By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Some governing Grand National Party (GNP) lawmakers have called on Chairman Park Hee-tae to leave his post before he runs in the upcoming October by-election, saying that hanging on to the position is a high stakes poker game.
``Many GNP lawmakers support the view that Park's running in the election in the leadership position is risky because he will be regarded as a representative of the governing party,'' said Rep. Chang Kwang-keun.
Chang indicated opposition parties will target the ruling party, instead of Park himself in the campaign, and that if he loses the election, the defeat is not his own, but that of the GNP.
Rep. Gong Sung-jin expressed a similar view, noting the chances of Park winning the race are 50 percent and so he should step down from the leadership position before starting the campaign.
Their reaction came after Park made an official announcement that he would to run in the October by-elections on the GNP ticket.
Veteran politician Park expressed his interest in running in the GNP's home turf of Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province during a meeting with President Lee Myung-bak, Monday.
Lee indirectly endorsed his bid, said a close friend of Lee's elder brother Rep. Lee Sang-deuk.
Political analysts say Park's candidacy will change the current status quo in the latent power struggle now underway inside the party.
They pointed out three scenarios that may affect the governing camp: namely, the possibility of Park's winning the race, the timing of his relinquishing of the GNP chairmanship, and the return of President Lee Myung-bak's right-hand man Lee Jae-oh.
Despite Park's advantage, many GNP lawmakers, including Chang, expressed worries over a possible defeat as all of the governing camp candidates have lost in the latest by-elections. The governing camp lost in the April by-election due to a split in the party.
But, this time, Park commands solid support.
If Park, whose term ends next July, steps down for the election, the ruling party has two options to cope with the leadership vacuum.
One is to convene a National Convention earlier than scheduled to elect a new chairman ― the other is to let one of the top decision-making Supreme Council members take as acting chairman. But holding a National Convention is not feasible this time. Thus, Rep. Chung Mong-joon will lead the ruling party in accordance with party rules.
Former lawmaker Lee Jae-oh, meanwhile, is expected to return to the GNP leadership. He is set to consolidate the unity of supporters of President Lee but will likely draw angry responses from the Park Geun-hye camp. Last year, Lee played a key role in excluding many followers of Park from running in the general election.
Lee himself lost the election in Seoul last year to Renewal of Korea Party leader Moon Kook-hyun by a wide margin.