Internal GNP Feud
Park and Lee Should Compromise Over Nomination Rules
An internal feud between two rival presidential hopefuls of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has reached a peak over new rules on how to nominate its candidate in the Dec. 19 poll. Political pundits cautiously predict that the infighting, if not halted, might lead to the breakup of the party, dealing a severe blow to both former party Chairwoman Park Geun-hye and ex-Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak. The extreme rivalry between the two political heavyweights is also feared to serve as a setback to South Korea's parliamentary democracy based on party politics.
On Thursday, Lee officially announced his bid for the presidential candidacy, accepting a compromise proposal on the nomination rules made by GNP Chairman Kang Jae-sup. However, Park turned down the proposal, hinting that she might not join the primary race in protest against what she called the ``fundamentally wrong and undemocratic'' process. This means that the two leaders are increasingly likely to go their own way, dimming the chance of making a compromise down the road.
At the center of the conflict is whether to place more weight on the opinion surveys, which are to be counted as votes cast in the primary set for August. Lee, who is enjoying a comfortable lead in opinion polls against Park, seems to believe that he can benefit from Kang's proposal which guarantees more weight on non-party members' vote. But, Park is sticking to the firm position that she will not accept the proposal, claiming that it is not in line with the democratic principle of ``one person, one vote,'' whoever he or she is and whether they are a party member or not.
The dispute ostensibly appears to stem from technical differences. But the real problem is that Park and Lee will never give up on their ambition to become the president of the country no matter whom the party selects as its presidential candidate. As many analysts have long predicted, the GNP might eventually split in two as neither of the two rivals shows any likelihood of supporting the other after the primary to help the party win the election.
Many voters are already fed up with the strife between Park and Lee, who are seen as seeking their own political ambition without concern for people's livelihood and welfare. They must remember that people dealt a stunning defeat to the GNP in the April 25 by-elections, withholding their support for the opposition party for its infighting and partisan struggles. The GNP has continued to lead in opinion polls, but it should keep in mind that people support the party not because of its performance, but because of misrule on the part of the government and the ruling Uri Party.
We hope that Park and Lee will make compromises and solve the problem through dialogue in order not to disappoint voters any more. They ought to give up their arrogance and self-righteousness before it's too late.