The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 91

91. Devil’s Whisper

As soon as the words ‘three-term constitutional amendment’ were mentioned, opposition party lawmakers rose up like a swarm of bees.

“What did you say? Three terms? Are you trying to push things too far right now?”

“In the end, was all that talk about political reform just a show to extend your term?”

“Oh, heavens. Calm down, calm down, and listen carefully.”

“What do you mean, calm down? How can we not be upset!”

“The President is finite, but the National Assembly members are infinite.”

“…….”

“Frankly, from a lawmaker’s perspective, who the President is doesn’t really matter, does it? As long as I have my gold badge [a symbol of their position], that’s all that matters.”

“…….”

The opposition lawmakers’ momentum subsided, and they looked at each other.

“Is it better for your party to produce a President, but you can’t be a lawmaker? Or is it better for the opposing party to produce a President, and you get to wear your gold badge?”

“Hmm….”

Not only the opposition lawmakers but also the ruling party lawmakers’ expressions became serious.

The answer was obvious.

“Now that I think about it, Assemblyman Park’s words make sense. Whoever becomes President, my own rice bowl [livelihood] is what’s important.”

Another lawmaker nodded.

“I also think it’s a pretty good deal.”

“Me too.”

“I agree.”

“But will the President accept this proposal?”

“If the opposition party also agrees, wouldn’t it be even more appealing?”

“Well, if I were him, I would definitely take that card. Who would refuse such an offer?”

They all wanted to wear their gold badges, regardless of who became President.

So, they thought that if the President could extend his term, he would be willing to change anything, just like them.

The subdued atmosphere heated up.

“Then, let’s each go back to our parties and discuss it with the leadership.”

“It’s not just discussing, we have to persuade them.”

“Of course! Let’s fight!”

The reactions of the ruling and opposition party leaders to the three-term constitutional amendment proposal were surprisingly consistent.

“Let’s do it. What’s four years? On the other hand, my district is forever.”

* * *

Presidential office.

It was a meeting where the ruling party leader had requested a one-on-one meeting with the President.

The leader was cosplaying like a loyal subject [acting like a devoted follower].

“Your Excellency, Your Excellency, the approval rating of the people who support you exceeds 70%. It would be a shame to retire just like that, even for the sake of policy continuity, Your Excellency!”

“I can’t help it. It’s stipulated in the Constitution.”

The leader threw out bait.

“Your Excellency, since the ruling party has a majority of seats, shall we push for a three-term constitutional amendment this time?”

The President’s expression changed.

“What are you talking about? Is this something that can be pushed through by force? The opposition party is wide awake. I’ll become a dictator.”

“Your Excellency, why wouldn’t I know that.”

“…….”

“So, I secretly sounded out the opinions of key figures in the opposition party. I asked them what they thought about a three-term constitutional amendment.”

“Hmm….”

The President seemed indifferent but perked up his ears.

“Then, they said this.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

“They said they would conditionally agree.”

“Conditionally?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What are the conditions?”

The leader had an expression that said, ‘Finally, he took the bait.’

“They said that if the local autonomy system is passed as originally planned and the National Assembly reform bill is halted, there is plenty of room for compromise.”

“Abandon the National Assembly reform?”

“Your Excellency may be disappointed because it is a policy that you have put your heart and soul into, but if you extend your term in office and repay the people’s expectations even more, wouldn’t that be enough?”

During Chairman Wang’s time, the three-term constitutional amendment was a problem because of the corruption of the ruling party and the fierce opposition of the opposition party.

But now, thanks to continuous internal reforms, the people’s approval rating was higher than ever, and if the ruling and opposition parties agreed, there could be a three-term constitutional amendment without any noise.

If he could be re-elected just one more time, he could finish the work he had started.

Only on the condition of turning a blind eye to one bill!

It was none other than the devil’s sweet temptation.

The President, who had been thinking for a while, called the leader closer.

“Leader, if I extend my term, will it definitely benefit the country and the people?”

“Of course. It goes without saying. Even a dog passing by would clap.”

“Then, how about this?”

“How do you mean?”

The leader swallowed hard.

The President said calmly.

“The ruling and opposition parties agree to pass the National Assembly Reform Act and, at the same time, pass the three-term constitutional amendment.”

The leader jumped up.

“What? Pass both laws?”

“Yes.”

The leader made a crying sound.

“Your Excellency, the three-term constitutional amendment is conditional on the abolition of the Reform Act. You can’t catch two rabbits at once [achieve two goals simultaneously], Your Excellency!”

“You said that the three-term constitutional amendment would benefit the country and the people, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“The majority of the people also support the National Assembly Act reform. If both are passed, it would be a huge benefit to the country, so shouldn’t you, as a five-term National Assembly member and the leader of the ruling party, naturally choose that path?”

“Your Excellency….”

The President said.

“It has become even clearer, Leader.”

“…….”

“Thinking from the perspective of those in power, it’s a very attractive proposal. No matter what happens to the country or the people, I become President, and you get your gold badges.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

“So, I am even more convinced that this political reform is necessary.”

“…….”

The leader’s face turned blue.

The President scolded.

“Such collusion won’t work! Get out!”

The proposal failed.

The leader, who had been thoroughly rejected, turned pale.

As a result, he only revealed his inner thoughts, making it a worse attempt than not doing it at all.

The sight of the leader walking away was so pathetic.

But a fierce aftermath of the failed secret talks was waiting.

The President was even more worried about the aftermath.

He had kicked out the representative sent by the lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties without compromise, so he had a feeling that they were not a group that would easily back down.

The President secretly called a national lawmaker from the ruling party.

Assemblyman Nam was so rigid that he was a stickler for principles.

He intended to receive reports on the movements of the National Assembly members through him.

* * *

A Korean restaurant near Seoul (night).

The ruling party leader was meeting with the opposition party’s policy director and sharing a drink.

The leader told the results of the secret talks and gulped down his drink.

“Ugh~ I was just humiliated. How can I face Your Excellency now?”

“Your Excellency is something else. Why is a politician so inflexible? Politics is about give and take. Did he eat bamboo [is he so inflexible]?”

“Sigh~ What are we going to do now? I think it’s gone down the drain.”

“Heavens. Gone down the drain? Even if the sky falls, there is always a way out.”

“Is there any other way left?”

“This has become a fight between the President and the entire National Assembly.”

“…….”

“So, Leader, how about this?”

“Do you have a clever plan to turn things around?”

“Let’s rot it all together [sabotage everything].”

“What does that mean?”

“The presidential election is next year, and the National Assembly election is one month after that, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“The presidential candidate primary and the budget and accounts committee are left at the end of the year. It’s at most a year, no, actually half a year.”

“…….”

“Let’s create controversies and paralyze the National Assembly!”

“Paralyze? Are we going to collude?”

“That’s right! If the ruling and opposition parties work together, we can paralyze it as much as we want. We’ll only process the Local Autonomy Act, and the ruling and opposition parties will bicker over the National Assembly Reform Act, and a year will pass in a flash.”

“Ahem, so we’re going to legislate only half of it to save face!”

“That’s right! We’ll confront each other, saying that we’ll process it in the last National Assembly, and when the lame-duck President changes, we’ll abolish it or vote against it and throw it in the trash.”

“Hmm, we’ll save face and take practical benefits.”

“We’ll see the Im and pick the mulberry [achieve something else while pretending to do something else], and catch crayfish while cleaning the ditch [gain additional benefits].”

“It’s a highly realistic plan, hahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

“What are you going to do with the idling [sabotaging]?”

“First, we have to report to the leadership and get approval for the idling.”

“Hmm, that would be the order.”

That’s how the ruling and opposition parties conspired as one.

* * *

A TV news special was broadcast.

The anchor reported with a solemn expression.

– Military corruption has broken out. Military investigators have uncovered allegations that the Seoul Military Manpower Administration received 100,000 won per person from about 100 conscripted soldiers from 1967 to 1969, and issued mass exemptions from military service and conscription, and launched a full-scale investigation. On this day, military investigators confiscated the military service management ledger and the list of conscription and military service exemption recipients from the Seoul Military Manpower Administration, and decided to arrest Sergeant Lee and two other employees involved.

* * *

National Assembly.

Policy questioning of the ministry in charge was suspended due to the Military Manpower Administration corruption.

The opposition party spokesperson volunteered for an interview.

“This Military Manpower Administration corruption is just the tip of the iceberg of military corruption. Despite numerous reports of promotion bribery, supply corruption, etc., military investigators are busy reducing and concealing them. The Minister of National Defense, not the head of the Military Manpower Administration, must attend the policy questioning. If the ruling party refuses, we will refuse to deliberate on the budget and accounts committee.”

The ruling party put up a defense.

“The head of the Military Manpower Administration should be responsible for the Military Manpower Administration corruption. Why are you dragging in the Minister of National Defense?”

The ruling and opposition parties bickered and harshly criticized each other.

Meanwhile, there were also shouts in the Special Committee on Political Reform.

“The three-term ban on National Assembly members is unconstitutional. It ignores freedom of occupation. The original plan can never be accepted.”

“The President’s term is also limited to two terms. Is that also unconstitutional? The term and appointment of elected public officials are determined by law. Choice is free, but each occupation has its own retirement age.”

“We are a free democratic country. US Senate and House members have no restrictions on re-election if they are capable. We are also a free democratic country, so why do we restrict the people’s representatives like a dictatorship?”

The Local Autonomy Act also clashed.

“Elections for basic and metropolitan areas should be held without party recommendations to suit the purpose of grassroots democracy. If they are swayed by political parties, they will be reduced to lower organizations of political parties, not autonomous organizations.”

This was what the President ordered the ruling party.

The opposition party opposed.

“If political parties do not nominate candidates, hundreds of candidates will flock to the polls. Is this an elementary school class president election? It will be a mess.”

In the matter of determining the electoral districts of the increasing number of National Assembly members, they did not yield an inch to occupy areas that were advantageous to each other.

The reform committee, which had been gaining momentum, was not making progress due to the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties.

As the ruling and opposition parties consistently confronted each other in the eight standing committees, the plenary hall was empty.

Not a single pending livelihood issue was put on the agenda.

The Speaker of the National Assembly called the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties and said.

“There are mountains of urgent livelihood bills. Is it okay to be closed for business? The ruling and opposition parties should compromise, compromise!”

“Speaker, this is something that the ruling party can solve with just a little concession.”

“What are you talking about! The opposition party is now recklessly going all or nothing.”

The Speaker of the National Assembly warned.

“If there is no agreement like this, I will put urgent issues on the agenda by exercising my authority as the Speaker of the National Assembly, regardless of the circumstances.”

The opposition party protested.

“Speaker, you must maintain neutrality. Why are you taking the ruling party’s side?”

The ruling party was also upset.

“Speaker, bills that are favorable to the opposition party are absolutely not allowed!”

The Speaker said.

“If you don’t agree, I will put it on the agenda arbitrarily, regardless of the ruling and opposition parties.”

“No, Speaker!”

* * *

National Assembly Plenary Hall.

The ruling and opposition lawmakers gathered on both sides and staged their own sit-ins.

“Oppose putting it on the agenda by authority!”

“Oppose, oppose!”

“The Speaker of the National Assembly must maintain neutrality!”

“Maintain neutrality, maintain neutrality!”

An unprecedented situation in constitutional history was created in which the ruling and opposition lawmakers staged simultaneous sit-ins to prevent the controversial bill from being put on the agenda by authority.

The leaders of the ruling and opposition parties enjoyed obstructing the agenda as if they were playing a war game.