Saenuri leader rules out possibility of intervention in factional disputes


The leadership of the ruling Saenuri Party’s Rep. Park Geun-hye is being put to the test as candidate nominations for the April general elections trigger disputes, especially from pro-Lee Myung-bak figures.

The escalating feud is to become one of the key challenges for the right-wing leader before she officially challenges for the presidency in December.

Observers, however, speculated that Rep. Park is not likely to directly interfere in the nominations, though she is suspected of having influenced the panel in favor of her aides.

Several pro-Lee members so far have failed to win candidacy from the party’s nomination screening committee.

The list includes influential members such as Reps. Shin Ji-ho, Chin Soo-hee, Chun Yu-ok and Chung Mi-kyung.

Those who failed to win candidacy claimed the committee deliberately excluded them and some hinted at their intention to break away from the party.

“The nomination results reflect the intentions of a specific faction to exclude all others and monopolize power,” said Rep. Shin Ji-ho in a radio interview Tuesday.

“Unless the screening panel reveals its judging standards and becomes transparent, I may consider taking joint action with other fellow lawmakers.”

Former party leader and leading pro-Lee figure Rep. Chung Mong-joon, too, criticized the nomination process, though he won candidacy in the Dongjak-B constituency.

“The party should make a reasonable appraisal for those who fought for conservative values and for the interests of the party,” Chung said through a statement Tuesday.

Reps. Chun and Chung blamed party chairperson Rep. Park for being close-minded and for excluding female aspirants from the race.

Kim Hyun-chul, vice chief of the party’s think tank Yeouido Institute and son of former President Kim Young-sam, declared his defection from the party on Tuesday, in protest.

“I have been completely deceived by Rep. Park,” Kim said, accusing her of political retaliation by abusing her power as party head.

Rep. Park, however, defended the nomination process.

“The nominations were based on strict screening processes and objective standards,” said leader Park Monday, before making the announcements.

“Some may have been disappointed by the results but I nevertheless urge them to remain with us to rebuild political order and to serve the people.”

Despite the growing complaints, there are few expectations that Rep. Park will attempt to arbitrate the dispute as she has repeatedly refrained from taking a lead on the issue.

Secretary-general Rep. Kwon Young-se also complained that many pro-Lee figures happened to be located in Seoul districts.

Eyes are now on whether similar decisions will be made Wednesday in the southeastern region, a party stronghold where a majority of pro-Park figures applied for nomination.

The conservative party has long been shaken by factional disputes between the pro-Lee and pro-Park groups, though the strife had previously seemed to have eased upon the influx of neutral members.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)