Uri Officially Loses Plurality in National Assembly

Much sound of little rat paws scratching on wet  steel plate today:

“With our deep regret and apologies to the public, which is against the Uri Party, we are determined to give up our current power and become a seed to form a new united party,” Lee Jong-gul said at a press conference, accompanied by other defectors.

The mass defection reduced the ruling party to second place in the 296-member parliament with 110 seats. The helm was transferred to the conservative opposition Grand National Party (GNP) with 127 seats.

It’s almost a formality after all the feuding and backbiting within Uri.  The dissolution becomes even more official this month, when Uri holds what will be its last party convention.  Roh Moo Hyun reacted by drowning his sorrows in hallucinogens, because he said this:

“There will be no success from breaking up the party. One cannot survive in politics without principles,” he said in a luncheon with Uri Party leaders at the presidential office.

Six others have bolted over the last two weeks.