Decision not to run is expected to ease feuds, bolster conservatives’ camp


The ruling Saenuri Party’s internal feud over its candidate nomination seemed to be subsiding as leading figures pledged to remain in the party, regardless of their candidacy.

Reps. Ahn Sang-soo and Chin Soo-hee, both key pro-Lee Myung-bak members, said Thursday that they will stick with the party and accept the nomination committee’s decision.

Their moves followed the announcement of former floor leader Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who pledged his alliance to the party on Monday amid escalating conflict, even though he was denied nomination.

“I shall humbly serve the party, regardless of the committee’s decision,” said Ahn.

“I was indeed tempted to defect and run as an independent candidate, or even create a new party, but decided to sacrifice myself.”

The fourth-term lawmaker and former party leader aspired to run for another term, but the party’s nomination panel classified his constituency in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, as a strategic nomination area. When a constituency is designated as a strategic district, the party handpicks the candidate unilaterally.

Though the final results have yet to be made, it is highly likely that an outside figure will be given the candidacy.

So was the case for second-term lawmaker and former health minister Chin, who failed to win her candidacy in the Seongdong-A constituency in Seoul.

“I could not leave the party, which has helped me throughout my years as minister and up to my current parliamentary term,” she said, in tears.

“I nevertheless felt bitter that it would not even explain the reason for ruling me out.”

Both figures of a faction loyal to President Lee also blasted the party leadership once more on the nomination process and the resulting feuds.

“In order to win in the big race, the party should refrain from making internal conflicts,” said Ahn, pledging to renew the party’s communication avenues.

Ahn and Chin’s bitter acceptance of the nomination results is expected to prevent further party members from defecting.

So far, five incumbent lawmakers have broken away from the party in protest of their nomination loss, blaming leader Rep. Park Geun-hye and her aides for politically retaliating against the pro-Lee group. Rep. Chun Yu-ok, another leading pro-Lee lawmaker joined the new center-left Korea Vision Party.

However, Rep. Kim’s bold action on Monday seemed to have calmed the nomination feuds.

The party leadership welcomed the decision of the pro-Lee members who changed their minds and decided to stay.

“The key driving power of our party is the spirit of self-sacrifice,” said the party’s spokesperson, quoting Rep. Park.

“Their decisions will contribute to the party’s unity, election victory and the country’s political development.”

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