Saenuri's feud deepening over nomination rules

Lee Hahn-koo

By Kim Hyo-jin

A factional feud over nominations for the April 13 general election has been escalating in the ruling Saenuri Party.

Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung, a strong backer of the “from-the-bottom-up” nominating process, lashed out at Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, head of the nomination committee, for planning to select some candidates based on the party’s recommendation.

However, lawmakers affiliated with President Park Geun-hye are on Lee’s side, denouncing the party leader for undermining Lee’s autonomy.

The clash was viewed as a power struggle between the pro-Park and the opposing faction represented by Kim. They are competing to seize control of the party through the results of the coming election, which largely depends on how many candidates from each faction will be nominated.

Park’s loyalists have claimed the need to include “strategic” nominations, a format used by the party to designate high-profile figures to run in vital regions for the party without internal races beforehand. Kim has pushed for a complete “from-the-bottom-up” nominating system based on public opinion to prevent Park and her aides from exerting influence in selecting candidates.

Lee, a four-term lawmaker known as President Park’s mentor in economic matters, assumed the post in charge of finalizing the rules concerning candidate nomination earlier this month.

“I would never allow the nomination committee to step out of the boundary of the party’s constitution and regulations,” Kim said during a party meeting on Thursday.

“Party democracy can be realized only when candidate nomination is carried out in a democratic way. This time, an attempt to wield power in putting up candidates will not exist.”

The remarks came after Lee presented a plan to apply the recommendation system in up to three constituencies in the entire 17 metropolitan cities and provinces.

The Saenuri Party’s constitution allows recommendation-based nominations for constituencies in which minorities such as women and the disabled need priority to run or candidate applicants have significantly low competitive edges. But it does not define the extent of such a rule, leaving the matter to the discretion of the nomination committee.

Lee’s decision to allow designated nominations nationwide drew a harsh backlash from the non-Park faction. They view the plan as de facto strategic nomination because the nomination committee, a majority of whose members are Park loyalists, will select candidates if the envisioned plan is implemented. Kim vetoed the move, saying “it is unacceptable, even if it means the party loses the election.”

Lee struck back, warning that Kim should stop meddling. “It seems either I or he should step down,” he told reporters. “I hope he should remember that the party leader did not win nomination in the past.”

Amid the escalating conflict between Kim and Lee, the pro-Park lawmakers claim that the party needs to respect the committee’s authority, putting weight in Lee’s argument.

“The party leader keeps making comments about the nomination committee’s work,” said Rep. Suh Chung-won, a confidant of President Park. “I’m worried his personal opinion could affect its activity.”

Many former presidential aides have announced their bid for parliamentary seats in the election. They are expected to vie for the ticket in the preliminary elections with incumbent lawmakers, most of whom are not Park followers.