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| New Politics Alliance for Democracy Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in listens during a National Assembly audit of the Army in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap |
By Do Je-hae
Rep. Moon Jae-in, the chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), withdrew his proposal to conduct a vote of confidence on his leadership, Monday.
The withdrawal came as the party had been locked in growing factional disputes over his proposal.
On Sunday, the executive committee of the NPAD reaffirmed its support for the embattled chairman after a meeting, while rival factions continued to raise questions about his leadership.
In a statement read by party spokesman Kim Sung-soo, Moon said that he respects the decision of the executive committee.
"I will try harder to reform the party and strengthen our unity. I will work toward the unity of the opposition bloc to secure victory in the general elections," Moon said.
Moon said that his reaffirmed leadership should provide an impetus for the party to unite after months of attacks on his leadership from non-mainstreamers of the party.
The party's feuding among mainstreamers led by Moon and rival factions has distanced the party from the public.
"I apologize for disappointing our supporters with problems within the party," Moon said.
Amid deepening internal feuds and calls for his resignation following the main opposition's crushing defeat in the parliamentary by-elections in April, Moon proposed the vote of confidence earlier in the month, vowing to step down if the results of the vote dictate his removal.
Moon and the party reform committee led by Kim Sang-gon had earlier proposed a new set of reform measures, including how to pick candidates for the general elections in April 2016.
Minority factions heavily criticized the plans, prompting Moon to stake his leadership on the reform efforts.
The results of the Sunday meeting may put an end to the months of internal strife, although members of the minority factions, who did not attend the plenary meeting, could boycott the agreement.
Party heavyweights, such as former co-chairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, have criticized Moon for proposing a vote of confidence, saying that such a plan will only intensify internal feuding.
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