By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Aides of President Roh Moo-hyun said Monday they are not interested in the nomination of Chung Dong-young as the presidential candidate of the United New Democratic Party (UNDP).
Roh's spokesman Cheon Ho-seon refused to comment on the primary result of the pro-government party, saying, ``Any remarks could be a violation of the Election Law.''
He also said it is inappropriate for Cheong Wa Dae to mention the result at the moment.
Their remarks are in line with Roh's remarks that he ``does not care about battles among opportunists with no principles'' in his meeting with reporters on Sept. 11.
He made remarks when asked about his view on the three presidential hopefuls of the pro-government party.
Roh's remarks came as his favored candidate, Lee Hae-chan, was ranking third and last in opinion polls. Lee, a close confidant of the President, was the only contender who did not oppose Roh's policies.
Roh's criticism targeted the other two _ Chung, who sometimes held himself aloof from the President in state affairs, and Sohn Hak-kyu, who joined the UNDP this year after quitting the opposition Grand National Party (GNP).
Chung, a television anchorman-turned-politician, led some 40 lawmakers to defect from the now-defunct Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), which generated ``President Roh Moo-hyun'' in the 2002 election, and established the governing Uri Party (now reborn as the UNDP) in 2003 under the banner of ``reform.''
In late 2006, Chung, the former chairman of the now-disbanded Uri Party, continued to say that it was time for the governing party to review ongoing failures since its victory in the National Assembly elections in 2004.
``It is regrettable to admit that we have been viewed as being obsessed with four reform bills,'' he said. ``It is true that we have failed to meet the needs of people.''
Cheong Wa Dae officials say it seems that Chung incurred the President's disfavor by provoking conflicts with pro-Roh lawmakers such as Lee Hae-chan and Rhyu Si-min.
There was speculation that Roh had opposed the establishment of the Uri Party, which triggered a separation from the MDP foundation members, or long-standing confidants of former President Kim Dae-jung, he added.
``The President has been disappointed with the UNDP primary results in which Lee garnered the smallest vote,'' an aide said.
Some officials left the presidential office and have been working for Lee's camp for several months.