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Ruling Party Suffers Crushing Defeat in By-Elections
The ruling Uri Party suffered a crushing defeat in the four major by-elections _ one mayor and three governors _ and others Saturday.
The major opposition Grand National Party (GNP) won three _ in Pusan, South Kyongsang Province and Cheju _ and the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) captured the governorship in South Cholla Province, which is the home ground of former president Kim Dae-jung who founded the MDP.
The four winners are Hur Nam-sik in Pusan, former home minister Kim Tae-ho in South Kyongsang Province, former chief presidential secretary Park Joon-yong in South Cholla Province and former Cheju mayor Kim Tae-hwan in Cheju Province.
The ruling party suffered a complete defeat apparently because of continuous controversial remarks of President Roh Moo-hyun after he was restored from the impeachment and a binging spree in a congratulatory reception for the newly elected lawmakers of the ruling party at the presidential residence, a political observer said.
The leadership of the Uri Party is expected to face blame on the Saturday defeat in the by-elections, while the GNP and MDP will be elated away from the April 14 shock.
On the other hand, the voter turnout is the lowest at an average of 37.1 percent in the four major by-elections due to the weekend voting.
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