By Jun Ji-hye
The ruling Saenuri Party is set to conduct the first-ever primary to select a National Assembly budget chief today as two hopefuls, Reps. Kim Jae-kyung and Joo Ho-young, are showing no sign of concession.
The chairmanship of the Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts has usually been given to a lawmaker of the governing party in accordance with the consensus of rival parties.
It has been conventional to choose the final candidate through consultation among the party members before sending the appointment motion to the plenary session for a full vote.
But the in-house primary seems unavoidable this time as Kim and Joo, representing Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province and Daegu, respectively, are asking each another to make a concession.
The party leadership has been arbitrating, apparently wary of deepening political infighting within the party as both regions are traditional strongholds for the party.
Chairman Kim Moo-sung and floor leader Yoo Seong-min suggested a compromise that the person who gives up the chairmanship of the budget committee assumes the chairmanship of the Intelligence Committee, but to no avail.
Both lawmakers registered for the bids Sunday.
The Saenuri Party plans to call a party meeting at 9 a.m. today to decide final candidates for the budget committee, as well as the Intelligence Committee and the Special Committee on Ethics.
Insiders noted that if the three-term lawmakers fail to reach an agreement before the beginning of the meeting, the party would have no choice but to conduct the unprecedented primary.
The chairmanship of the budget committee is highly coveted with power of the overall budget examination.
The intense competition has turned into emotional battle between the two lawmakers.
Kim criticized Joo, saying, “Joo has burdened President Park Geun-hye as he was embroiled in controversy over his alleged offer to resign as a presidential special advisor.”
Joo shot back: “Last year, party members already agreed with who should be the budget chief. I am embarrassed and disappointed about Kim’s argument.”
The term of incumbent budget chief Rep. Hong Moon-pyo expires Friday.
The National Assembly plans to elect the new chairman at its plenary session Thursday.
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