A four-term lawmaker close to leading presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye was selected Monday as the secretary general of the ruling Saenuri Party in a move expected to further consolidate Park’s grip over the party seven months ahead of the presidential vote.

The selection of Rep. Suh Byung-soo as secretary general is seen as completing a sweep of top party posts by those loyal to Park after the election of Rep. Hwang Woo-yea as party chief and Rep. Lee Hahn-koo as floor leader. Suh will be in charge of the party’s budget and other general affairs.

The Council also appointed a journalist-turned-lawmaker, Rep. Kim Young-woo, as its spokesman. (Yonhap News)