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January 03, 2008
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| Tensions between Park Geun-hye, the former Grand National Party chairwoman, and President-elect Lee Myung-bak continued yesterday as Park attacked Lee for possible delays in announcing the party’s nominations for the April legislative election. The delay is seen by the Park camp as a way to bypass conservative stalwarts in favor of figures from the moderate “new right” faction represented by Lee. In a meeting with journalists in Daegu, Park also made it clear that the wounds from her bitter defeat in the party’s presidential primary in August remain open. Many old-line conservatives were bitterly disappointed when she lost. Referring to Lee’s remarks Tuesday that nominations for the legislative elections should be announced after the presidential inauguration on Feb. 25, Park said, “Doesn’t pushing it that far back mean there is another motive at work?” The Park and Lee camps have been struggling for control of the party since Lee’s massive election victory. With opinion polls indicating that the GNP can expect a landslide victory in the April 9 National Assembly elections, the party’s endorsement in a constituency is considered crucial to gaining a seat. Lee Bang-ho, the GNP secretary general, said Park “misunderstood” Lee Myung-bak’s intentions. He said the proposed delay was a “strategic decision” that would aid the party at the polls. Park also expressed concern about the idea that the GNP needs to nominate fresh faces for the Assembly, saying that she believes those who supported the party over the past 10 years of liberal rule deserve a reward. “Over the past decade, many people worked hard while the Grand National Party was in opposition,” Park said. “There was a time when we were wretched, and there was a time when no one wanted to join the party. We won the presidential victory because of those who endured, and it is embarrassing for me as a former leader of the party to hear that loyalists should be replaced,” she said. She also criticized party Chairman Kang Jae-sup’s remarks that the nominations will be completed by March 9 at the latest. “Announcing nominations only 15 days before the election is suspicious,” Park said. “If there is political retaliation at work, it will degrade the nation’s political culture. Doesn’t that mean that the party’s constitution and regulations are useless, and the winner will do whatever he wants to do? Does that make sense to you?” Park said she discussed the issue with Lee last weekend when the two rivals met. “The president-elect said there would be no delay [in the nominations]. It is hard to understand why there is such talk now.” Park also dismissed speculation that she will be appointed prime minister in the Lee administration. “I was never told about that,” she said. As the internal strife surfaced, party leaders tried to mend the rupture. “Lee’s and Park’s opinions both have their basis,” Chairman Kang told the JoongAng Ilbo. “The problem is that they are skeptical about each other.” A special planning team for the Assembly elections will be formed by mid-January to prepare for the nominating process, Kang was quoted as saying by GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won. “Kang said it is premature to say when the nominations will be made public,” Na said. By Ser Myo-ja Staff Reporter/ Choi Sang-yeon JoongAng Ilbo [myoja@joongang.co.kr] |
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