By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff reporter
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) decided Monday to hold its national convention to elect new party leaders after the July 28 National Assembly by-elections.
The party has yet to set a date for the convention, which will elect a chairman and members of the party's decision-making Supreme Council for a two-year term, but observers say it will likely be held in late August.
"The party has decided to use every ounce of its energy for the July 28 by-elections in a bid to avoid internal conflict over the leadership race," Rep. Noh Young-min, spokesman of the DP, said.
Noh, however, expressed skepticism on the need for incumbent leaders to step down en mass, so that an interim leadership temporarily runs the party to ensure a fair election.
"There are many other ways that can ensure a fair election," Noh said.
DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun, who is expected to seek reelection, wanted to hold the biennial convention prior to the by-elections.
His rivals within the party, however, cast doubt on the incumbent leader's insistence on moving up the date of the convention.
They claimed that the incumbent leaders should immediately step down and an interim leadership should replace them to guarantee a fair election.
Under party regulations, Chung can remain in charge until the next leader is elected, but other chairman hopefuls claim he should step down early next month.