Park Geun-hye, an opposition leader believed to have a strong influence on the country's conservative voters, said Monday that former opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang's presidential bid cannot be justified.
Lee's bid has placed him in the running against Lee Myung-bak, candidate of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP).
Following former GNP chairman Lee Hoi-chang's defection from the party and the declaration that he was entering the race as an an independent last week, Park has been seen as holding a deciding vote among conservatives in the increasingly fierce rivalry between the two Lees.
Breaking her week-long silence, Park expressed a negative view on Lee Hoi-chang's presidential bid, signaling her intention to cooperate with the embattled Lee Myung-bak, who has repeatedly pleaded for her political support.
The GNP has claimed that the bids of the two Lees would split the conservative vote and benefit the campaign of pro-government presidential candidate Chung Dong-young.
"I remain unchanged in my belief that the GNP has to return to power in the upcoming presidential election. In that sense, Lee Hoi-chang's presidential bid can't be justified," Park told reporters.
"I'm a member of the GNP and Lee Myung-bak remains unchanged in his status as the party's presidential nominee. Lee Hoi-chang's decision to run for the presidency in spite of widespread criticism forces the GNP to reflect on its own past behavior," said Park.
On Sunday, Lee Myung-bak called an emergency news conference, declaring his intention to more actively embrace Park and her followers and share power over party affairs, including the right to nominate candidates for next April's general elections. He even called her a "political partner" and "valued companion."
Despite the apparent reconciliation, tension is believed to remain between Lee and Park, as Park and her followers claim to have been excluded from key party affairs and posts.
"I'm greatly disappointed over the local political circles," she said. "Some media contend the loser (in the party primaries) should give up the right to nominate candidates for parliamentary elections (next year). Then does the winner have to take it all?"
She dismissed as "old and terrible politics" the idea of the winner or the loser taking the right to name party candidates for general elections, urging the party leadership to run the party "on the basis of sound principles and common sense."
Despite the ongoing debate over Lee-Park relations, political pundits speculate that Park's criticism of Lee Hoi-chang indicates her intention to back Lee Myung-bak's presidential bid.
Lee Myung-bak said he agrees with Park's remarks. "I'm partially responsible for the defection of Lee Hoi-chang from the GNP. I and Park share the same political principles and willingness to deter leftist forces from seizing power," he said.
Lee Hoi-chang also told reporters that he fully understands Park's remarks.