By Chung Min-uck
“Election Queen” Rep. Park Geun-hye is poised to campaign in support of Na Kyung-won, Seoul mayoral candidate of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), in the upcoming Oct. 26 by-election.
Park hinted Tuesday that she would start campaigning in various parts of the capital city when the official campaign for the by-election kicks off Thursday.
The former GNP chairwoman added that she had discussed the issue with the party.
Rep. Kim Chung-kwon, the secretary-general of the GNP, said “I wish Rep. Park’s support could be done in a modest way with Park meeting one-on-one with the vote-holders directly, not campaigning in a group. We will share the idea with Park in consideration of her schedule.”
Park’s remarks come at a time when various opinion polls show a tight race between Na and her mayoral competitor Park Won-soon, the unified liberal candidate. Software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo has indicated his willingness to support Park, a civic activist, which seems to have prompted the former GNP leader to roll up her sleeves. Ahn and Park are considered as the most electable potential candidates for the upcoming presidential election slated for December next year on behalf of the opposition and ruling camps, respectively.
But Rep. Park and the GNP members are denying any connection between the mayoral and presidential race.
Rep. Park said she had decided to partake in the by-election “to save the nation’s politics from a crisis,”drawing a line between her support of the GNP mayoral candidate and the presidential election.
The daughter of late President Park Chung-hee gained the title of “Election Queen” after the GNP won big in elections held under her leadership between 2004 and 2006. In the 2004 general election, the then main opposition GNP won 121 seats enabling it to remain on the political landscape.