By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) will pick its new chairman and members of its decision-making Supreme Council at a national convention in Seoul today.
Two veteran politicians, Rep. Chung Mong-joon and Park Hee-tae who are close to President Lee Myung-bak, are vying for the party chairmanship in a neck-and-neck contest.
The two competitors held discussions on the relationship between the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae on the last day of their campaigns Wednesday.
At the debate session organized by local television, Rep. Chung brought up the issue first asking Park's view regarding whether he still stood by comments he made previously on the relationship between the party and the presidential office. Park, a former National Assembly vice speaker, said that ``a political party could disappear, but not a President. A President will be in power for his or her tenure.''
A former lawmaker Park, who looked uncomfortable for receiving the question that he had faced before, answered he was taken out of context, saying what he meant with his words was that it is not correct to conclude that the ruling party has nothing to do with Cheong Wa Dae. ``If President Lee makes mistakes, the GNP should take the primary responsibility as it is the ruling party,'' said Park.
``Putting my words in the right context, I made the remarks when explaining the characteristics of a presidential system where a national leader would not be asked to resign even though his party loses an election,'' he said.
Political analysts said Chung, whose trademark was ``change,'' raised the question in an effort to portray the senior politician Park who has a strong relationship with Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, an elder brother of President Lee, as a man lacking vision and relying on old politics.
Park, meanwhile, stressed ``experience'' as his strength, which his camp argued his counterpart Chung is lacking.
Chung's opponents described him as a man living in the shadow of his father, the late Chung Ju-yung, a legendary business tycoon who founded the Hyundai Group.
Chung denied the allegations, which were aimed to undermine his ability and accomplishments as a politician and successful businessman. He claimed that he is fully qualified for the party chairmanship as he has extensive leadership experience in the arenas of international sports, business and politics.
Polls said it is hard to predict who will win today's race as some surveys found Chung to be the frontrunner while others put their money on Park.
Pollsters said the GNP's one-man-two-vote rule made it difficult for them to foresee the winner.
About 10,000 GNP delegates are eligible to cast their votes and their voting accounts for 70 percent of the contest results. The remaining 30 percent will be determined by a public opinion survey of ordinary citizens.
Chung is widely supported by non-party members, while Park distanced his rival Chung in most surveys of party delegates, reports said.