By Kang Seung-woo
Despite a number of high-profile candidates running for the post, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy's (NPAD) national convention to elect a new chairman has largely escaped the public's attention, while negative campaigning between contenders intensifies.
Additionally, other pending issues, including controversial changes to the tax system, are further distracting people's attention away from the selection, scheduled for Feb. 8. Another diversionary event is the ruling Saenuri Party's election on Feb. 2 to select a new floor leader to replace Rep. Lee Wan-koo, who was nominated for prime minister, Friday.
Although it is a mitigating factor that the national convention is not a race for the leadership of the party ahead of a high-stakes election, there are growing concerns that such disinterest may dent its approval ratings in the future.
Reps. Park Jie-won, Moon Jae-in and Lee In-young are running for the chairmanship that has been vacant since co-Chairmen Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Han-gil stepped down on July 31 due to a drubbing in the July 30 by-election. Rep. Moon Hee-sang, a fifth-term lawmaker, has served as interim leader.
Since the beginning of the campaign, there were voices of concern over a potential failure to attract interest because the so-called "Big Two" ― Moon and Park ― are not the sort of fresh leadership that the public want.
However, they have failed to ease such misgivings over a lack of competitive talent, instead, increasingly engaging in "tedious" defamation campaigns against each other rather than showing a clear vision of leadership. Lee, the other candidate who stresses the generational shift within the party, is not regarded as fit for the job because he has failed to establish himself as an alternative.
The national convention is taking a backseat to other more attention-grabbing matters such as the government's new tax settlement scheme that has sparked a strong public backlash and growing incidents of child abuse at daycare centers that have outraged mothers across the nation.
Incumbent members of the National Assembly are not allowed to help in the campaign in order to prevent potential factional conflicts within the party, so many lawmakers take business trips overseas.
The planned election to pick the Saenuri´s floor leader is also diverting interest away.
As floor leader Lee is now a prime minister-designate, the ruling camp will hold an election six days ahead of the NPAD.
In addition, the Saenuri Party ballot is more intriguing, given that it will determine whether President Park Geun-hye will maintain a grip on the party, according to who becomes the new floor leader.
"The negative campaigning itself means that they are far away from the national interests. Setting aside controversial pending issues, they just care about internal issues and that is why the public show no interest," said a party official.
The former chairman Ahn also criticized the candidates on Monday, saying, "The Feb. 8 national convention has failed to attract attention from the people. The three candidates should feel a sense of crisis over the unpopularity of the party."
Despite a number of high-profile candidates running for the post, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy's (NPAD) national convention to elect a new chairman has largely escaped the public's attention, while negative campaigning between contenders intensifies.
Additionally, other pending issues, including controversial changes to the tax system, are further distracting people's attention away from the selection, scheduled for Feb. 8. Another diversionary event is the ruling Saenuri Party's election on Feb. 2 to select a new floor leader to replace Rep. Lee Wan-koo, who was nominated for prime minister, Friday.
Although it is a mitigating factor that the national convention is not a race for the leadership of the party ahead of a high-stakes election, there are growing concerns that such disinterest may dent its approval ratings in the future.
Reps. Park Jie-won, Moon Jae-in and Lee In-young are running for the chairmanship that has been vacant since co-Chairmen Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Han-gil stepped down on July 31 due to a drubbing in the July 30 by-election. Rep. Moon Hee-sang, a fifth-term lawmaker, has served as interim leader.
Since the beginning of the campaign, there were voices of concern over a potential failure to attract interest because the so-called "Big Two" ― Moon and Park ― are not the sort of fresh leadership that the public want.
However, they have failed to ease such misgivings over a lack of competitive talent, instead, increasingly engaging in "tedious" defamation campaigns against each other rather than showing a clear vision of leadership. Lee, the other candidate who stresses the generational shift within the party, is not regarded as fit for the job because he has failed to establish himself as an alternative.
The national convention is taking a backseat to other more attention-grabbing matters such as the government's new tax settlement scheme that has sparked a strong public backlash and growing incidents of child abuse at daycare centers that have outraged mothers across the nation.
Incumbent members of the National Assembly are not allowed to help in the campaign in order to prevent potential factional conflicts within the party, so many lawmakers take business trips overseas.
The planned election to pick the Saenuri´s floor leader is also diverting interest away.
As floor leader Lee is now a prime minister-designate, the ruling camp will hold an election six days ahead of the NPAD.
In addition, the Saenuri Party ballot is more intriguing, given that it will determine whether President Park Geun-hye will maintain a grip on the party, according to who becomes the new floor leader.
"The negative campaigning itself means that they are far away from the national interests. Setting aside controversial pending issues, they just care about internal issues and that is why the public show no interest," said a party official.
The former chairman Ahn also criticized the candidates on Monday, saying, "The Feb. 8 national convention has failed to attract attention from the people. The three candidates should feel a sense of crisis over the unpopularity of the party."
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