A former chief of staff to the late President Roh Moo-hyun was picked to serve as the main opposition party New Politics Alliance for Democracy’s next interim chief on Thursday, as the party tries to resuscitate itself from the ashes of its worst-ever crisis.

Five-term Rep. Moon Hee-sang is expected to lead the party until the NPAD’s party convention, to be held sometime early next year. NPAD officials will pick a permanent party chairperson at the convention.

Moon’s appointment however does not mean infighting in the country’s top opposition party is over, sources said, with each faction expected to continue to compete for next year’s party convention.

“The fighting has just begun,” a senior NPAD official told local news on Thursday.

Winning the convention rewards the victor with political clout, as the party chair will have influence over whom to nominate as NPAD candidates in the 2016 general elections. The party chair will also have much to say in organizing the party primary before the 2017 presidential elections.

But Rep. Yoo Ki-hong, the NPAD’s senior spokesperson told the media Moon’s leadership will strive to end factionalism before the convention.

“We will continue efforts to reform our party before the coming convention,” Yoo said.

“We are considering introducing an open primary system into our party’s convention.”

An open primary will decrease the party chair’s influence over appointing candidates in the 2016 general elections, minimizing any infighting before the coming convention.

Rep. Park Young-sun, the party’s former interim chief, will continue to serve as the party’s floor leader. She will reopen talks with the governing party over the special Sewol bill.

“A strong opposition is a prerequisite to a strong ruling party and a strong president,” Moon said after he was selected to lead the party.

“Assist me in reviving our party.”

Moon was picked by a council of 22 senior party officials. The number included former party chairperson Rep. Kim Han-gil and former floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun.

The veteran lawmaker is reputed to be a moderate, and has experience leading the party. Moon served as the Democratic Party’s interim chief in early 2013, after the party lost in the 2012 presidential elections to the ruling Saenuri Party. The DP merged with a small independent faction led by Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo in March to form the current NPAD.

The NPAD is facing its worst political predicament since its founding. The party has been suffering from dismal public ratings. The main opposition is also being blamed for the current parliamentary deadlock, which has left more than 7,000 draft bills hanging, and annual audits of government offices suspended.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)