" and "sustainable welfare."
The mayor said he expects the vote will "put a wedge of competitive populism between the ruling and opposition parties" that have recklessly put forward a series of costly proposals to woo voters ahead of the elections.
"Opposition parties have not awakened from the illusion that they can grab power by using the 'universal welfare' frame. Only voters can stop this," Oh said.
Since South Korea adopted residents' referendums in 2004, local governments have held only three polls to reflect public opinion on administrative affairs.
The city government is set to hold a referendum on Aug. 24 to ask residents to choose between free lunches for selected students or for all students. Oh has strongly opposed the free lunch program passed in the opposition-controlled city council, calling it "reckless welfare populism."
Political analysts say the vote could determine the fate of Oh, widely considered a presidential hopeful.
"I will have to announce my position as speculations are rising over my future course of action," Oh said in an interview with Yonhap News. "I haven't made up my mind yet. I will express my position shortly before the referendum."
Prospects for the vote are still uncertain as ballot counting takes place only if one-third of eligible voters among 800,000 residents participate in the vote, the first such poll for Seoul. Opposition parties have urged citizens not to boycott the vote.
If the vote fails to draw enough voters or if citizens support the free-lunch-for-all program, it would be a blow to Oh, who still has three years left in his second term. On the contrary, if the results are in his favor, it would serve as a boon for his presidential ambitions.
Oh said South Korea is at a crossroads between "excessive welfare" and "sustainable welfare."
The mayor said he expects the vote will "put a wedge of competitive populism between the ruling and opposition parties" that have recklessly put forward a series of costly proposals to woo voters ahead of the elections.
"Opposition parties have not awakened from the illusion that they can grab power by using the 'universal welfare' frame. Only voters can stop this," Oh said.
Since South Korea adopted residents' referendums in 2004, local governments have held only three polls to reflect public opinion on administrative affairs.
