Vote Ballot Shortage Issue Eases After Rho Tae-ak's Resignation... What Grounds Does Jang Dong-hyeok Have to Hold Out?

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\r\n[Financial News] The situation over the ballot shortage in parts of Seoul appears to be winding down after Rho Tae-ak, chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), resigned voluntarily. Attention is now turning to Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, and how he will move forward after trying to withstand pressure to step down by using the issue as his justification.
Rho took full responsibility for the ballot shortage and abruptly resigned on the 5th. He said he would accept responsibility by taking part in the formation of a fact-finding committee made up of outside experts, as well as any parliamentary investigation of state administration and special prosecutor probe proposed by both ruling and opposition parties.
Jang had actively responded to the ballot shortage issue and avoided blame for the June 3 local elections defeat. Even on this day, he skipped the National Assembly leadership election and the oath-taking ceremony for lawmakers, and instead visited the Seoul Metropolitan City Election Commission and the NEC to protest. He also raised the possibility of impeaching all election commissioners and filing a lawsuit to invalidate the election.
However, with Rho and Secretary-General Heo Cheol-hoon both offering to resign, and Oh Min-seok, chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, issuing a public apology, the issue appears to be entering a calmer phase. For Jang, the excuse to avoid pressure to resign has disappeared.
In political circles, many believe Jang will at least continue responding to the ballot shortage issue for now. Even if Rho steps down, the push for an Investigation of State Administration and a Special Prosecutor probe to uncover the truth and assign responsibility remains. Since this is a matter for the National Assembly, the actions of the next parliamentary leader, who is expected to be elected next week, are likely to become a key variable.
There are also forecasts that Jang could hold a vote of confidence to serve out his term until August next year. That is because Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, has entered the National Assembly, making it difficult to suppress backlash from the pro-Han faction and other reform-minded groups. Others also expect that he could resign and then run in the party convention. Whether through a vote of confidence or a bid for the next party leadership, he is expected to rally party support by using the ballot shortage issue as a rallying point.
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uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter