Roh proposes referendum to assess public confidence

Roh also rejected the almost de rigueur offer by his cabinet ministers and senior presidential aides to resign and take responsibility for the leadership crisis.

"A national referendum might be the most wise (method). But the manner in which the referendum should be conducted has yet to be established.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

So we may be able to revise the law related to a referendum," he said in an unscheduled press conference.

The Constitution does not clearly state how to call a vote of confidence in a head of state. It just says a president can call a national referendum for important policies related to the safety and danger of the state, including diplomatic issues, national defense and unification.

Roh's call for a referendum came a day after he announced that he would publicly test the nation's confidence in him in an apparent move to dispel recent corruption allegations and start over with a fresh public mandate.

Analysts said Roh's proposal for a referendum is an apparent turnaround from his position expressed Friday when he indicated that such a move was not practicable because of constitutional restrictions.

Opposition parties accused the president? surprise declaration as an example of political brinkmanship, saying Roh is effectively blackmailing the people in a bid to hoist his administration out of the quagmire into which it has sunk.

Some critics said the president's decision to seek the nation's confidence may further aggravate political and economic difficulties the nation is facing, labeling it a political gamble aimed at shoring up his crumbling support before next April's general elections.

The latest opinion polls conducted by news organizations suggest that Koreans may grant Roh a reprieve, with more expressing confidence in him than disapproval.

But the embattled president dismissed the accusations, saying he will step down if he fails to garner enough public support.