Interim leadership for ruling party proposed
Six senior lawmakers from the mainstream pro-Park Geun-hye faction and from smaller factions of the ruling Saenuri Party hold a meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. From right front, clockwise, are Reps. Hong Moon-jong, Na Kyung-won, Joo Ho-young, Chung Woo-taik, Won Yoo-chul and Kim Jae-kyung. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
Six senior lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party agreed to the creation of an emergency committee to replace the current leadership controlled by loyalists of President Park Geun-hye, Monday.
However, the pro-Park faction is unlikely to accept the proposal, possibly prompting a mass exodus of lawmakers from the party.
The six representatives from the mainstream pro-Park faction and the non-mainstreamers asked the party to form an emergency committee and pick its head among three candidates to be recommended by minor factional members.
The deal was made as part of the efforts to prevent a possible departure of non-mainstreamers from the party amid internal strife over the corruption scandal surrounding Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
But hardliners among the Park loyalists are skeptical of the agreement and insist that the party’s Chairman Rep. Lee Jung-hyun remain in his job until Dec. 21.
Lee has promised to step down then, holding himself responsible for the scandal that triggered public criticism of the party.
It is speculated that the failure to carry out the agreement may lead to a split in the ruling party. A possible break-up is also expected to accelerate the opposition parties’ plan to impeach Park, as minor factional members have been supportive of the plan, some of whom have been against forming an emergency committee as well. They include Rep. Yoo Seong-min, saying such a plan is “collusion” in favor of the President.
The agreement was made during a meeting between the six lawmakers — three each from Park loyalists and from non-mainstreamers. The pro-Park faction were Won Yoo-chul, Chung Woo-taik and Hong Moon-jong. The minor faction members were Kim Jae-kyung, Na Kyung-won and Joo Ho-young. They concluded that they will select the head of the emergency committee after winning an endorsement at a party general meeting.
They will hold a follow-up meeting, Wednesday. The minor faction will submit a list of candidates for the interim leadership by then.
The possible candidates include former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, former National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-oh and Cho Soon-hyung, a former opposition lawmaker.
There are at least 40 Saenuri Party lawmakers who endorse the plan to impeach Park, according to minor faction members.
The opposition bloc seeks to put the impeachment motion to a vote by Dec. 2 at the earliest.